Living ‘in between’ outside and inside: The forensic psychiatric unit as an impermanent assemblage

Tucker, Ian M.; Brown, Steven D.; Kanyeredzi, Ava; Mcgrath, Laura and Reavey, Paula (2019). Living ‘in between’ outside and inside: The forensic psychiatric unit as an impermanent assemblage. Health & Place, 55 pp. 29–36.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.10.009

Abstract

This paper presents analysis from ‘a study of staff and patient experiences of the restrictive environments of a forensic psychiatric unit. The paper conceptualises the forensic unit as an impermanent assemblage, enacted in and through practices that hold a future life outside the unit simultaneously near, yet far. We show how the near-far relations between life inside and outside the unit operate in three ways; 1) in relation to the ‘care pathway’, 2) practices of dwelling, and 3) creating and maintaining connections to life ‘beyond’ the unit. The paper concludes with a discussion about possible ways to overcome the limitations to recovery that can arise through practices of impermanence.