Mental health staff need a safe place to explore their value

Staff who work in mental health institutions or offer outpatient care to psychiatry patients have exceptional values as many shun this role, but they face workplace violence. Their kind of workplace violence is a collective term for aggression, hostility, and assault. It mostly comes from patients with psychiatry issues although the source can also be coworker or supervisors.

Workplace violence for mental health staff affects the well-being because it does not only relate to its presence but also to stress reactivity that makes them get anger, depression and physical health issues. When mental health staff is unsafe, they are unable to utilize these essential values that help them to succeed in their job.

1. Safety protocols for mental health staff to explore their value

Safety should begin at all levels from design to the more delicate details of the interaction between patients and mental health workers. A proper safety design creates a safe environment and provides the qualitative benefits for all parties. Safety should begin at from the perimeter of a unit or building.

2. Creating friendly interaction

In most instances, a nurse station serves at the point of control from access and outlet. The staff stays behind protective windows, doors, and walls that isolate them physically from patients. This approach is safe when the staff members are inside the booth, but it makes a subject of hostility from the patients who view the separation as the environment of us versus them. The arising mistrust undermines the efficiency of treatment programs.

3. Facilitating Proper visibility

Facilitating visibility requires an installation of the proper light. Artificial lighting balanced with natural light is the most efficient source. Daylight supports circadian rhythms, physical and emotional well-being for the staff as well as the patients. A patient will be less aggressive as the well-being improves. Exterior glazing can provide a positive distraction with the views of nature. Minimum light levels are useful for staff that cares for patients who sign of behaving in a manner that puts them at risk. It allows them to see all the areas. Installing lights that mental health staff can manipulate to increase the intensity in specific areas takes care of both sides. The trouble spots that require more lighting are less public areas such as toilet and laundry rooms as the perception of space modifies behavior.

4. Removing hazardous items

It is possible to achieve safety for mental health workers especially those who visit patients at homes is to remove any materials, assemblies or products that patients can use as weapons. People with a mental health condition can use dangerous items to attack those who attend to them or inflict self-injury that interest the ability of psychiatric teams from exploring their value in the treatment.

Constructions such as furniture, electrical, mechanical and plumbing fixtures should be durable and difficult to dismantle. The designers have been providing limited options for products that mental patient can use and often resorted to those that fit correctional facilities until recently. Nowadays you can find those who offer a broadened range of products with tailor designs to suit the client or patient needs.

5. Implementing access control to psychiatric facilities

Access control security strategy that requires simultaneous swiping of two keywords helps to ensure that staff members only enter high-risk areas in pairs. It is safer when two people attend to a patient as they can subdue the person and get help if he or she becomes violent. Another strategy is to assign a different person the work of monitoring and approving all the staff entries and exits to or from high-security areas. It helps in preventing patients from grabbing a keycard and using it to escape. Schedule control also helps to improve the security of mental health staff to prevent low staff levels at psychiatry facilities because it makes them have exhaustion, stress and work-family conflicts that reduce levels of alertness.