The Transformation Center Restraint / Seclusion Elimination Initiative
In 2004 the Department of Mental Health won a 3 year federal grant to reduce restraint/seclusion in state facilities. The Transformation Center, Consumer Quality Initiatives and other peer leaders advocated expanding the role of people with mental health conditions in this project, and in 2006 the Transformation Center was hired to lead this initiative. From 2006-2008 The Transformation Center advocated for paid peer roles in state hospitals. Peer involvement including hiring people with experience of psychiatric hospitalization is a crucial ingredient in changing culture and ending harmful practices like restraint and seclusion.
Major accomplishments include:
- Proposing and coordinating a dialogue facilitated by the Public Conversations Project
- Supporting the expansion of the Patient Liaison/Peer Debriefer position SEE PAGES 41-50. The Patient Liaison is a unique position created by Worcester and Tewksbury State Hospital to help them reduce restraint/seclusion use and harness the power of someone with lived experience. Deni Cohodas was the first person to fill the role and her story on the job can be read about on page 41 in the above document.
- Providing technical assistance to state hospitals including input on the trauma informed care plans at 4 state hospitals.
- Working to create linkages between the regional Recovery Learning Communities and state facilities (Worcester State Hospital, Hawthorne Units at Tewksbury State Hospital, Taunton State Hospital, Westborough State Hospital, Kindred Parkview Hospital, Quincy Mental Health Center, Corrigan Mental Health Center, Erich Lindemann Mental Health Center, Metro Boston Inpatient Units at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Cape Cod and the Islands Mental Health Center) in their area.
- In June 2008 The Transformation Center hosted a Peer Summit on Restraint & Seclusion Elimination. During the 1 ½ day summit, Massachusetts peer leaders had an opportunity to discuss and set priorities for our vision on how to eliminate the use of restraint and seclusion. Summit participants developed 11 Position Statements and many participants later met with the state facility / hospital administrators in their area to talk about their vision for culture change and restraint and seclusion elimination.
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Restraint and Seclusion Reduction Initiative
Latest DMH Restraint & Seclusion Data
Bill Scott, former Department of Mental Health Restraint and Seclusion Project Director shares his parting thoughts about how the Department can continue to change culture, meaningfully involve peers, and eliminate restraints and seclusion.