Patient-on-Staff Assaults: Perspectives of Mental Health Staff at an Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Teaching Hospital in the United States

2020 ◽  
pp. 084456212090462
Author(s):  
Ifeoma E. Ezeobele ◽  
Ardell Mock ◽  
Rachel McBride ◽  
Arslee Mackey-Godine ◽  
Dorothy Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Environmental Safety ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Professional Lives ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Job Functions

Introduction Physical assaults perpetrated by patients in psychiatric hospitals against mental health staff (MHS) is a serious concern facing psychiatric hospitals. Assaulted staff reports physical and psychological trauma that affects their personal and professional lives. There is a dearth of literature exploring this phenomenon. Purpose To explore MHS perspectives of assault by psychiatric patients. Methods A transcendental phenomenological qualitative design was used to explore and analyze the perspectives of a purposeful sample of 120 MHS perspectives at an acute inpatient psychiatric hospital. Participants’ age ranged from 22 to 63 years (mean age = 32.4). Moustakas’ theoretical underpinnings guided the study. Results Two patterns, 8 themes, and 19 subthemes were identified: (a) Psychological impacts revealed four themes—increase of anxiety/fear level, helplessness and hopelessness, flashbacks/burnout, and doubting own competency. (b) Physiosocial impacts revealed four themes—unsupportive superiors, stigmatization of staff victim, failure to report the incident, and environmental safety. Discussion Participants verbalized that assaults by patients have instilled fear and trauma in them. Most of the assaults occurred when staff were performing their routine job functions and setting limits to patient’s behavior. Conclusion The study allowed MHS opportunities to narrate their lived experiences of being assaulted by patients and provided validation of their perspectives. Findings illuminated the phenomenon and may help to support policy changes in psychiatric hospitals.

The Practice of Community Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health Social Work in Salford Some Implications for Community Care

1988 ◽  
Vol 152 (6) ◽  
pp. 783-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Wooff ◽  
D. P. Goldberg ◽  
T. Fryers
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Psychiatric Nurses ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Community Psychiatric ◽  
Wide Range

The context and content of work undertaken with individual clients by community psychiatric nurses (CPNs) and mental health social workers (MHSWs) in Salford were found to be significantly different. Although there were some areas of overlap, the ways in which the two professions worked were quite distinct. MHSWs discussed a wide range of topics and were as concerned with clients' interactions with family and community networks as they were with symptoms. Their interviews with schizophrenic clients followed a similar pattern to those with other groups, and they worked closely with psychiatrists and other mental health staff. CPNs, on the other hand, focused mainly on psychiatric symptoms, treatment arrangements, and medications, and spent significantly less time with individual psychotic clients than they did with patients suffering from neuroses. They were as likely to be in contact with general practitioners as they were with psychiatrists, and had fewer contacts with other mental health staff than the MHSWs. There was evidence that the long-term care of chronic psychiatric patients living outside hospital required more co-ordinated long-term multidisciplinary input.

Severe Mental Illness and Cancer – A Program for Psychiatric Patients in a Cancer Center

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S670-S670
Author(s):  
J. Graça ◽  
F. Silva Carvalho ◽  
R. Ramos Coutinho ◽  
A. Ribeiro ◽  
L. Monteiro
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Oncological Treatment ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Co Morbidity

IntroductionThe prevalence of severe mental illness (SMI) is estimated to be 4%. There are increased risk factors for cancer in SMI patients. People with SMI have deficient access and referral to routine cancer screening and psychiatric illness is often associated to late oncological diagnosis.ObjectivesCharacterize the population of SMI patients that undergoes oncological treatment; establish a comparison with the general population in terms of stage at the time of diagnosis and the type of follow-up that ensued; characterize the psychiatric care available to these patients; propose the necessary changes to ensure adequate healthcare for SMI patients.AimsTo assess and improve the quality of oncological care for SMI patients in our hospital.MethodsWe analyzed the data from SMI patients suffering from SMI observed by our group during a 12 month period.ResultsLow percentage of SMI patients being treated in our center regarding general rates; surprisingly high referral time to psychiatry unity; good compliance with treatments and appointments; have mostly been submitted to the standard oncological protocols of treatment.ConclusionIn spite of serious psychiatric co-morbidity and psychosocial deficits, our SMI patients are able for standard cancer treatment and present sufficient compliance. We value the help of family members and social workers. We have to insist in educational sessions and psychiatric screening procedures for oncological teams. It is also fundamental to implement educational programs for mental health centers in Lisbon in order to sensitize for cancer risks among SMI and alert for the pivotal role of mental health staff, namely the psychiatrists.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

School Crisis Management Planning

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Elbedour ◽  
Futiem Alsubie ◽  
Shareefah N Al’Uqdah ◽  
Joseph A Bawalsah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Crisis Management ◽  
Community Violence ◽  
School Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
School Crises

Abstract The fundamental need for safety in schools requires research-based and trauma-informed strategies for implementing crisis management plans (CMPs). Beyond the immediate harm, longer-term potential outcomes of crises are psychological trauma and damage to the reputation for safety of the school, leading to staff attrition. An effective CMP involves (a) planning, (b) communication, (c) protocols for immediate action, and (d) protocols specific to different types of school crises. School crises can occur on the organizational level, such as natural disasters or shootings; community level, such as bullying or community violence; or individual level, such as suicide, pregnancy, or family changes. This article incorporates research from the business sector as well as education, social work, and psychology to describe the vital components of a school CMP and the role of the school mental health staff. School mental health staff must be central to development and implementation of a trauma-informed school CMP that incorporates prevention, communication, and different protocols for the various types of crises.

scholarly journals Smoking Ban in Psychiatric Inpatient Unit: An Iranian Study on the Views and Attitudes of the Mental Health Staff and Psychiatric Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narges Beyraghi ◽  
Azadeh Mazaheri Meybodi ◽  
Reyhaneh Sadat Jafarian Bahri
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient ◽  
Smoking Ban ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Smoke Free Policy

Although the move to smoke-free mental health inpatient settings is an internationally common and popular trend, these policies are neither implemented nor supported by any national program in Iran. This study investigates the attitude of mental health staff and psychiatric patients toward smoking cessation in 2 psychiatric inpatient units (psychosomatic and adult general psychiatry) in the Taleghani general hospital in Tehran. One hundred and twenty participants of this cross-sectional study consist of 30 mental health staff and 90 psychiatric patients. An eight-item questionnaire was used for collecting information. Both staff and patients expressed a positive attitude towards smoking cessation. Patients favoured the implementation of these policies and expressed a more positive attitude towards the feasibility. Sixty-three percent of patients and 57% of staff were opposed to smoking in the units. Seventy percent of patients reported the smoke-free ban as a feasible policy compared to 45% of staff who did the same. The implementation of the smoke-free policy has more support in both staff and patients than the continuation of smoking in psychiatric units. There is a need for an ongoing education and training for mental health care providers, in order to have a successful implementation of smoke-free policy.

scholarly journals Evaluating patients and healthcare professionals' understanding of voting rights for patients in government elections

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S301-S301
Author(s):  
Mark Winchester ◽  
Madiha Majid ◽  
Ashok Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Voting Rights ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Right To Vote

AimsTo understand whether mental health patients vote in government electionsTo ascertain the barriers that prevent them from doing soTo explore ways in which mental health services can support patients to voteTo determine whether mental health staff are aware of patients’ right to voteBackgroundMembers of Parliament (MPs) can influence decisions regarding the National Health Service (NHS) and mental health legislation. The general election on 12th December 2019 highlighted that many patients were not using their democratic right to vote. It also appeared that many staff members were not aware that patients under the Mental Health Act (MHA) were entitled to vote (except for those under ‘forensic’ sections of the MHA). We therefore conducted a survey to ascertain both patient and staff understanding of their democratic rights and to better understand how we could increase the rate of voting amongst psychiatric patients.MethodTwo questionnaires were produced, one for patients and the other for staff members. This was tested by the clinical governance team before approval was granted. Data were collected at the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust in the form of paper forms or electronically through a survey website. Forty-two patients and twenty-five staff members responded.ResultNo staff members had received formal training with regards to patients’ right to vote. Over half of staff members incorrectly believed that patients under Section 2 or 3 of the MHA and those lacking capacity couldn't vote. More than half of the team members surveyed stated that they had not supported patients in registering or casting a vote. Roughly one third of healthcare professionals felt that it was their responsibility to promote patients’ right to vote, with one third disagreeing and the remaining third unsure.Over 75% of patients did not vote but less than one quarter of all patients surveyed felt support from mental health services would increase the likelihood of them voting. The main barriers to voting were being mentally unwell, hospital admission or a lack of knowledge on the candidates and election process.ConclusionBasic training is required to improve staff knowledge of patients’ voting rights, which should help improve their ability to support patients to vote. Trusts should have a clear protocol in place in the event of future elections, with information on who can vote, how to request a postal vote and the candidates in that area.

Integrated Drug and Alcohol Intervention: Development of an Opportunistic Intervention Program to Reduce Alcohol and other Substance use among Psychiatric Patients

1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 676-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiagarajan Sitharthan ◽  
Subba Singh ◽  
Paul Kranitis ◽  
Jon Currie ◽  
Pauline Freeman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Alcohol Problems ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Alcohol Intervention ◽  
Drug And Alcohol

Objective: This paper describes the rationale, aims and processes involved in developing and implementing an opportunistic intervention program to reduce substance misuse detected among psychiatric patients. Method: In this randomised, opportunistic intervention program, eligible patients recruited from a large psychiatric hospital and its associated community mental health centres are assigned to receive an integrated drug and alcohol intervention (IDAI) or alternatively allocated to a minimal intervention condition (MI). The IDAI is based on motivational enhancement and cognitive-behavioural principles, and incorporates harm-reduction approaches. This clinical program is based on the research findings and recommendations of the mental health and the drug and alcohol literature. Results: A collaborative partnership between the Mental Health Services and the Drug and Alcohol Services was formed. Following a relatively short training period, mental health staff were trained to opportunistically detect drug and alcohol problems among psychiatric patients and offer appropriate integrated clinical care. Conclusion: The process of implementing an integrated opportunistic intervention program is achievable and can be readily incorporated in psychiatric hospitals and community mental health clinics.

scholarly journals Violence against mental health staff: a survey in a Nigerian psychiatric hospital

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Ignatius Ukpong ◽  
Olugbenga Owoeye ◽  
Owoidoho Udofia ◽  
Festus Abasiubong ◽  
Sunday Ukpong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychiatric Hospital ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Questionnaire Method ◽  
Routine Assessment

Aims and methodA survey was conducted to investigate physical assaults against mental health staff of a Nigerian psychiatric hospital in a 12-month period and also during their working career in the hospital retrospectively using a questionnaire method.ResultsIn total, 101 out of 120 questionnaires were completed (response rate 84.2%). Within the period of their employment in the hospital 49.5% of staff had been physically assaulted at least once, and over the previous 12 months 33.7% had been physically assaulted. Nursing staff (82.3%) were more frequently assaulted than doctors, most often during routine assessment of patients (44.3%). In total, 88% of staff sustained injuries requiring medical attention. Vulnerability to assaults was not associated with attending a course on prevention and management of psychiatric patient violence.Clinical implicationsAssaults by patients against mental health staff, especially nurses, are quite widespread in Nigeria. There is a need to formulate policies on prevention and management of violence in people with mental disorders in Nigerian psychiatric hospitals.

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