NMHSRP Background

National emphasis on improving safety in mental health care

The National safety priorities in mental health: a national plan for reducing harm, endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) in 2005, is Australia’s first national statement about safety improvement activity in mental health.

The Plan provides leadership in four national priority areas where stakeholders agreed collectively that adverse events can be prevented, and mental health services made safer.

The four national priority areas identified for first national action are:

• Reducing suicide and deliberate self-harm in mental health services;
• Reducing use of, and where possible eliminating, restraint and seclusion;
• Reducing adverse drug events in mental health services; and
• Safe transport of people experiencing mental disorders.

The Safety and Quality Partnership Subcommittee (SQPS) is focused on implementing the national reform agenda.

The Seclusion & Restraint Working Party (SRWP) has developed a national definition for seclusion along with national principles and national procedures for the use of seclusion with the intention of locating these within broader guidelines relating to the management of disturbed / violent behaviour in inpatient psychiatric settings. Similar work continues in relation to restraint.

National emphasis on service quality and information support

Improving service quality has been a continuing theme of the National Mental Health Strategy since it began in 1993 and was given special prominence under the Second National Mental Health Plan.

The current National Mental Health Plan (2003-2008) strengthens the call for action in this area and places significant obligations on funders and service providers to accelerate efforts to improve outcomes for people affected by mental illness.

Want to know more?

Further reading is available by accessing the following publications on the Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Health and Ageing website: