Madam, – “Psychiatric patients were either restrained or secluded in mental health facilities on more than 5,000 occasions during 2009, according to a new report” (Home News, January 29th). We hope the issue raised by Carl O’Brien, highlighting the Mental Health Commission’s report on Patients Secluded and Physically Restrained in 2009 is not lost with the state of the economy and the upcoming election – so far this would seem to be the case.
These figures are truly shocking. Government (whoever it might be) must provide resources to enable services to reduce this practice. On the other hand, services must clarify what measures are been taken to reduce drastically, this antiquated practice. – Yours, etc,