Ms Yiota Zingirlis1,2, Ms Sarah Wells1, Dr Stephen Wong2,3, Dr Vindya Nanayakkara1
1Justice Health And Forensic Mental Health Network, SYDNEY, Australia, 2Swinburne University of Technology, , Australia, 3University of Saskatchewan, , Canada
Biography:
Ms Zingirlis and Ms Wells are both Forensic Psychologists with extensive experience working in civil and forensic mental health settings, as well as private practice with individuals presenting with a range of problem behaviours. They are accredited trainers in violence risk assessment tools including the HCR20v3 and the Violence Risk Scale and deliver training to health professionals across NSW. They co-authored the adaptation of the Violence Reduction Program – Forensic Mental Health and have collaborated on other programs for forensic populations.
Abstract:
Mental health patients’ successful reintegration from secure settings to the community is largely dependent on them receiving comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation. For forensic patients, such treatment and rehabilitation must extend beyond the management of mental illness and address lifestyle and interpersonal vulnerabilities that are associated with aggression and the risk of re-offending (Cuddeback et al., 2020). Whilst several programs address violence and aggression among offenders, few specifically target individuals who experience a major mental illness and have violently offended. To address this, the authors adapted the Violence Reduction Program (Wong & Gordon, 2013) specifically with forensic mental health patients (i.e., mental health acquittees) in mind.
Between 2023 and 2024 the adapted program was piloted with male forensic patients within a high secure forensic mental health facility in Sydney, NSW. This program has now been endorsed to be rolled out across all forensic mental health facilities within NSW.
This talk will focus on the process of adapting the Violence Reduction Program, the evaluation and lessons learnt from the pilot, the process of rolling out a statewide program and the development of a co-evaluation approach with forensic patients.