“They referred to one of the consumers as a BPD c**t”: uncomfortable narratives of borderline personality disorder

Someone holding up their hand to obscure the view of their face.

Keir Harding looks at an Australian qualitative study that reveals difficult and harmful narratives around people given a diagnosis of ‘borderline personality disorder’.

[read the full story...]

Most people receive support from community mental health services, but how safe are they?

Young person sitting on a wall

Samuel Woodnutt summarises a mixed-methods study that identifies themes in community-based incident reports. This is the first study of its kind, providing new evidence on community mental health patient safety incidents and solutions.

[read the full story...]

When care causes harm: a systematic review of adverse experiences in mental health wards

By addressing the full spectrum of adverse experiences, mental health services can make strides towards environments that not only prevent harm but actively contribute to the wellbeing and recovery of individuals in their care.

Jessica Griffiths and Una Foye explore a recent qualitative review of adverse mental health inpatient experiences, which proposes a strategic approach to improving service design and delivery, advocating for environments that prioritise patient safety, dignity and respect.

[read the full story...]

All eyes on the ward: the use and impact of surveillance in inpatient mental health settings

Featured

Nima Hunt summarises a new systematic review published today on the use and impact of surveillance-based technology initiatives in inpatient and acute mental health settings. The review suggests that surveillance technologies should not be used in mental health settings until further research supports their use.

[read the full story...]

Opening ward doors doesn’t make staff any more coercive

Open,Doors,In,Blue,Room

John Baker summarises a new Norwegian trial published last week, which compares an open-door policy to treatment-as-usual in urban psychiatric inpatient wards.

[read the full story...]

Compassion-focused therapy for psychosis: study suggests it’s feasible and acceptable, so what next?

The,Girl,Used,Her,Hand,To,Make,A,Heart,Symbol

Ellen Iredale and Poppy Brown summarise a case-series study on compassion‐focused therapy for distressing hallucinations and delusions in psychosis, suggesting the potential to benefit people with psychosis.

[read the full story...]

Whose camera is it anyway? The use of body-worn cameras in acute mental health wards

two cctv cameras point in opposite directions on the corner of a building, a black and white picture

Alison Faulkner writes a powerful blog on the use of body-worn cameras in acute mental health services, which centres around a qualitative interview study conducted with service users, staff and nursing directors.

[read the full story...]

Power, equality, diversity and systemic change: the theory, barriers and enablers for patient and public involvement

clay-banks-LjqARJaJotc-unsplash

In her debut blog, Layla Mofrad summarises an umbrella review exploring the theory, barriers & enablers for patient and public involvement in health and social care research and service delivery.

[read the full story...]

Trauma-informed care in mental health: why we need it and what it should look like

Mature,Woman,Discussing,Problems,With,Counselor

Aneta Zarska blogs about a qualitative research study from Australia that outlines what trauma-informed care should look like, by asking people with experience of mental health difficulties.

[read the full story...]

Should clinicians be developing a suicide safety plan with their patients?

daniele-levis-pelusi-hBdRmTuxEOc-unsplash

Felicity Pearce, Bani Kahai and Derek Tracy summarise a recent meta-analysis examining safety planning-type interventions for suicide prevention.

[read the full story...]