​The Always Campaign

Help us put an end to dangerous restraint being used in hospitals

​The Always Campaign

Good inpatient care acts as a lifeline for many young people with mental health problems, who get the expert support they need to get better and return home. But for others, including some with autism or a learning disability, their mental health can get worse in hospital and they and their families can struggle to get help that is right for them.

In some cases, young people can be trapped in inappropriate hospitals for years, or be subjected to long-term seclusion or dangerous forms of restraint.

We believe that the rights of children and young people in mental health hospitals should be respected – always. And that's we launched our Always campaign earlier this year. More than 10,000 people signed our petition calling for stronger rights for children and young people in mental health hospitals and their families, so that they always receive the care that's appropriate for them.

But today we have the chance to do more.

Face-down restraint – the most dangerous form of restraint – was used more than 2,500 times on young people in inpatient care in 2014-15. We now have an opportunity to change the law, and we need your help.

On 3rd November, Steve Reed MP is taking the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill to Parliament. The Bill is being referred to as Seni's Law, named after a young man called Seni who was tragically killed in a mental health unit due to being physically restrained. If the bill becomes law, it will limit the use of some of the most dangerous forms of restraint in mental health units.

But if not enough MPs turn up on the day to vote, the bill will fail at the first hurdle. That's why we're asking people to email their MPs, telling them how important this issue is, and urging them to turn up on the day to vote in favour of the bill.

You can email your MP asking them to attend https://act.youngminds.org.uk/help-us-put-end-dang... – it only takes a few minutes but it could make all the difference.

Your MP can change the law. Please make sure they do.

To find out more about the campaign, please visit www.youngminds.org.uk/always.

This is a user generated post from our wider Voice community and was not edited by the Voice team. We would love to hear your views too! Sign up for an account and make your Voice heard!

Author

Young Minds

Young Minds

YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity committed to improving the wellbeing of children and young people in the UK.

Recent posts by this author

View more posts by Young Minds

1 Comments

  • Luke Taylor

    On 26 October 2017, 11:44 Luke Taylor Contributor commented:

    Why on earth would people abuse a child?! That's sickening.

Post A Comment

You must be signed in to post a comment. Click here to sign in now