The 2018 Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act received Royal Assent on 1 November 2018 and now, since 7 December 2021, the UK Government has published guidance outlining the new law on preventing the use of force in mental health facilities.

This act will help to ensure that mental health settings are completely transformed, so that people are properly protected, and inappropriate use of force is not used.

Better known as Seni’s law, after following the death of Olaseni Lewis who was a 23-year-old Black man. He had voluntarily sought out care following on-going mental health issues. He died from being restrained by 11 police officers at a mental health facility in September 2010. Ever since his death, Seni’s family, friends, co-workers, and others in the mental health community have been campaigning to push and force this bill through Parliament.

Due to systemic racism within the Mental Health Act, healthcare professions are more than four times more likely to section Black people and are over four times more likely to restrain or hold Black people in isolation while in hospital.

Along with not following proper training in the ways to handle different situations within mental health facilities.

Minister for Mental Health Gillian Keegan, “We must ensure what happened to Seni does not happen to anyone else.”

Following the announcement of this Act, all mental health units must publish a policy of the steps they will take to reduce the use of force by the staff. Offering clear guidance and advise that all staff must follow. Which will highlight things such as, measures needed for prevention, ensuring that better accountability is taken, and record-keeping/reporting of data is followed.

Reintroducing updated quality training will help to make sure everyone is protected under this act.

Helping to form part of a wider and much needed commitment to ensure that mental health services are transformed for good.