Damned if you do ...
Article Abstract:
The Allitt and Jenkinson enquiries recommended that health authorities should implement stringent appointment procedures to prevent mentally ill people being employed. It is difficult to detect people with a personality disorder but self-harming, eating disorders and absences from work indicate personality problems. These steps may discriminate against people who have a mental illness and do not prevent a determined person from slipping through the system. It is important not to automatically associate mental illness with dangerousness. Improving nursing practices is a better strategy.
Publication Name: Nursing Times
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0954-7762
Year: 1997
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Understanding deliberate self-harm
Article Abstract:
People who self-harm are at high risk of suicide, with 7% killing themselves within 10 years. Most self-harmers have social or emotional problems and very few are mentally ill. These problems have to be clarified so that any treatment is effective and a specialist psychosocial assessment is recommended but only 50% get this. Most are discharged once they are well. The assessment should identify what motivated the act, highlight any mental disorders, assess the remaining risk and set up an aftercare plan. Hospital staff with negative attitudes may affect the care these patients receive.
Publication Name: Nursing Times
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0954-7762
Year: 1999
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Working well: Employment can benefit people with severe mental illness enormously
Article Abstract:
Up to 62% of former psychiatric inpatients are unemployed, and researchers increasingly report links between unemployment and suicide. Low self-esteem and depression can contribute to continuing psychotic symptoms, but employment enforces activity and can be important in addressing motivational problems linked to schizophrenia. However employment and vocational issues are not a high priority with many mental health practitioners, and employment and training services should be created for people with severe mental illness.
Publication Name: Nursing Times
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0954-7762
Year: 1998
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