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Olasoji M, Taylah P, Megan L, Hui TT, Nathan A, Caroline B, Anderson S, Sue B, Joseph B. Perspectives of Mental Health Nurses About Sexual Safety in Acute Inpatient Mental Health Units. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2024; 33:2113-2120. [PMID: 38873771 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
The overall aim of this study is to explore the views of mental health nurses (MHNs) about the sexual safety of consumers receiving care in acute inpatient units. In Australia, people accessing mental health inpatient units have reported feeling unsafe while receiving care including experiences of sexual harassment and abuse from other patients. There has been no study to date that has explored the views of the MHNs providing care. An explorative descriptive qualitative study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews involving n = 8 MHNs working on a metropolitan acute inpatient unit recruited using purposive convenience sampling. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study highlighted the themes of 'It's everyone's job to keep the patient safe', 'Going over expectations', 'Impact on patients' and 'Built environment'. Participants in this study believed that the sexual safety of patients in the inpatient unit is everyone's responsibility and that it was important during the admission process to ensure patients are aware of how to both seek help if needed and ensure that their actions or behaviours do not pose sexual safety concerns in others. Ensuring sexual safety in the mental health inpatient units is a complex issue that requires evidence-based multipronged interventions involving all key stakeholders within the units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Olasoji
- Alfred Mental Health and Addictions, Alfred Health Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
| | - Powell Taylah
- Alfred Mental Health and Addictions, Alfred Health Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Layne Megan
- Alfred Mental Health and Addictions, Alfred Health Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ting Ting Hui
- Alfred Mental Health and Addictions, Alfred Health Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adamson Nathan
- Alfred Mental Health and Addictions, Alfred Health Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Buultjens Caroline
- Alfred Mental Health and Addictions, Alfred Health Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shelley Anderson
- Alfred Mental Health and Addictions, Alfred Health Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Belmore Sue
- Alfred Mental Health and Addictions, Alfred Health Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bindu Joseph
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
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Reavey P, Brown SD, Ravenhill JP, Boden-Stuart Z, Ciarlo D. Choreographies of sexual safety and liminality: Forensic mental health and the limits of recovery. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2022; 2:100090. [PMID: 36688235 PMCID: PMC9792375 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Medium secure forensic psychiatric units are unique environments within the broader "post asylum" landscape of mental health services. Length of stay is much greater and restrictions on behavior, including sexual behavior, are legally and institutionally legitimated, due to concerns regarding risk. As a result, sexuality is rarely explored experientially with service users and no official policies on sexual conduct and sexual safety have yet been developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Reavey
- London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, SE1 OAA, London, United Kingdom
- Corresponding author. London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, SE1 OAA, London, United Kingdom.
| | | | | | | | - Donna Ciarlo
- London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, SE1 OAA, London, United Kingdom
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