The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
awarded grants to programs in eight states in September, worth a total of more
than $5 million over three years, to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use
of seclusion and restraint among institutional and community-based mental
health treatment centers.
"Too often, seclusion and restraint are the cause of additional
trauma, injury, and even death," said SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline,
Ph.D. The grants aim to ensure that states invest in "sustainable
solutions and strategies for the treatment of those with serious mental
illness."
The funds were awarded under SAMHSA's Alternatives to Restraint and
Seclusion State Incentive Grant program, which supports activities that build
a foundation for delivering and sustaining "effective recovery-based
substance abuse prevention, treatment, and/or mental health services,"
including services for people with co-occurring substance abuse and other
mental health disorders.
Continuation of the grants is subject to the availability of funds as well
as the progress achieved by the grantees. Total funding for the first year is
$1.7 million.
The grantees are in Connecticut, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma,
Texas, Vermont, and Virginia. They include a Connecticut Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services program that aims to develop and implement a
strategic plan that will reduce and eliminate the use of seclusion and
restraint among young adults aged 18 to 25 who have serious mental
illness.
Another program is an Indiana Family and Social Services Administration
program to reduce the incidence of seclusion and restraint at two
state-operated facilities that treat youth aged 5 to 18.
The New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services is using a $214,000 grant
in four state psychiatric hospitals to monitor "relevant outcomes"
and to partner with a consumer-run mental health organization that will
provide on-site peer advocates.
The New York State Office of Mental Health says it will use its $214,000
grant to help build capacity at inpatient and residential treatment programs
that use "positive alternatives" to seclusion and restraint as
part of their treatment of children with severe emotional disturbances.