The inpatient psychiatric unit as both a safe and unsafe place: Implications for absconding

摘要: Absconding from acute psychiatric inpatient units is a significant issue with serious social, economic, and emotional costs. A qualitative study was undertaken to explore the experiences of people (n = 12) who had been held involuntarily under local mental health act in an Australian unit, absconded (or attempted abscond) during this time. The aim why abscond units, drawing on published work geography significance person–place encounter, particular concept ‘therapeutic landscapes’. findings show that unit perceived as safe or unsafe place, dependent dialectical relationship between physical, individual, symbolic aspects unit. Consumers when unsafe. Forming therapeutic staff, familiarity comfortable environment, positive other consumers all supported perceptions safe, decreasing likelihood absconding. Findings extend existing encounter within bring new knowledge about reasons abscond. Implications for practice are discussed.