The world is increasingly complex, but the way we communicate doesn’t have to be. From Academia to Practice: Why It Matters bridges the gap between mental health academia and science to practical take-away messages. This series will be of interest for healthcare professional audiences of all disciplines as well as those working in probation and parole, and legal service fields, as well as people who are interested in what’s happening at the intersection of mental health and the law.
These regular news posts will provide short and condensed plain language summaries of our International Forensic Psychiatry Lecture Series talks and other academic pieces from the Forensic Psychiatry Institute.
The lecture series is produced by Drs. Gary Chaimowitz, Mini Mamak, Heather Moulden, and Sébastien Prat, and Knowledge Translation Specialist Diana Marginean. From Academia to Practice is produced by Virginia St-Denis and Diana Maginean.
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— use that information”
(ISO 24495-1:2023 Plain language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines).
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Understanding Atypical Sexual Behaviours as Kink
People may have sexual interests that are not typical in their society. These interests are often called kinks. They may explore these interests in a relationship that involves negotiation and consent and avoids harm. Forensic mental health practitioners should understand that various types of kink are normal behaviour for most people, who practise them. This is similar to how practitioners view sexual orientation and gender identity, said Dr. Stefani Goerlich, in a presentation for the International Forensic Psychiatry Lecture Series.Continue reading→
Understanding the Negative Effects of Psychological Treatments in Forensic Settings
“If we only ask whether interventions help, then we risk missing when they harm…. Safer interventions require the same scientific attention to harms as we already give to benefits.” That was the conclusion to Dr. Lindsey Gilling’s presentation to the International Forensic Psychiatry Lecture Series. She provided recommendations for forensic mental health practitioners, researchers, funding agencies, and journal publishers to expand the science of effectiveness to include the science of safety.Continue reading→
Scams and Forensic Psychiatry
When a person is scammed, does it mean they have diminished capacity to make decisions, are unduly influenced, or are incapacitated? A forensic psychiatrist may be asked to assess whether the person is fit to stand trial or needs a conservatorship (which gives another person legal authority to make decisions for them). Drs. Nora Douglas, Renee Sorrentino, and Susan Hatters Friedman used case vignettes to illustrate their points during their presentation to the International Forensic Psychiatry Lecture Series.Continue reading→
Preventing and Managing Aggression
Reading time: 3 minutes, 50 seconds (955 words) Inpatient aggression is common in forensic mental health settings, exposing staff and other patients to risk.However, staff have limited guidance on preventing aggression and managing violent and aggressive behaviour without restrictive practices. Dr. Tessa Maguire’s approach involves: That was Dr. Maguire’s focus during her talk as part…Continue reading→
Advocating for Change in Seclusion
Seclusion should only be used as a last resort to prevent pending harm. It should never be used for punishment nor staff convenience. Although seclusion is sometimes clinically needed, the frequency, length, and administration of seclusion — and the trauma it often causes — are not aligned with a patient-centred system of mental health care.Continue reading→
Implementing the Prosocial Model at the Royal’s Secure Treatment Unit
Core correctional skills training using the Prosocial Model has been producing promising results for staff trainees and residents (that is, justice-involved individuals with severe mental illness serving a provincial sentence). During her talk at the International Forensic Psychiatry Lecture Series, Dr. Anik Gosselin described how her team has been training all staff at the SLVCTC-STU. She explained how the model differs from traditional approaches and the model’s principles.Continue reading→
From Evidence to Action: Translating Knowledge in Forensic Psychiatry
Knowledge translation (KT) in forensic psychiatry is a collaborative process that engages all stakeholders, including knowledge creators like clinicians and researchers as well as patients and their families. Its primary aim is to help bridge the gap between evidence and everyday practice. A key principle of KT, especially within forensic psychiatry, is that any new knowledge must be adapted to the local context and care setting. Adapting evidence to the needs, priorities, and realities of the people who will use it is essential for implementation and sustained uptake in practice.Continue reading→
Forensic Risk Assessment in Women
When assessing risk in women, mental health professionals should remain aware of gender’s influence on risk factors — both their presence and relevance to the overall picture of risk. They should keep in mind that when women commit crime and violence, these actions are often related to their unique experiences and social roles. Women and girls differ from men and boys in many aspects of criminal and violent behaviour, said Dr. Stephanie Penney in a presentation for the International Forensic Psychiatry Lecture Series. Women’s and girls’ development before committing violence can differ. There are differences in who their victims are, the pathways they take to justice involvement, and the motivations for crime and violence.Continue reading→
Cyberstalking and Social Media: Keeping Up with an Ever-Changing Crime
Just like offline stalking, cyberstalking involves obsessive behaviour that causes people to fear for their safety or the safety of others. The only real difference is that cyberstalking is conducted remotely, and it thrives on technology that keeps evolving. Clear laws would help address this challenge. Internet service providers and social media companies should also be involved in the solution. Regulations and education around online behaviour would help. And developing and/or leveraging technologies to target the unique and growing problem of cyberstalking could make a big difference.Continue reading→
The Role of the Forensic Psychiatrist in Argentina: Complexities and Challenges
Forensic psychiatry occupies a unique position at the intersection of mental health and law. In Argentina, forensic psychiatry plays a crucial role in protecting both public safety and individual rights. The field continues to evolve in response to legal reforms, human rights standards, and the growing recognition of the importance of mental health in the criminal justice system.Continue reading→