Places of safety? Fear and violence in acute mental health facilities: A large qualitative study of staff and service user perspectives.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To understand violence on acute mental health units according to staff and service user perspectives and experiences.

Background

The collateral damage of violence in acute inpatient mental health settings is wide-ranging, impacting on the health and wellbeing of staff and service users, and detrimental to public perceptions of people who are mentally unwell. Despite international research on the topic, few studies have examined psychiatric unit violence from both staff and service user perspectives.

Methods

We conducted in-depth interviews with 85 people (42 staff, 43 service users) in four adult acute mental health inpatient units in New Zealand. We undertook a thematic analysis of perspectives on the contributing factors and consequences of violence on the unit.

SUBMITTER: Jenkin G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9067690 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature