Crisis care

I was in hospital to get better. Instead I was abused and traumatised.

If you had a mental health crisis in hospital, would you be restrained? Find out how restraint is used where you live.

When someone is having a mental health crisis, they may become frustrated, frightened and extremely distressed. Even when they seem aggressive and threatening, or refuse treatment, they still desperately need help and compassion.

We understand healthcare staff have to deal with challenging situations and make quick decisions to ensure the safety of patients and staff. But using physical restraint on someone who is in crisis can be humiliating, dangerous and even life-threatening.

When people’s lives come crashing down in a crisis, they need help not harm. We’re calling for national standards on the use of restraint, accredited training and an end to face down restraint.