Client Initiated Violence Directed Toward Staff: An Exploratory Comparison Between a Rural & an Urban Mental Health Social Service Agency

Abstract

This is an exploratory comparative study investigating differences in the incidence of workplace client initiated violence between an urban and similar rural mental health service agency. The urban centre is located within 20 minutes of the centre of a metropolitan area whose population exceeds three million. The rural centre is on the outskirts of the largest city (population near 45,000) in a rural county. Findings point to significant differences between rural and urban mental health practice environments where rural practitioners report significantly higher than expected levels of knowledge of other professionals working in threatening conditions, of others who have experienced violence, and of others who have required medical attention for injuries resulting from violence directed toward them by clients. Data points to high rural and urban practitioner levels of experience of threats to themselves and other professionals, experience of risky working conditions, personal experience of violence, and concern about violence. On all variables, with the exception of threatening personal working conditions, rural practitioners report higher percentages of knowledge of, experience with, and concern about client initiated violence than their urban counterparts. Some possible explanations for the findings are put forward to encourage further research.