Mental health professionals as agents of social control

The intersection of law and mental health raises complex issues. The justice system relies on the expertise of mental health professionals to make decisions about the culpability, punishment and detention of people with experience mental illness or a cognitive impairment. Professor Paul Mullen will reflect on the his extensive experience and contribution to the Harper review to reflect on the ethical and practical problems this raises for mental health professionals.

5.15pm: Registration and canapes

5.30pm: Annual General Meeting (all members invited)

6.00pm: Presentation

7.00pm: Questions

Speaker

Paul Mullen is Professor Emeritus at Monash University. Previously he had been a consultant at the Maudsley and Bethlem Hospitals, Professor of Psychological Medicine in Dunedin, and Professor/Director of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Psychiatry which provides the forensic mental health services to the State, including secure hospital and community services.

Professor Mullen has been an active researcher throughout his long career, publishing over 200 papers in refereed journals, some 60 chapters in textbooks, and co-authoring books on child sexual abuse, jealousy, and stalking. His research interests have included, the long term impact of child sexual abuse, stalking, jealousy, the relationship between psychosis and criminal behaviours, assessing and managing the threat to politicians and heads of state, as well as querulous behaviour.

Clinically he has been involved for many years in assessing and managing mentally abnormal offenders. He has assessed a number of lone actor mass killers including some claiming to be politically motivated. He has also evaluated members of terrorist groups including at Guantanamo Bay.