Embedding research knowledge to prevent seclusion in a young adult inpatient mental health setting in British Columbia

Young people living with mental health challenges are often hospitalized as a part of their journey in engaging with supports and services to improve their mental health. These experiences of hospitalization can be traumatizing, however, especially if young people experience seclusion: confinement of a person in an isolated, locked room to minimize harm and promote safety. There is a growing need to prevent the use of seclusion among young people in inpatient mental health settings. Our project will build on knowledge gained from a previous research study exploring the perspectives of healthcare providers and young people with mental health challenges to better integrate seclusion prevention strategies in inpatient mental health settings. To achieve this, we will host a one-day session that will bring together healthcare providers, young people, and researchers to identify seclusion prevention strategies. These strategies will then be directly embedded within a new Young Adult Mental Health Inpatient Unit within Island Health, in Victoria. They will also be shared with healthcare providers and students nationally and globally through a webinar, educational module, and an academic publication and conference presentation.