Induction – Mental Health in the ED

Joseph is a 42 year old who booked into the emergency department after an overdose. Triage identified several high risk features including a suicide note, evidence of planning, poor social support. You call him to be seen, and there is no answer. What do you do first:

Theresa presents with a significant self harm wound. She feels her self harm is escalating. Which treatment plan suggested is the best:

Section 136 is a legal power which allows the police to bring someone to a place of safety if there are concerns about their mental health.

Which of the following statements is incorrect?

A 39-yr old lady presents to ED with a 12hour history of change in behaviour; she is mute and catatonic. She has no previous history of mental illness or drug or alcohol use. Her bloods so far are normal.

What is the next appropriate step?

A 61-yr old gentleman presents to the department agitated and ‘elated’. He appears to be responding to both visual and auditory hallucinations. He is becoming more restless and wanting to leave the department. He has a history of alcohol use but denies this currently. His bloods show nil acute. His CT scan is NAD. He will not sit still for physical observations.

What would be the next most appropriate step?