News Release: 14 February 2008
Responding to Healthcare Commission report on violence in mental health services, the charity’s Director of Mental Health Programmes, Kathryn Hill, said:
“The government needs to address the ongoing problem of violence of psychiatric wards in England and Wales. Patient attacks, not only on staff but on other patients too should not be common place in settings where people go to receive care and treatment.
“There are a number of reasons why violence is so prevalent on mental health wards. One is that patients are bored and frustrated because there is nothing to do – they often feel abandoned and not listened to.”
Kathryn Hill also says that nurses on mental health wards, while fully qualified, often have very little experience of working with patients because they are assigned to work in psychiatric units immediately after their training.
“So we’ve got a situation where the least experienced staff members are working with severely unwell and disturbed patients in overcrowded environments. Staff need specialised support and guidance to help care for patients.”
The Mental Health Foundation also says that urgent action needs to be taken to develop interventions to tackle violence on wards for those over the age of 65 with dementia.
Ends
For more information, please contact the Mental Health Foundation’s press office team on 020 7803 1126 / 1128.
The Mental Health Foundation uses research and practical projects to help people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems. We work to influence policy, including government at the highest levels. And we use our knowledge to raise awareness and to help tackle the stigma attached to mental illness. We reach millions of people every year through our media work, information booklets and online services.
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