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Most of us know what it feels like to be ill and frightened. Now imagine being held down by the very people responsible for your care.

This can happen in mental health hospitals when staff believe someone poses a risk to themselves or others. Patients may be physically restrained, locked in a room alone or given medication to calm them quickly. These measures are known as restrictive interventions. Although they are intended to prevent harm, they can cause serious injuries and, in extreme cases, death.

Our research suggests that what happens after a restrictive intervention can affect how people recover from the experience. The support they receive may help them feel safe again, while a lack of support can add to their distress.

The work is published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies.

Concerns about the use of force in mental health care go back almost 200 years. In 1839, psychiatrist John Conolly introduced a policy at Hanwell Asylum in Middlesex that ended the use of mechanical restraints such as straitjackets and handcuffs. However, historical research shows that Conolly continued to advocate locking patients in rooms alone, a practice known as seclusion.

Today, restrictive interventions remain part of mental health care. Research has shown that these experiences can be deeply distressing and sometimes traumatic, even when staff consider them necessary to prevent harm.

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