Re-Designing State Mental Health Policy to Prevent the Use of Seclusion and Restraint

The members of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) believe that seclusion & restraint, including "chemical restraints," are safety interventions of last resort & are not treatment interventions. Seclusion & restraint should never be used for the purposes of discipline, coercion, or staff convenience, or as a replacement for adequate levels of staff or active treatment. The use of seclusion & restraint creates significant risks for people with psychiatric disabilities. These risks include serious injury or death, retraumatization of people who have a history of trauma, & loss of dignity & other psychological harm. In light of these potential serious consequences, seclusion & restraint should be used only when there exists an imminent risk of danger to the individual or others & no other safe & effective intervention is possible. (Endorsed by the State Mental Health Directors, July 13, 1999). (NASMHPD 1999, NASMHPD Position Statement on Seclusion & Restraint. Alexandria, VA: National Technical Assistance Center for State Mental Health Planning.). References. Adapted from the source document.