Researchers set out to study how people are using chatbots to manage their mental health, recruiting participants and compensating them for their time. Then realised they were hearing ChatGPT ‘scripts’ in interviews. Researchers beware! datasociety.net/points/chatb...

“Particularly concerning to me are the comments in that thread where the AIs seem to fall into a pattern of encouraging users to separate from family members who challenge their ideas, and other manipulative instructions…”

"Supported Decision-Making and Legal Capacity: Insights from the Nordic-Baltic Seminar". Interesting update from Northern European law and policy on legal capacity, including Norway’s Draft Law on Supported Decision-Making. thl.fi/en/publicati...

New psychiatric coercion study from Western Germany runs a fascinating pre/post comparison of the introduction of an 'open door policy' in one hospital. Findings: 'moderate reduction in coercive measures after the introduction of the ODP... [&] recurrent mechanical restraints...

"Should you trust an AI chatbot with your mental health?" New reporting from @jarniblakkarly.bsky.social at Australia's independent and member-funded consumer news agency @choiceaustralia.bsky.social, with commentary from Prof Jeannie Paterson, myself, and others. www.choice.com.au/consumers-an...

A speech by Graham Morgan MBE, Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, to the 2023 Mental Health and Diversity Law Conference, is now available online, discussing coercion in mental health services. Powerful then, and I'm very glad it's available now. northumbriajournals.co.uk/index.php/ij...

Researchers at two major UK health regulators suggest a 'New Conceptual Framework for Digital Mental Health Technologies' in a recent scoping review mental.jmir.org/2025/1/e63484

New (open source) book review from me, of Beverley Clough's 2022 monograph, 'The Spaces Of Mental Capacity Law: Moving Beyond Binaries (Routledge, 2022)' for the 2024 African Disability Rights Yearbook. adry.up.ac.za/book-review-...

@bernmcsherry.bsky.social and I co-authored this (now open access) column, "Predicting the Risk of Future Terrorism: Lessons for Mental Health Experts from the Benbrika Case". We focus on criticisms of the use of a prominent violent extremism risk assessment tool. www.academia.edu/127012915/Pr...

“The Royal College of Psychiatrists and the mental health charity Rethink have also said they want to see the rollout of the technology paused.” t.co/dFRF5QoShj

The paperback version of our edited collection (and tribute to @bernmcsherry.bsky.social), 'The Future of Disability, Mental Health and Criminal Law', is now out - and it's on sale! Info here and get in touch for an extra discount code: www.routledge.com/The-Future-o...

Really thrilled to have had a book published as a tribute to my work. Thanks @ymaker.bsky.social and @pgooding.bsly.social for your hard work on this! #AcademicSky #PsychSciSky #MentalHealth

For anyone following progress on the Council of Europe draft Additional Protocol to the Oviedo Convention (on involuntary psychiatric intervention), a coalition of civil society orgs have published an open letter to the COE Committee of Ministers. www.edf-feph.org/publications...