Journal of Ethics in Mental Health

A Look to the Future

Kelly MacRaeRon Ballantyne

jemh.ca

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Conceptualizing JEMH

• Several serious issues are related to ethics, law and mental health

• Lack of a professional forum to bring them all together

• Initially looked for a forum for Canadians but then expanded it to include mental heath ethics around the world

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Where to begin…

A challenge: How can we better

serve consumers, families, physicians, psychiatrists, other health care professionals, and lawyers regarding ethical issues in mental health?

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Current Situation

• Mental health ethical issues not front and centre• Compete for space/attention with bioethics• Articles on ethics – dispersed throughout the

psychiatric literature, but not in one location• Significant difference between medicine and

psychiatry…

Significant difference between medicine and psychiatry

• Relative incapacity

• Depending on others to restore that capacity (Sarkar, 2003).

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Barriers…to putting ethics on the table

• Pressure to maintain the status quo

• Fear of repercussions from peers/managers

• Discussing ethics can be difficult

• Threatens the balance of power

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Removing barriers

by

promoting

discussions

of

ethics in mental health

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JEMH will…

Provide a forum for discussion of ethical issues affecting persons with mental illness and those working or living with someone with mental illness in order to promote the awareness and understanding of ethics in mental health.

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JEMH principles

• Open to re-evaluating old ideas• Honest reflection of how things are for consumers,

families, health care workers and other professional staff including lawyers

• Evoking positive change through increased awareness and dialogue

• Committed to making a difference in the care and service of persons with mental illness

• Provide opportunity for significant consumers’ voice in the professional journal

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JEMH also provides…

• A mental health ethics conference every two years

• Increased knowledge in the field

• Possible changes to policy where needed

• Improved care and service for consumers

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JEMH leads to…

• Constructive opinions

• Positive change

• Open discussions about mental health ethical issues

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JEMH puts…

Ethics on the table

Ethical Issues

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JEMH Editorial Committee

Managing Editor: Ron BallantyneAssociate Editors: Michael Bay Raj Bhatla Theresa Claxton Gail Czukar Paul DaggSenior Advisor: Quentin Rae-Grant

Senior Editor:

John Maher

Bernard Dickens

Sarah Garside

Kelly MacRae

John Trainor

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JEMH International Editorial Board

Gwen Adshead

Francoise

Baylis

Grant Gillett

Judith

Klein

Godfrey Tangwa

Piers Allott Sydney Bloch

Stephen

Green

Emilio

Mordini

David N.

Weisstub

Paul Appelbaum

Michael

Clinton

Jocelyn

Hattab

Bill

Mussell

Tuviah Zabow

Wendy Austin

Cheryl Forchuk

J.C.

Hughes

Remi

Quirion

Peter Bartlett K.W.M. Fulford

Judy Illes Sameer

Sarkar

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JEMH Conclusions

A heartfelt thanks to:

• The Managing Editor and Senior Editor for making this journal and conference possible

• The Editorial Committee for meeting each month for the last few years

• The International Editorial Board – a sincere thank you for making this endeavour possible

• All persons who may participate in this journal and conference by writing, reading, sharing experiences and learning.

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Journal of Ethics in Mental Health

• Thank you to all speakers who have gathered in order to help us reflect, learn and, in some instances, change our thinking and our behaviour

• Thank you for being part of the JEMH conference and for supporting our Journal

• Enjoy the conference.