Declining restrictive practice in approved centres in Ireland: improving quality of care through the adoption of a...

To assess levels of restrictive practice in approved centres in Ireland following the introduction of revised rules and codes of practice and the implementation by the Mental Health Commission (MHC)) as regulator of a near real-time reporting mechanism.

We examined data reported to the MHC via its computerised system from 65 approved centres during a two-year period from 2024 to 2025.

The data indicate an accelerated decline in restrictive practice in approved centres in Ireland.

Restrictive practice (Restraint and Seclusion) has been declining in approved centres in Ireland. This progress accelerated following the implementation of revised, human rights-based Rules governing the use seclusion and a Code of Practice on the use of physical restraint which were developed by the MHC after consultation with stakeholders and came into effect on 1 January 2023. Many factors contributed to this progress including steps taken by the regulator and by approved centres to enhance this welcome trend.