Psychiatric Workers
If a psychiatric and scientific inquiry were to be made upon our rulers, mankind would be appalled at the disclosures - Alfred Korzybski
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Why Inpatient Psychiatry Can Breed Violence
The recently revealed security camera video shows a teen patient on crutches being physically assaulted by a staff member inside an inpatient psychiatric unit at the Hill Crest Behavioral Health facility in Alabama. The facility, owned by Universal Health Services, is a place for adolescents and adults with severe symptoms of mental illness who are at risk of hurting themselves or others.
Unfortunately, violence is a frequent occurrence at inpatient psychiatric facilities. And, unless more is done to address staffing shortages and proper training, the violence will likely continue and escalate.
Part of what makes the Hill Crest story so shocking is that most people think…
Resources
How to look after your own wellbeing when you work in the mental health sector
My story isn’t unusual. Having suffered with mental illness and fought my way to recovery, I now work in the mental health sector, using my experience to support others.
A day in the life of a mental health technician
“It’s nothing like you see in movies where patients are heavily medicated, tied to beds and placed in padded rooms,” he said. “We get sad, angry, abused and depressed kids, but it’s rare that we get one who’s completely out of control.”
A look at violence in the workplace against psychiatric aides and psychiatric technicians
Psychiatric aides and technicians are experiencing high rates of nonfatal occupational injury and illness due to violence in the workplace by patients. For psychiatric aides, the rate is 69 times higher than the national rate of violence in the workplace, and for psychiatric technicians it is 38 times higher. The rates for these two occupations were different from each other even though psychiatric aides and technicians have similar job environments and duties.
How to Become a Psychiatric Technician
Psychiatric technicians play an important role in mental health teams, as it is their mission to provide the compassion and attention to improve the lives of their patients and ensure that they receive quality care. Patients who struggle with mental illness or developmental disabilities rely on professionals to care for them and ensure that they receive appropriate care and experience the best quality of life possible.
Mental health workers urged to guard against the possibility of patient violence
About half of all mental health professionals at all levels and in all practice settings can expect to be threatened by a patient at some point in their career, with as many as 40% sustaining a patient-inflicted injury, according to a researcher.
Patient Violence Against Health Care Professionals
Compared with the nonfatal crime rate for all workers, health care professionals—especially mental health workers—are at heightened risk for becoming victims of violence.
Struggling to Cope
Our survey results make for grim reading. They reveal that mental health services have been hit hard by cuts to NHS funding, which has a damaging effect on service users and staff. Service users have been left struggling to access the help they need, while mental health staff working in under-resourced areas are left vulnerable to violence and aggression, and unable to provide the level of care needed.
The Truth About Stigma For Mental Health Workers
What's your work environment like? Do you think someone would feel respected and supported if they were struggling with depression, anxiety or other mental illnesses? I sure hope so. And if it's you, maybe it's time to talk!
Understanding patient violence against health care workers
Clearly, we must do better protecting those charged with healing the sick. Most hospitals have focused attention on controlling access with security personnel.
Why Inpatient Psychiatry Can Breed Violence
Unfortunately, violence is a frequent occurrence at inpatient psychiatric facilities. And, unless more is done to address staffing shortages and proper training, the violence will likely continue and escalate.
PsychTechs.net
CAPT is the professional association for approximately 14,000 state-licensed Psychiatric Technicians who work in California programs serving people with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities.
American Association of Psychiatric Technicians
AAPT is a non-profit association that raises the quality of mental health care nationwide through training and certifying psychiatric technicians and assists in establishing training program curriculum.
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