The Effect of a Mental Hospital Strike on General Hospital Psychiatric Services

Data collected from 6043 psychiatric in-patient records were analyzed to assess the impact of a strike at a mental hospital on in-patient services in general hospital psychiatric units in St. John’s, New Foundland. General hospital units showed an increase in the number of involuntary admissions, the number of prior mental health admissions of patients and indications of violent or suicidal behavior. 29 refs.