Serious workplace violence reported in Finnish forensic psychiatric hospitals

Staff at Finland’s forensic psychiatric hospitals face severe workplace violence, particularly during patient outdoor activities, according to a study by the University of Eastern Finland.

Researcher and nurse Matias Karvonen analysed 956 voluntary incident reports from 2020 to 2024, with over half involving serious physical violence such as hitting, kicking, biting, or spitting. The risk was highest during active periods like afternoon hours in isolation rooms and day rooms, but outdoor sessions saw the most severe incidents.

Karvonen emphasised that outdoor time remains vital for patient rehabilitation but requires careful preparation and clear protocols. Preventive measures include assessing patients’ mental state before outings and ensuring staff never enter isolation rooms alone.

The study, published in the Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, also recommends strengthening staff skills, learning from past incidents, and improving procedures. Finland has two forensic psychiatric hospitals, in Kuopio and Vaasa, though the research did not specify which facility’s reports were examined.

These hospitals treat patients involved in crimes, as well as those deemed dangerous or difficult to treat, and conduct forensic psychiatric evaluations. Karvonen’s findings are part of his upcoming doctoral dissertation in nursing science, set for review this autumn.