Therapeutic Uses of Security: Mapping Forensic Mental Health Services by Stratifying Risk

The author discusses the need for all mental health services to be organized to stratify patients according to the risk they present so that they can be cared for in an environment that is safe but imposes the minimum necessary restrictions & intrusions. The principles, definitions, structures, processess, & outcomes of current mapping systems are outlined. Suicidality is discussed as a measure of risk prediction, security stability, & possible outcome of poor practice. (44 refs)