From: Incidents related to safety in mental health facilities in Kenya
Type of incidents | Incidents directed to staff by patients | Physical assaults Sexual assaults Verbal assaults |
Incidents between patients | Physical assaults Sexual assaults Verbal assaults | |
Incidents directed to patient by staff | Physical assaults Sexual assaults Verbal assaults | |
Other incidents | Absconding Sudden death Suicide Deliberate self harm Accidental fall | |
Contributing factors | Patient factors | Prolonged stay, alcohol and substance abuse, delays in receiving care, unstable mental state, patient’s own biases |
Staff factors | Shortage of staff, inadequate security mechanism, stigma for mental illness | |
System factors | Deploying staff with challenges, lack of support from management, medication stock outs | |
Infrastructural factors | Poorly designed facilities, lack of seclusion rooms, inadequate working space, inadequate bed capacity, close proximity of male and female wards | |
Recommendation for improving safety | Improving infrastructure Addressing staff shortage Employment of staff with specialization Availability of adequate supplies Psycho-education Adequate funding and direct budgetary allocation |