Investigating mental health service user views regarding sexual and relationship issues

Abstract

To date, very few empirical studies exist that investigate sexual and relationship issues and people who experience enduring mental health problems and less attention has been paid to the personal accounts of clients in this respect. The present study, carried out in the UK, involved 30 people who were asked about past and present relationship experiences and elicited hopes and aspirations for future sexual and relationship needs. A semi-structured interview schedule was constructed that specifically addressed potential sexual and relationship concerns and was conducted face-to-face. The aim was to capture in-depth perspectives of people with a medical diagnosis of schizophrenia regarding intimate relationships. The results of the study showed that people are willing and able to articulate thoughts, feeling and beliefs in the area. The findings are presented, and the implications in terms of mental health practice, education and research are discussed.

The 5-As Framework for Including Sexual Concerns in Mental Health Nursing Practice

“…Approval is a vital step in this process (Volman & Landeen, 2007), because of the common barriers related to boundary and gender concerns (Quinn, Happell, & Browne, 2011b). There is a need to provide nurses with permission to talk about this topic (Magnan et al, 2005;McCann, 2010;Odey, 2009;Wright & Pugnaire-Gros, 2010) and to let them know, that consumers are not only willing to engage, but are in a position where they are waiting for nurses to initiate discussion on the topic (Kelly & Conley, 2004;McCann, 2010).…”

“…Consumers are willing and able to discuss their sexual health concerns (McCann, 2010), and there is an identified need for mental health nurses to facilitate communication about the sexual health concerns of consumers (Phillips & McCann, 2007). However, little progress has been made in meeting such needs of consumers (Higgins, Barker, & Begley, 2008;Wright & Pugnaire-Gros, 2010).…”

“…There is widespread avoidance of sexual health concerns (McCann, 2010;Nakopoulou, Papaharitou, & Hatzichristou, 2009;Quinn, Happell, & Brown, 2011a), notable absence of content in nursing curricula (French, 2010;Montura et al, 2001;Shell, 2007), and absence of any reference in professional practice standards to nursing competency in Models of clinical practice have been developed to include human sexuality in nursing care (Anderson, 1990;Mick, Hughes, & Cohen, 2004;Schain, 1988;Annon, 1976;Taylor & Davis, 2006) with most progress toward addressing sexual health concerns in nursing practice occurring within the clinical speciality of Oncology. The purpose of this paper is to present and describe the development of the 5-As framework for including sexual concerns in mental health nursing practice.…”

Barriers and Promoting Strategies to Sexual Health Assessment for Patients with Coronary Artery Diseases in Nursing Practice: A Literature Review

“…In China, nurses reported that nurses' shortage and lack of resources are significant barriers to address patients' sexual health [55]. Furthermore, lack of support from the institutions [56], lack of privacy [57], work overload and a sense that addressing sexual health is non-nursing job [29] are cited as organizational barriers.…”

Sexuality and Consumers of Mental Health Services: The Impact of Gender and Boundary Issues

“…It has been suggested by Earle (2001) that potential perpetrators perceive mental health consumers as easy prey, and that consumers may find it difficult to articulate their abuse, may be less likely to be believed, and may lack the knowledge required to understand when abuse has taken place. Unfortunately, consumers' sexuality is often ignored by mental health professionals and researchers, creating a situation where consumer concerns and needs are overlooked (Earle, 2001;Fortier et al, 2003;171 Katz, 2002;McCann, 2010;Quinn & Browne, 2009;Shield, Fairbrother, & Obmann, 2005;Wong & Mak, 2008;Woolf & Jackson, 1996).…”