Restraint & Seclusion Elimination
Paving New Ground:
A Dialogue with Peers & Family Members
Peer Summit on Restraint/Seclusion Elimination
We Want to Hear from You!
In June 2008 The Transformation Center hosted a Peer Summit on Restraint and Seclusion Elimination. During the 1 ½ day summit, Massachusetts peer leaders had an opportunity to discuss and set priorities for our vision on how to eliminate the use of restraint and seclusion. Summit participants developed 11 Position Statements and many participants later met with the state facility / hospital administrators in their area to talk about their vision for culture change and restraint and seclusion elimination.
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What are restraints and seclusion?
Restraints are human or mechanical actions that restrict freedom of movement or normal access to one’s body. One of the most common types of restraints in mental health facilities is wrist and ankle leather cuffs that are attached to a bed. This is called a mechanical restraint; a 4-point restraint is one in which both wrists and both ankles are strapped in these cuffs while the person is lying face up on a bed. A chemical restraint is when a person is forced to take medication against their will, usually in the form of an injection.
Seclusion occurs when a person is separated from the general population of the facility and is isolated behind a closed or locked door, prevented by staff from leaving a room with an open door, or threatened with loss of privileges for leaving the room or area.
Why “elimination”?
For decades people who have experienced restraints and seclusion have spoken out against their use, emphatically stating the harm they have caused. The dehumanizing aspects of this practice to both the person imposing the restraint/seclusion and the person experiencing it are undeniable. Moreover, most people in psychiatric hospitals have endured some type of emotional or physical trauma or abuse. Given that restraints and seclusion are retraumatizing and can also cause original trauma, they are therefore are counterproductive to the goals of healing.
2006-2008 The Transformation Center Restraint & Seclusion Elimination Initiative