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Note on Language

In inpatient mental health contexts—particularly when discussing coercive practices such as seclusion—language can either reinforce harm or support dignity, safety, and healing. This toolkit uses intentional, person‑first, and trauma‑informed language to encourage reflection on how everyday language can impact people’s experiences in inpatient mental health settings. 

Terms used in this toolkit: 

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  • People with lived experience: This term acknowledges expertise that comes from direct experience of mental health challenges and navigating the mental health system.

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  • Young people: We use this term to reflect a broad age range from adolescents to young adults. Note that we do not discuss seclusion among children (i.e., 12 and under) in this toolkit. 

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  • Seclusion: We intentionally use a clear, descriptive definition of seclusion to avoid euphemistic language that can obscure its coercive nature. 

​​

  • Restraints: We use restraints to refer to manual, mechanical, or chemical (i.e., medication) restraints used to immobilize or restrict a person’s ability to freely move their body.

In inpatient mental health contexts—particularly when discussing coercive practices such as seclusion—language can either reinforce harm or support dignity, safety, and healing. This toolkit uses intentional, person‑first, and trauma‑informed language to encourage reflection on how everyday language can impact people’s experiences in inpatient mental health settings. 

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Terms used in this toolkit: 

​

  • People with lived experience: This term acknowledges expertise that comes from direct experience of mental health challenges and navigating the mental health system.

​​

  • Young people: We use this term to reflect a broad age range from adolescents to young adults. Note that we do not discuss seclusion among children (i.e., 12 and under) in this toolkit. 

​​

  • Seclusion: We intentionally use a clear, descriptive definition of seclusion to avoid euphemistic language that can obscure its coercive nature. 

​​

  • Restraints: We use restraints to refer to manual, mechanical, or chemical (i.e., medication) restraints used to immobilize or restrict a person’s ability to freely move their body.

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