Seclusion and Restraint in Health Services

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Name
Institution of Affiliation

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Abstract
Seclusion and restraint are common practices that are applied when providing mental
health services. Seclusion is an invasive practice that prevents the free movement of a patient
who is enclosed in a room while restraint is the prevention of free movement of an individual,
this is applied through either physical, mechanical or chemical strategies. These practices
have raised several concerns among the patients, their families and medical professionals
who want the elimination of these practices. seclusion and restraint have both raised ethical
concerns and have been viewed as infringing the rights of the consumers seeking mental
health services. There are several effects of these practices both positive and negative.
However, the negative experiences of these practices outweigh the positive ones and as a
result, several measures have been taken by the government, services providers and
consumers to abolish these practices. According to the Mental health act, 2014 seclusion and
restraint should be used as last resort options in providing mental health treatments. Other
alternative measures to restraint and seclusion should be applied to protect the safety and
rights of the consumers.

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Introduction
Mental health is the state of emotional, physiological and social welfare, it is the
absence of mental illness. Mental illness is a health condition that severely impairs how an
individual feel, thinks, behaves and interacts with other people. It is characterized by several
symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, irrational behaviour, extreme changes in mood
and reduced ability to concentrate. Mental illness leads to a mentally disordered individual
and treatment should be provided to protect the person from causing harm to themselves and
others. Mental health is very crucial in the course of life as it directs how a person thinks,
handles stress and interacts with others. Several practices are used in providing mental health
services and these include seclusions and restraint.
Seclusion is the state of confinement of an individual in a certain area and any kind of
free exit is prevented. Restraint is when free movement of an individual is prevented means
such as mechanical, chemical and physical. These two phenomena are applied in mental
health treatment where acute services are provided. There are three types of restraint
including physical restraint which prevents movement of an individual by physical means
such as handcuffs and straps (CARR, 2012). Chemical restrain uses medication such as
sedatives which is aimed at controlling the person's behaviour rather than acting as treatment.
Emotional restraint is applied in conditions whereby an individual is unable to express their
thoughts to the medical staff due to fear of the resulting consequences (Kuosmanen,
Makkonen, Lehtila & Salminen, 2015).
In this criterion, the medics may be coercive and use threats so that the individual can
speak up. These practices are currently advocated to be used in such cases when providing
mental health services. There has been a movement to abolish these restrictive and seclusion
practices in the mental health services with claims that they are against human rights and

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destroy the relationship between patients and the medical professionals (Oster, Gerace,
Thomson & Muir-Cochrane, 2016). This move has been supported by the Royal Australian
and New Zealand College of psychiatrists which requires that seclusion and restrain should
be an intervention used as a last resort.
The National Mental Health Commission in Australia also advocate the use of these
practices in cases where the patient is not ready to submit to the treatment (Wyder et al.,
2017). These practices have led to post-trauma experiences in the induvial who receives the
treatment and several measures have been put in place in the medical profession to promote
recovery-focused services in the patients without causing harm. The National Mental Health
Consumer and Carer Forum are mandated with the role of ensuring that the rights both the
carers and consumers are respected. It has therefore been on the frontline to ensure that
seclusion and restraint practices in mental health services in Australia are eradicated. This
essay will, therefore, evaluate the impact of seclusion to carers and consumers as well as the
role played by registered nurses and consumers in eliminating these practices. It will also
describe the ethical principle that should be observed by nurses when providing mental health
services.
Ethical framework in mental health
Mental Health Australia is a non-governmental organization that nationally
champions and promotes the welfare of the Australian mental health sector thereby ensuring
better mental health for all the citizens. Mental Health Australia code of conduct has laid
upon ethical principles, standards and responsibilities that direct the decision making and
work performance of the members of groups in practice. These members include all the
employees, managers and any individual who undertakes duties representing Mental Health