Mental health patients in England are facing an unexpected and dangerous trend: the frequent use of prone restraint, a technique that involves holding individuals face down to control potentially harmful behavior. Despite warnings from health experts and recent legislative measures aimed at reducing its use, new figures reveal it is still being employed thousands of times annually.

Recent data obtained by the Liberal Democrats indicates that prone restraint was applied over 5,200 times in 2023 alone, with more than 3,700 of those incidents occurring in just the first ten months of this year. "These findings are alarming," comments Danny Chambers, the party's spokesperson on mental health issues. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Care Quality Commission have both advised mental health facilities to avoid this method due to the risks associated with it, including potential damage to the airways and chest.

In response to long-standing concerns, the UK government had previously directed mental health units to phase out face-down restraint. Additionally, guidelines established in 2021 clearly state that there should be no planned use of restraint in a prone position. Nonetheless, reports indicate that the practice remains widespread, raising questions about the efficacy and compliance of these directives.

The implementation of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018, often referred to as Seni's Law, was initially intended to provide safeguards against excessive restraint practices after the tragic death of Olaseni Lewis in a mental health crisis. Despite this legislation, data reveals that 16,186 patients were restrained in 2022, a number that increased in 2023 to 16,920. Staggering statistics also show that patients suffered injuries in 900 restraint incidents last year, with another 702 reported in the first ten months of this year.

Disparities across NHS trusts further highlight the concerning nature of restraint practices. The East London mental health trust recorded the highest rates of restraint use, totaling 3,831 incidents from January to October, while some trusts, such as the Cornwall Partnership, reported only four instances. Such inconsistencies suggest a broader issue within mental health care systems in the UK, leaving vulnerable populations at risk.

Andy Bell, the chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, expresses deep concerns about the persistent use of restraint in inpatient settings. He emphasizes the pressures that health services face, including overcrowded wards, chronic staffing shortages, and outdated facilities, contributing to reliance on such distressing methods. "Alternatives to hospital stays are desperately needed," he warns.

Mind, a prominent mental health charity, echoes these sentiments, advocating for restraint to be a last resort—only to be used when conventional methods of prevention and de-escalation have failed.

In response to the rising concerns, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the troubling data, emphasizing that patient safety must always come first. The spokesperson reassured that ongoing efforts, including a new mental health bill and recruitment drives for mental health personnel, aim to enhance care quality and ensure dignity in treatment.

As the spotlight turns to this pressing issue, the call for reform becomes more urgent than ever. Policymakers and health leaders must act decisively to protect the rights and well-being of some of society's most vulnerable individuals, ensuring that mental health treatments are both compassionate and effective.