Risk and liminality in mental health social work

Implications of healing power and positioning for collaboration between formal mental health services and traditional/alternative medicine: the case of Ghana

“…By asserting that their methods were culturally sensitive, yet systematic as in biomedicine, the herbalists appeared to occupy a position of liminality [37] within the field of global pharmaceutics. That is, they situated themselves between biomedicine and indigenous knowledge, providing a more holistic, more affordable and easily accessible service which was built on an understanding of cultural values and ideas [38–41], added to an appreciation for the methodical nature of modern medicine.…”

Multidisciplinary Teamwork in a UK Regional Secure Mental Health Unit a Matter for Negotiation?

“…However, unclear delineation of the clinical domain, partly masked by the spurious precision of the term 'forensic' in this context, provides a problematic foundation for such collaboration (Whyte, 1997). The liminal status of mentally disordered offenders, caught between the mental health and penal systems, invokes competing professional perspectives about their diagnosis and treatment (Warner and Gabe, 2004;Nolan, 2005). Rather than serving as a bonding factor, the term 'forensic' may have compounded divisions associated with the contested concept of mental illness (King's Fund London Commission, 1997;McGuire, 2002).…”

The problems of offenders with mental disorders: A plurality of perspectives within a single mental health care organisation

“…The title of Prins' (1995) book asks whether those categorised as mentally disordered offenders are 'offenders, deviants or patients?'. Their liminal status (Warner & Gabe, 2004) invites attention from a range of services and professions, and raises the mind/body problem. The dominant position of doctors in forensic mental health services encourages medical interpretation (Whyte & Brooker, 2001;Coffey & Jenkins, 2002).…”