The social impact of closed circuit television (CCTV) inside mental health wards

Desai, Suki

Abstract

CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) camera use has been a feature of the mental health ward since the 1990s. However, how CCTV surveillance is simultaneously controlling and caring inside the mental health ward has been missing in sociological research. In addition, the use of cameras is also impacted by the nature of patients being cared for inside the ward, that is, those subjects who have a limited cognitive capacity because of the nature of their mental health condition, to understand the panoptic effects of the cameras.

Ethnographic research, inside three psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs), was undertaken in order to examine the actual use of cameras.

Research findings are centred on the perception of violence and mental disorder, the ability of the cameras to undermine the ‘face’ and ethics of care, and subjective experiences of patients. Data analysis is influenced by Foucault’s triangulation of sovereign power, disciplinary power and governmentality and how CCTV shapes patient and staff behaviour, how it coheres with other techniques adopted inside the ward and Foucault’s analysis of pastoral power. The findings suggest that CCTV cameras can be used to the benefit of patients inside the ward, for example, in undertaking less intrusive observations when patients are placed in seclusion. However, their uses can also result in a range of unintended outcomes for patients, for example, through their capacity to criminalise mental health difficulties and potentially minimise the life chances of those people who are already marginalised in society because of their mental health status.

Citation

Desai, S. (2019). The social impact of closed circuit television (CCTV) inside mental health wards. (Thesis). University of Hull. Retrieved from https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4222179

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Feb 24, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 23, 2023
• Keywords: Social sciences
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4222179
• Additional Information: Department of Social Sciences, The University of Hull
• Award Date: Oct 1, 2019