Mind calls on MPs to support Seni’s Law this Friday
This Friday is the Third Reading of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill, and the last chance for it to be passed. It is vital that as many MPs as possible attend and show their support, says Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind.
The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill was proposed by Steve Reed MP following the death of Seni Lewis in 2010. Aged just 23 years old, he died following prolonged restraint that was deemed to be excessive, unreasonable, and disproportionate at the inquest into his death.
Mind have long been campaigning against the overuse of restraint in mental health hospitals. When someone is having a mental health crisis and are at their most unwell they may become frustrated, frightened and extremely distressed. No matter what happens they need to be treated with care and compassion. They need help, not harm.
Yesterday, Agenda released statistics that showed that 32 women have died in the last five years as a result of restraint. Last month, figures from mental health hospitals showed that over 3,500 people suffered an injury through being restrained between 2016 and 2017. That’s the highest figure ever recorded. The evidence shows that restraint is damaging.
Too often force is used to control someone’s behaviour. This may include physically restraining someone against their will, injecting them with medication or using seclusion to confine and isolate someone on the ward. For the person in crisis, this can be humiliating, traumatising and at times life-threatening.
Healthcare staff and police do a challenging job and sometimes need to make difficult decisions very quickly, but there are ways to prevent the need for force, by providing well-staffed, therapeutic ward environments and using techniques to gently calm people down if they become agitated or upset.
This is why it’s so important for this Bill to be passed. It will increase transparency and accountability and is an important step towards making safer environments for everyone experiencing a mental health crisis.
The Bill has the support of Government, opposition parties and the mental health sector. Despite this overwhelming consensus, lengthy debate ensured that the Bill was not voted through at Third Reading on 15th June, and the Bill will therefore return to the Chamber on Friday. To prevent such a critical piece of legislation being jeopardised, it is vital that as many MPs as possible attend and show their support.
