Critical debate 9.3

Possible answer to: Consider the media headline: ‘A man who was arrested for slashing a policeman with a knife has been detained under the Mental Health Act’: 

• What is your first response? 
• Do you think that your response differs from that of the general population? 
• Should it differ? If so, why?

Nurses and other health professionals are also members of the public, and can hold a range of views. It is fairly normal for most people to be repelled or fearful when confronted with acts of violence. That said, we might expect mental health professionals to consider complexities of causation and context when thinking about violence in relation to mental health. We are also required to be compassionate and empathic towards patients, avoid stigmatising them, and attempt to understand a range of problems and needs, including violent or aggressive behaviour. Secure mental health services specialise in caring for individuals who are seen to pose a greater level of risk, and some so-called forensic patients will have been admitted via the police and the courts and may have committed serious criminal acts. Nurses in these forensic settings are expected to professionally navigate the tensions in balancing care and custody.

From a critical perspective, we might also reflect upon some of the implicit violence within psychiatry, and how this can interact with patient violence and previous traumatic experiences.