Sexual violence within mental health units: The urgent need to raise awareness and fight taboos

Users of psychiatric services are a population that is particularly at risk of sexual violence. Although this violence mostly occurs outside of the care setting, it can sometimes occur during a psychiatric hospitalization. In this interview with Jean-Pierre Bouchard, Bettina Belet, Estelle Demeulemeester, Louise Ghestem, Fidji Dupont, Margot Trimbur, Marielle Wathelet, Fabien D'Hondt and Pierre Thomas, draw on their clinical experience and research to offer a summary of the issue. They discuss the consequences of this violence on the users, both victims and presumed perpetrators, as well as the experience of the caregivers who are confronted with these events. The interview also offers into how professionals should respond to this violence, and propose ways to improve current practices. ?& COPY; 2023 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.