Development of a joint mental-health and drug health assessment unit and short-stay unit.

OBJECTIVES: There is emerging interest in models of care that focus on assessment and brief inpatient treatment (two to three days) including psychiatric emergency care centre units and short-stay units in Australia. We present the development of a functionally integrated Missenden Assessment Unit and six-bed short-stay unit in the new Professor Marie Bashir Centre at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in inner-city Sydney. The focus was on collaboration between emergency, drug and alcohol and mental-health services in developing the short-stay unit and Missenden Assessment Unit with joint admission and resource use. We outline the models of care and findings from the 2016 evaluation following the initial two years of operation and consider ongoing challenges. CONCLUSION: The Missenden Assessment Unit provides an alternative point of presentation for mental-health drug and alcohol patients. The short-stay unit provides coordinated, therapeutic interventions. The Missenden Assessment Unit/short-stay unit reduced the burden of presentations to the emergency department while providing the opportunity for training and collaboration. Further refinement of the models of care should occur with policy development and via research.

The possible role of the psychiatrist: The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population in India.

Sweeping social change is occurring in India with regard to the proposed transgender legislation and the enshrinement of associated rights. This progressive legislative change occurs as existing Indian law is profoundly reshaped by the judiciary with regard to other members of this sexually diverse group, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) group. Now as a group of immense interest within high-income countries, this article through Government, legal, and medical literature, explores the possible population of interest in India, relevant law and associated health disparities. The author considers the evidence of a mental health burden, among the estimated 45.4 million LGBT people in 2011. The complex contribution of psychiatrists is noted, and a prism for care delivery is suggested. The underlying goal of lower morbidity for the entire LGBT community is through enhanced care opportunities, understanding, and reduced societal discrimination.

When should I attempt my centrally administered summative assessments in the RANZCP competency-based training program?

OBJECTIVE: To provide information relevant to decision-making around the timing of attempting the centrally administered summative assessments in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) 2012 Fellowship Program. METHODS: We consider the new Competency-Based Fellowship Program of the RANZCP and its underlying philosophy, the trainee trajectory within the program and the role of the supervisor. The relationship between workplace-based and external assessments is discussed. The timing of attempting centrally administered summative assessments is considered within the pedagogical framework of medical competencies development. RESULTS: Although successful completion of all the centrally administered summative assessments requires demonstration of a junior consultant standard of competency, the timing at which this standard will most commonly be achieved is likely to vary from assessment to assessment. There are disadvantages attendant upon prematurely attempting assessments, and trainees are advised to carefully consider the requirements of each assessment and match this against their current level of knowledge and skills. CONCLUSIONS: Trainees and supervisors need to be clear about the competencies required for each of the external assessments and match this against the trainee's current competencies to assist in decision-making about the timing of assessments and planning for future learning.

Marriage equality is a mental health issue.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to review marriage equality in New Zealand and Australia and critically evaluate the health impact of such a legal change. METHOD: We undertook a review of the literature using the search terms "marriage equality", "same sex marriage" and "gay marriage" in combination with "health", "wellbeing", "psych*", "mental illness" and "distress". This search included medical literature, legal literature and mass media. RESULTS: This review indicates that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people disproportionately face negative health stressors and negative health events compared with the general population and this is related to the stress of being a stigmatised minority group. The evidence strongly supports the proposition that marriage equality is related to improved health outcomes. A diverse range of professional health groups advocate for the legislative progression to marriage equality. The authors found no evidence that marriage equality harms opposite-sex marriage. CONCLUSION: Marriage equality is still lacking in Australia and as a positive correlate of health should be strongly supported.