Violence Experiences of Adult Mental Health Patients in Remission

Violence is a big problem worldwide, and folks with severe mental illness are particularly at risk. In 2020, researchers at Butabika Hospital in Uganda studied this issue. They talked to 385 patients, aged 18 and above, using surveys to understand their experiences with violence in the past year. The results showed that about one in three patients faced some form of violence. Physical violence was the most common, affecting around 29%, while sexual violence was reported by 11%. Interestingly, those who had ever caused harm were more likely to experience violence themselves. Older adults, however, were less likely to report violence compared to younger ones. This study suggests that younger adults with mental illness might need extra protection and education on stopping violence. Future studies could look into what causes and prevents violence in these situations.