https://www.womensrights.network/post/the-living-hell-of-a-mixed-sex-psychiatric-unit?utm_campaign=bcdb4c1d-3e8a-468f-b870-c13388d8d16e&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=7104bfd8-9ef0-4a6e-b780-43e7487828ac

The Living Hell of a Mixed Sex Psychiatric Unit

I was scared as soon as I set foot on the ward because I was surrounded by men. I am in a wheelchair so it is significantly harder to defend myself; I cannot run away, I am defenceless. The men were 6ft plus and stocky. They themselves were unwell and threatening. What went on every day will stay with me forever. What was going on daily was; men would come up behind us and touch our necks, kiss our necks, touch our breasts and further below, attempt to kiss us on the mouth and were generally in our personal space at every opportunity.

That’s what I experienced and what I saw happen to others, though it seemed to happen to me an awful lot – maybe because I was an easy target. I can only dread what went on that I did not see. As the same-sex parts of the unit were only for sleeping, there was no escape in the daytime. It was a living hell. As someone with PTSD I was already on guard, but this made it 10 times worse.