Reporting sexual violence on mental health wards
| Published date | 09 April 2018 |
| Pages | 93-100 |
| Date | 09 April 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-11-2017-0036 |
| Author | Marian Foley,Ian Cummins |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection,Safeguarding,Sociology,Sociology of the family,Abuse |
Reporting sexual violence on mental
health wards
Marian Foley and Ian Cummins
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a scoping study that explored the extent of
recorded sexual violence perpetrated on inpatients on mental health (MH) units.
Design/methodology/approach –A Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request was sent to 45 police
forces. The FOI asked for the number of recorded offences of rape and sexual assault by penetration for the
five years 2010-2015. Following the responses from the police, a similar FOI request was sent to MH trusts.
Findings –There were significant variations in the way that both police forces and MH trusts approached the
recording of this information.
Research limitations/implications –The research highlights variation and inadequacy of current recording
practices in relation to sexual offences committed against inpatients on MH units.
Practical implications –There needs to be more consistent systems of recording of allegations of sexual
assault and responses to them by agencies. In the trust recording of these incidents, it is recommended that
a specific category of sexual violence is created. On a national level, the Office for National Statistics should
produce a national data set that records the number of rapes that are committed in MH inpatient units.
Originality/value –This paper highlights the “gap”of information in relation to recorded rape and may
indicate that complainants with a history of mental illness are less likely to have their allegation recorded as a
crime.
Keywords Mental health, Patient safety, Safeguarding, Sexual violence, Freedom of information,
Trauma-informed approaches
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
This paper examines the reporting of incidents of rape and sexual assault on mental health (MH)
inpatient units. Stenhouse (2013) uses the term “sanctuary harm”to capture the potentially
damaging impact of abuse or violence that occurs to patients who have been admitted to a MH
unit. Jones et al. (2010) see wards as both safe and unsafe places. It should be noted that the
people with MH problems are much more likely to be victims of crime and abuse than the general
population. Therefore, the MH unit might be a safer place, particularly if individuals have good
relationships with staff and are familiar with the environment and other patients. The work of
Jones et al. (2010) indicates that factors such as unfamiliarity with the staff group and witnessing
the use of restraint and seclusion were factors that increased anxiety amongst patients. In total,
61 per cent of female patients reported harassment or abuse during an admission to a mixed sex
psychiatric ward.
Sexual violence and MH
People who are using MH services are more likely than other groups in the population to have
experienced sexual violence. It is, therefore, vitally important that MH services develop systems
that respond to these issues. This would include not only ensuring that all MH staff are aware of
the potential impact of sexual violence. In addition, the staff need to have an awareness of the
potential links between experience of sexual violence and the development of MH problems.
Received 22 November 2017
Revised 8 February 2018
21 February 2018
Accepted 22 February 2018
Marian Foley is a Senior
Lecturer at the Department of
Social Care and Social Work,
Faculty of Health, Psychology
and Social Care, Manchester
Metropolitan University,
Manchester, UK.
Ian Cummins is a Senior
Lecturer at the Salford
University, Lancashire, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JAP-11-2017-0036 VOL. 20 NO. 2 2018, pp. 93-100, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAG E 93
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