Occupational engagement in forensic settings: exploring the occupational experiences of men living within a forensic mental health unit

In my work, I have found that environments, such as secure mental health units, add an additional layer of complexity for the occupational therapist who seeks to understand people’s occupational experiences. I present this chapter in three parts: an introduction to secure mental health services in the United Kingdom; an outline of a framework which positions “occupational engagement” in a framework of values and consequences; and, to conclude, examples of how the framework could be used to help illuminate the dark side of occupations of men living in a forensic mental health unit.