Public Education & Policy :: Position Papers

Seclusion and Restraints Policy Statement

November, 2002

The National Summit of Mental Health Consumers and Survivors was held in Portland, Oregon in 1999. Additional Summits were held at the Alternative Conferences in 2001 and 2002. The goal of these Summits was to develop consensus around the issues of greatest concern to consumers and survivors and create action plans for future work. The underlying principle was the construction of a platform from which the movement can influence the national debate.

Many consumers/survivors from around the Country had expressed the need to create a unified national voice.

The first Summit in Portland had 450 people from across the country from a wide spectrum of psychiatric political views. Consensus was built within 13 different subject areas. One of these subject areas was "Force and Coercion." The following position on Seclusion and Restraints was developed and in the Summit sessions of August, 2002, revised and approved.

Both the CNMHC membership and Board of Directors approved the Policy Statement on November 10, 2002, at the Client Forum 2002.

Restraints and Seclusion
(From the "Force and Coercion" Plank)

We oppose restraints and seclusion. All institutions and community providers must establish a zero involuntary restraint and seclusion policy.

Providers of mental health services must change their culture, including increasing their staffing, enhancing their supportive services or whatever steps are necessary to create a safe and therapeutic environment.

We support alternatives to restraint and seclusion, which include de-escalation techniques, crisis plan developed by the person in crisis, and anger management skills training.