Present: How Common is Seclusion Use Today?

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*For a more detailed discussion on seclusion and restraint use in BC, check out the Health Justice report: Seclusion and restraints in BC: What we know and what we don’t: https://www.healthjustice.ca/blog/seclusionandrestraint

hand drawn black and white modern seclusion room

color photography of the same modern seclusion room

Globally, approximately 1 in 7 adults (roughly 15%) will experience seclusion during an inpatient mental health hospitalization (Belayneh et al., 2024).

Rates of seclusion vary widely (from 1% to 56%) across countries, definitions, policies, and reporting practices.

In Canada, national data remains limited, as seclusion use statistics are often not tracked or reported.
Underreporting is recognized as a significant issue.
- Many regions do not collect data on how long a person experiences seclusion and restraint beyond 24 continuous hours.
- Seclusion is documented inconsistently or under different terminology across various health systems.
- This reflects a systemic problem, as what is not measured is difficult to monitor and address.

A recent study from Ontario found that 30% of patients experienced seclusion in forensic psychiatric hospitals(Ham et al., 2025).

In BC, 1 in 4 of all involuntary admissions between 2020 and 2022 included seclusion or restraint use (Health Justice, 2025).