Restraint and Seclusion Reduction

Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) is a public teaching hospital specializing in comprehensive mental health care, education, and research. The organization operates 346 inpatient beds across specialized programs, including four Psychiatric Intensive Care
Units (PICUs), as well as forensic, geriatric, adolescent, and general adult services. These units provide recovery-oriented, trauma-informed care for individuals experiencing acute psychiatric crises or complex, treatment-resistant mental illnesses. Serving a population of more than three million people across Central East Ontario, Ontario Shores integrates evidence-based clinical practice with digital innovation to enhance patient safety and quality of care.

Ontario Shores has taken a transformative approach to reducing the use of restraints and seclusion in mental health care, prioritizing patient autonomy and dignity through a least- restraint philosophy. Historically, a significant percentage of patients admitted to mental health facilities in Ontario experienced restrictive interventions, particularly those diagnosed with schizophrenia or mood disorders.