NCMD Seminar Series Presents 'Forensic Mental Health Research'

This week we had fantastic NCMD committee members Dr Iain McKinnon, Evie Newman and Chanelle (Nell) Willie deliver presentations on research they're currently undertaking in the forensic mental health field.

Dr Iain McKinnon is a senior clinician within secure services, and has led research investigating the interface of mental health and developmental services with the criminal justice system, in particular the police. For his NIHR Doctoral Fellowship he redesigned police custody screening procedures which are in the process of national roll out. He has just completed an ESRC evaluation of healthcare within two police force areas led by Newcastle University. He has recently commenced a NIHR Senior Clinical and Practitioner Researcher Award (SCPRA). Police encounters for people experiencing mental health crises are distressing. A detailed understanding of how these complex interfaces work, alongside their cost effectiveness is needed. Policy and legal changes involving the Mental Health Act and the RCRP policing initiative are now in place, but the impact on people in crisis, services (MH Trusts, Ambulance) or voluntary sector is unclear. This project will aim to address some of these questions using realist methods, alongside an evaluation of changes to longitudinal service data and a cost consequences analysis.

Newcastle University Undergraduate Psychology students, Evie Newman and Chanelle (Nell) Willie, are undertaking a placement year with CNTW. They are currently working on a few research projects in the field of forensic and clinical psychology, under the supervision of Dr Iain McKinnon and Dr Patrick Keown, investigating the intersection of mental health and the Criminal Justice System. Extensive research has shown an excess of health morbidity among people incarcerated in long-term custodial settings; encompassing communicable diseases, chronic disorders, mental illness, and suicide risk. However, there is limited research regarding physical health care in short-term custodial settings. Of the limited existing literature, high rates of physical and mental health disorders among police detainees within police custody have been observed. This project aimed to identify the reported prevalence of health issues in police custody, investigate how health issues are managed and documented in police custody, and consider the role of value judgements when assessing detainees' health needs.

Thank you so much to our fabulous speakers this week!