Factors Influencing Seclusion Use
When and why seclusion is used stems from complex, multi-layered factors that are difficult to interpret in isolation (Beames & Onwumere, 2022; Olaye et al., 2026; Roy et al., 2021).
-
Patient-related factors: gender, younger age, diagnoses, racialized people
-
Provider-related factors: attitude towards mental illness, prejudice (conscious and not), education, experience, stress
-
Organization-related factors: training programs, documentation practices, unit norms/culture
-
Environment-related factors: physical design of the unit, lack of quiet or de-escalation spaces
-
Evidence shows that Indigenous, Black and other racialized groups are more likely to experience seclusion during an inpatient mental health hospitalization (Hua et al., 2025; Pedersen et al., 2023).
-
No single factor explains seclusion use. This is why prevention requires change at multiple levels: individual practice, team culture, organizational policy, and physical environment – with attention to underlying stigma and inequities.
