Abstract
Statement of Problem
This study was conducted to elicit perspectives and attitudes of mental health professionals about patients having sex in mental health facilities. The main focus of the study was to illuminate deficits in the area of sexual policies and services in inpatient psychiatric settings in order to prevent mental health professionals from imposing their personal values and social labels on those who are mentally ill.
Sources of Data
Data for this study was collected from 36 mental health professionals who were working in the mental health field. The snowball sample was recruited from the referrals of respondents with whom the researcher has a professional relationship. The respondents were among the disciplines that provide direct mental health services to patients in long-term or short-term mental health and/or residential treatment facilities.
Conclusion Reached
The results indicated that most respondents had not received formal sexuality training prior to working with the mentally ill population and many were not opposed to the idea of sexuality education for both professionals and clients. There were significant differences found between the sexual behaviors that facilities permitted and the behaviors that occurred. Some of the professional staff reported that there are written policies on sexual behavior but that those policies were vague and needed to be elaborated upon. Nearly all participants indicated that unwritten policies existed when it came to selected sexual behaviors.