Over 5,000 cases of restrictive practices used in mental health services

Some 5,830 episodes of restrictive practices were reported to the MHC from 66 inpatient mental health centres in 2020 – 1,880 people were secluded and/or restrained during that time. Picture: RollingNews.ie

Some 1,880 people were restrained or secluded across mental health services last year, according to a new report by the Mental Health Commission (MHC).

Seclusion, mechanical restraint or physical restraint should never be regarded as a therapeutic practice, the MHC said.