Minister for Mental Health welcomes publication of the Mental Health Commission’s report on the declining use of restrictive practices in approved centres
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 31 July 2025
- Last updated on: 31 July 2025
Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler today welcomed the Mental Health Commission’s report on the declining use of restrictive practices in approved centres in Ireland in 2023 and 2024.
This thematic report by the Inspector of Mental Health Services, Professor Jim Lucey, notes the significant downward trend in restrictive practices in recent years following the implementation of revised, human rights-based rules governing the use of seclusion and mechanical restraint, and a Code of Practice on the use of physical restraint.
Minister Butler said:
"I welcome this positive report from the Mental Health Commission. It confirms a significant shift away from restrictive practices which is an important goal of our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision.
"It’s encouraging to see the impact of adopting a person-centred, human rights-based approach to mental health care, in line with the Commission’s Seclusion and Restraint Reduction Strategy.
"I particularly welcome the more than 90% reduction in the use of seclusion and physical restraint in CAMHS services."
The use of physical restraint and seclusion in mental health settings can significantly hinder a person's recovery from mental illness. These practices can be traumatic especially for people with a history of trauma or abuse and must be a measure of last resort.
They can make it harder for people to engage in therapeutic relationships and treatment and undermine a person’s sense of safety and dignity that are vital to recovery.
Minister Butler added:
"I know that all staff in our mental health services are committed to a compassionate, person-centred, and recovery-oriented approach to caring for people in their most vulnerable moments.
"I am actively working with my department officials and the HSE to support staff and management to eliminate the use of seclusion and restraint where possible, including through the development of more modern facilities.
"This year I have allocated a record €31 million for capital projects in mental health, and I’m determined we will do much more over the next five years under the revised National Development Plan.
"The new Mental Health Bill I am progressing through the Oireachtas also includes a range of safeguards for situations where restrictive practices may still be necessary.
"I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all staff across the mental health sector who are striving to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of restrictive practices in our services."
Minister Butler and the Department of Health will continue to work closely with both the Mental Health Commission and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to embed a culture of person-centred, human rights, and recovery-oriented approaches in our mental health services.
Notes
The introduction of the revised Rules and Code - which came into effect on 1 January 2023 - occurred because of international developments around human rights, the advancement of person-centred care, and evidence demonstrating that restrictive practices can have harmful physical and psychological consequences.
Key statistics from the report
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) data: since 2018 there has been a 91% reduction in the use of seclusion and physical restraint in CAMHS services (from 2,608 episodes in 2018 to 238 in 2024).
In 2022 (the final year where the original Code of Practice on Restrictive Practices was still applicable), there were 2,945 episodes of physical restraint involving 1,078 persons. The following year in 2023, there were 2,572 restraint episodes (involving 879 residents). This fell to 2,092 episodes in 2024 (involving 844 residents).
The number of people physically restrained in approved centres in Ireland has fallen by 22% since 2022 and by 30% since 2018. The restraint rate per 100,000 population declined from 57.2 in 2022 to 49.9 in 2023, and to 40.6 in 2024. This demonstrates a fall of 29% in the rate per 100,000 population between 2022 and 2024, and a decrease of 66% since 2018.
Prone restraint fell from 411 episodes in 2023 to 194 episodes in 2024. This represents a reduction of 53% between 2023 and 2024.
Most episodes (97.4% and 97.9%) of physical restraint were of a duration of ten minutes or less, with over three quarters (75.54% and 80.8% respectively) lasting for five minutes or less.
A notable 89% decrease in the number of physical restraints lasting over 15 minutes was seen between 2022 (271 physical restraints) and 2024 (when 31 physical restraints episodes had a duration of over 15 minutes).