This qualitative study reports on the sexuality and sexual experiences of community-based forensic mental health participants. The findings indicate that these participants feel the need for intimacy and want to engage in sexual activity more often than their neurotypical Australian peers. Participants identified their mental health and the side effects of compliance with prescribed psychotropic medications were barriers to achieving their desired level of sexual activity. Participants supported the notion that mental health teams were positioned to assist patients navigate the psychological, cultural, education and physical barriers to achieving sexual health and wellbeing. We propose several interventions to support these participants and other community forensic mental health patients in attaining healthy relationships, understanding their sexual health, and gaining more fulfilling sexual experiences. These interventions, which include sex education, upskilling in socialization and communication, and regular medication reviews, could be delivered as part of the holistic care provided by mental health teams. Mental health clinicians should be offered appropriate training to assess patients and have discussions related to sexuality, sexual experiences and sexual health needs.

IntroductionSexuality is an integral aspect of the human experience that defines an individual. Robust research, substantiated by the World Health Organization, demonstrates that healthy sexuality improves mental health and quality of life. Despite this level of global advocacy and clinical evidence, sexuality and sexual health as determinants of health have been largely overlooked in the mental healthcare of patients being treated under the requirements of a forensic order (forensic patients). In this review, the authors have evaluated the literature related to the sexual development, sexual health, sexual knowledge and risks, sexual experiences, sexual behavior and sexual desires of forensic patients to inform policy and clinical practice. Furthermore, the review explored how forensic patients' sexual healthcare needs are managed within a forensic mental healthcare framework. The paper concludes with recommendations for service providers to ensure that sexual health and sexuality are components of mental health policy frameworks and clinical care.MethodsAn integrative review was utilized to summarize empirical and theoretical literature to provide a greater comprehensive understanding of the sexuality and sexual experiences of forensic patients. This included identifying original qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method research, case reports, case series and published doctoral thesis pertaining to the research topic.ResultsTwenty-one articles were selected for review. We grouped the review findings into three main themes: 1) Forensic patient themes, 2) Forensic mental health staff themes and 3) Forensic mental health organization themes. The review demonstrated scant information on the sexual healthcare needs of forensic patients or how health services manage these needs while the patient is in a hospital or reintegrating into the community.ConclusionThere is a dearth of evidence-based, individualized or group approaches which clinicians can utilize to assist forensic patients to achieve a healthy sexual life and it is recommended that such services be developed. Before that however, it is essential to have a clear understanding of the sexual healthcare needs of forensic patients to identify areas where this vulnerable population can be supported in achieving optimal sexual health. Urgent changes to clinical assessment are required to incorporate sexual healthcare as a component of routine mental healthcare.