Spike in number of sexual assaults at mental health facilities last year, report finds
By Cate McCurry, PA
There was an increase in the number of reported sexual assaults at mental health facilities last year, a new report has found.
In its annual report, the Mental Health Commission (MHC) found that in relation to the criminal events (sexual assault) category, there was a marked annual increase in the number of centre incidents.
It found that last year there were 76 reported incidents, compared with 42 in 2023 and 12 in 2022.
The MHC said it engaged with each centre that reported a category 6C criminal event to ensure the safety of each resident and to “require assurances regarding the wider safeguarding arrangements in place”.
In its 126-page annual report, the MHC said that 6C criminal events were the highest among Serious Reportable Events (SRE), followed by environmental events – serious disability associated with a fall – at 23.
Other criminal events reported, including serious injury/disability resulting from a physical assault, was two last year.
In 2024, there was a decrease of 16.87 per cent in the number of reported episodes of seclusion when compared with those reported in 2023.
There were 744 episodes of seclusion reported as having concluded in 2024, involving 434 residents in 27 centres.
The shortest episode reported lasted two minutes, while the longest episode lasted 2,976 hours or 124 days.
This long-running seclusion, which was specific to the forensic mental health care, started in June 2024 and ended in October 2024.
Services are required to notify the Inspector of Mental Health Services if a resident is secluded for a period exceeding 72 hours.
The MHC received 67 notifications from 11 approved centres of episodes of seclusion that lasted longer than 72 hours in 2024.
In comparison, noted within the 2023 annual activity report there were 895 episodes of seclusion involving 473 residents in 27 approved centres, and reported within the 2022 annual report there were 1,364 episodes of seclusion involving 620 residents in 26 approved centres.
In 2024, 69.4 per cent of residents who were secluded were male. The average age of secluded residents at the start of the episode was 36 years.
The youngest secluded resident was 15 years old and the oldest was 77.
The majority of residents (68.4 per cent) were secluded only once.
In 2024, there was a decrease of 18.6 per cent in the number of reported episodes of physical restraint when compared with those reported in 2023.
There were 2,092 episodes of physical restraint involving 844 residents in 51 approved centres notified to the MHC in 2024.
This compares with annually reported activity figures of 2,572 episodes of physical restraint involving 879 residents in 52 approved centres in 2023, and 2,945 episodes of physical restraint involving 1,078 residents in 48 approved centres in 2022.
The average episode of physical restraint in 2024 lasted for four minutes.
Of those residents physically restrained in 2024, 53 per cent were notified as male.
The average age of residents who were physically restrained was 40. The youngest resident who was physically restrained was 12, and the oldest was 86.
The report stated that last year, there were 17 centres with instances of non-compliance that received a critical risk rating.
This means that there was a high likelihood of continued non-compliance and a high impact on the safety, rights, health or wellbeing of residents.
The MHC follows up on all areas of concern and critical risks through its enforcement process.
The MHC took 31 enforcement actions in response to incidents, events and serious concerns arising in 2024.
These actions related to 20 centres nationwide, and the maximum enforcement actions initiated against any one approved centre was five.
This compares with 52 enforcement actions in 2023; 45 enforcement actions in 2022; and 42 enforcement actions in 2021.
Enforcement actions related to core areas of service provision that impacted the safety, wellbeing or human rights of residents.
They included maintenance of premises at the approved centre; risk management procedures at the approved centre; appropriate staffing at the approved centre; the provision of therapeutic services and programmes; and other service provision areas.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for the HSE said: “The report confirms the positive move towards human rights-based standards of mental healthcare and that the majority of approved centres are substantially compliant.
“The trend of compliance at a national level remains positive, with six approved centres achieving 100 per cent compliance, four of which were HSE facilities.
“Overall compliance across HSE adult centres in 2024 was over 80 per cent.
“The MHC also noted the continued reduction of child admissions to adult centres.
“Last year, there were five such admissions, which is the lowest recorded level to date, compared to 14 in 2023.
“A number of approved centres which previously had poor inspection findings have reversed this pattern to a focus on quality improvement and good outcomes.
“We acknowledge the key role of our HSE colleagues in mental health teams across the country who have enabled these positive steps.
“The HSE acknowledges that, in some areas, compliance with regulations for premises, staffing, risk management and care planning remain areas of concern.”
Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler said the report represents a “significant step” to enhance the quality and safety of mental health services.
“While it rightly highlights areas requiring further attention in a small number of approved centres, I am encouraged by the positive developments described in the report,” the junior minister said.
“In particular, the continued adoption of human rights-based approaches and the implementation of innovative practices in many HSE centres are welcome.
“It is also encouraging to see that in 2024, the number of children admitted to adult units fell to its lowest level on record and we saw a further decrease in episodes of seclusion and restraint.
“This is a clear indication that our policies are working.”