The Mental Health Reform In Australia: Child Restraints & Seclusion

The Mental Health Reform In Australia: Child Restraints & Seclusion

Australia’s Mental Health Act is currently under reform and being re-written as part of that the Mental Health Act 1986 – Reform Drafting of the new Mental Health Act is underway. The legislative reforms will promote recovery oriented practice, minimise the duration of compulsory treatment, safeguard the rights and dignity of people with mental illness and enhance oversight while encouraging innovation and service improvement. The new Mental Health Act in Victoria is due to be released in 2014. Under the old Act the use of seclusion and restraint is deemed as acceptable practice in hospitals and Mental health facilities. The National Mental Health Commission is trying to stop the use of seclusion and restraint in all services. The NMHC is of the view the use of seclusion and restraint causes long term damage to individuals with little to no therapeutic benefit.  This is also supported by the Victorian department of Health, Office of the Chief Psychiatrist . In children’s settings Nationally data shows that child and adolescent units have a higher rate of seclusion events than general units, with 20.9 events per 1000 bed days recorded last financial year compared with 11.9 events in general units. The use of restraint is not recorded so it is unclear how much the use of restraint is used in children’s settings.