The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) is the state mental health authority (SMHA). There are many facets of the SMHA, including using the role to advance research, training and knowledge to facilitate continual advancement of quality mental health services for citizens of the Commonwealth. Included in this effort is a long-term initiative to promote culture and practice change which was developed in partnership between the DMH Child, Youth & Family Division and the Licensing Division. This effort, the Restraint & Seclusion Prevention Initiative, began in 1999.

The shared goal of this ongoing work is to help adults, youth, and families achieve personal growth, recovery and healing. We support treatment that is strength-based, trauma-informed and person-centered and focuses on building strengths, enhancing natural supports, and developing necessary skills and competencies. The initative draws on state-of-the-art knowledge from international, national, regional, and local experts in key areas related to accelerating recovery and improving and sustaining treatment outcomes for persons served in a variety of settings.

The DMH, in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute, will record and archive a number of the trainings offered through the initiative. Some are pre-recorded and some were originally offered live, either in person or online. These recordings and their accompanying slides and handouts will be available on this website and can be used for education and training. We hope that treatment providers will find these trainings useful in doing this rewarding, challenging work. We are very grateful to all of the staff who help those we serve on their healing journey: direct care staff, clinicians, nurses, physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, art, music, and recreation therapists, social workers, and members of faith-based communities all work to improve the current systems of care and provide the best possible service, support, and treatment for some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens.