Reducing Seclusion & Restraint Use in Mental Health Settings: Core Strategies for Prevention

1. The use of seclusion and restraint (S/R) is traumatizing to consumers and staff, interrupts the therapeutic process, and is not conducive to recovery. 2. Six effective strategies to reduce S/R use have been identified and are low cost, easily replicable, and publicly available. 3. Organizations that wish to reduce S/R use need to embrace a prevention approach, follow the tenets of continuous quality improvement, and develop a reduction plan individualized for that facility. 4. Highly visible, consistent, and effective organizational leadership appears to be the most significant and critical component in any successful S/R reduction initiative.