Concern over number of mentally ill kids held in restraints

Health Minister Greg Hunt has raised concern over the number of mentally ill young people being restrained in Queensland.

Health Minister Greg Hunt says restraints can cause trauma. Picture: AAP

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has raised concern over the high number of young ­people with mental illness being subjected to physical or mechanical restraint in Queensland.

The state Office of the Public Guardian has questioned whether such practices are legal and criticised the delay in receiving notifications to allow its oversight. In its annual report, the ­office says the use of restraints on children is “deeply concerning” and risks creating psychological trauma and physical injury.

“An analysis of these notifications has given rise to concerns not only about the numbers of young people being subjected to such practices in Authorised Mental Health Services, but also the percentage of children under the age of 10 years being subjected to these practices,” it says.

In a letter to Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles, Mr Hunt urges the state to honour its commitment under the national mental health and suicide prevention plan to reduce or eliminate restrictive practices.

The National Mental Health Commission and expert groups continue to advocate for the use of less harmful methods.

“I also encourage you to work with the Public Guardian to ­reduce the use of restrictive practices on children and so reduce the psychological trauma and physical injury that such practices can cause,” Mr Hunt wrote.

Queensland chief psychiatrist John Reilly has said his office prioritised efforts to ­reduce or eliminate the use of ­seclusion and restraint.

The latest data from the Australasian Clinical Indicator Report, released in November, shows the rate of physical ­restraint had increased 3.5 times in eight years.