Rise in use of restraint in child psychiatric units

The commission said it had an oversight role to ensure that 'restrictive practices' are 'only used in rare and exceptional cases as an emergency measure'.

Use of physical restraint in the country’s adult inpatient psychiatric units has fallen, but cases have risen in facilities for children, according to the Mental Health Commission (MHC).

While the total number of restraint cases fell by 15% in 2022, they rose by almost 50% in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs) units.