Abstract
The Health and Safety Executive (1992) defines violence against staff as “any incident in which an employee is threatened or assaulted by a member of the public in circumstances arising out of the course of his or her employment”. Verbal abuse and threats are, as the Health and Safety Executive notes, the most common types of incidents, and staff have the common-law right to be protected from such incidents in the course of their work. While the literature on physical violence against mental health professionals is quite large and expanding (see, for example, Health and Safety Commission, 1987; Shepherd, 1994; Wykes, 1994), comparatively little emphasis has been placed on verbal assaults, although these may be extremely distressing.
Highlights
TdehfeinesHevailothlenceandagainSsatfetystaffExaescu"tainvye inc(i1d9e9n2t) in which an employee is threatened or assaulted by a member of the public in coirrchuemr steamncpelosymenart"is.ingVeorubtal ofabthuese coaunrdse thorefahtsis are, as the Health and Safety Executive notes, the most common types of incidents, and staff have the common-law right to be protected from such incidents in the course of their work
While the literature on physical violence against mental health professionals is quite large and expanding, comparatively little emphasis has been placed on verbal assaults, these may be extremely distressing
A frequent feeling in the victim of such comments, which amount to sexual harassment, is of frustration because one does not know how to deal with it, and because one is unsure that the matter will be taken seriously
Summary
TdehfeinesHevailothlenceandagainSsatfetystaffExaescu"tainvye inc(i1d9e9n2t) in which an employee is threatened or assaulted by a member of the public in coirrchuemr steamncpelosymenart"is.ingVeorubtal ofabthuese coaunrdse thorefahtsis are, as the Health and Safety Executive notes, the most common types of incidents, and staff have the common-law right to be protected from such incidents in the course of their work. While the literature on physical violence against mental health professionals is quite large and expanding (see, for example, Health and Safety Commission, 1987; Shepherd, 1994; Wykes, 1994), comparatively little emphasis has been placed on verbal assaults, these may be extremely distressing. A common problem in our unit (a rehabilitation unit associated with a community sectorised service in an inner city) is sexually provocative comments to female and, rarely, male staff by patients.
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