Legislation and policy for involuntary mental healthcare across countries in the FOSTREN network: rationale, development of mapping survey and protocol
Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health, Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal; and Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria
Tella Lantta
Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland; and Centre for Forensic Behaviour Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
Tânia Lourenço
Center for Health Technology and Services Research NursID – Innovation & Development in Nursing, Portugal; and Nursing Department, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de São José de Cluny, Portugal
Søren Fryd Birkeland
OPEN Research Unit, Odense Universitetshospital, Denmark; and Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Giulio Castelpietra
Community Psychiatry Service, Department Adult 2, Centre Neuchâtelois de Psychiatrie, Switzerland
Jovo Dedovic
Addiction Department, Special Psychiatric Hospital Dobrota Kotor, Montenegro
José Miguel Caldas-de-Almeida
Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health, Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal
Health Services Research Unit (HØKH), Akershus University Hospital, Norway; Department of Mental Health Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway; and Centre for Care Research, University of South-Eastern Norway, Norway
Background Several countries are currently revising or have already revised their mental health laws to align with the global movement to reduce the use of coercive care. No government has yet fully implemented the recommendation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to eliminate the use of coercion in mental healthcare. Consequently, the international field of mental health law and policy is in a degree of flux. Aims To describe the rationale, development and protocol for a project that will map and examine how mental health laws, policies and service capacity across European countries relate to the use of coercive measures, including involuntary admissions and treatment, restraints and seclusion. This will help to better understand the current situation and explore future directions of policies regarding coercive care. Method The project is being carried out under the purview of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) action network, entitled FOSTREN (Fostering and Strengthening Approaches to Reducing Coercion in European Mental Health Services). A multidisciplinary group of experts developed a comprehensive survey assessing mental health laws, policies and service frameworks, based on World Health Organization and UNCRPD recommendations. The survey was piloted in three countries, revised and disseminated to 30 FOSTREN country representatives. The survey will provide data for three strands of work on legislation, policies and service-level context. A comprehensive evaluation will be conducted, drawing on findings from all work packages. Conclusions The project could inform the development of strategies, interventions and legislation to address gaps and promote compliance with international standards.
