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Abstract:

As the COVID-19 outbreak spreads around the world, countries have been implementing “social/physical distancing” directives and policies. These vary from strong encouragement from governing bodies to stay home, to requirements to self-isolate/quarantine to various degrees, to police-enforced national quarantines. These directives are implemented to flatten the infection curve to maintain healthcare systems’ capacity to respond to hospitalisations. Many countries have also diverted medical and psychosocial human resources away from non-essential services to prevent further spread of the virus and plan for worst-case scenarios. These measures have a direct impact on justice-involved persons with mental illness, either by redirecting resources from mental health and/or through additional measures to ensure physical distancing, such as changes in visitor policies, reduced access to “non-essential services” and care providers. They may also have unintended impacts on the provision of care (e.g., reduced care planning meetings; patient movement/opportunities for therapeutic activities, such as group therapy, outdoor/gym access, and family visits, face-to-face legal consultations being restricted). These measures are essential to protect these vulnerable individuals as they help fight the current pandemic and are meant to be temporary but vital solutions in this unprecedented crisis. To do so, we have been soliciting the collaboration of the international community working in the field of mental health and the law. Documentation gathered pertains to forensic services when applicable, but also includes, more general mental health services, compulsory treatment, changes pertaining to court procedures as well as mental health and correctional services. Note that we are aware that this list is in no way exhaustive.