OK I see all the books now. Thanks for the information and link about war trauma.

I appreciate this discussion about mental health care and look forward to getting into the book. The very system that has been established to foster healing and recovery often becomes a source of re-traumatization and we must continue to work towards a trauma-informed mental health system.

Ohio, like many other states, claims to be a trauma-informed system, yet practices are tolerated and promoted that are contrary to trauma-informed principles. For example, the use of seclusion and restraint continues to be utilized in mental health programs and is poorly regulated. The use of seclusion and restraint is harmful and not therapeutic. It represents treatment failure and system neglect and is contrary to the principles of trauma-informed care. A task force has been working for eight years (across 3 governors and administrations, replete with promises and commitments) to address this problem and there has been no leadership or response from the state.

In addition, advocacy groups in Ohio are promoting greater and easier use of involuntary legal commitments and forced treatment orders. Legislation is currently being considered that makes it easier to invoke involuntary and forced treatment and promotes greater use of this legal mechanism.  The use of coercion and force in mental health care can be harmful and is contrary to the principles of recovery and trauma-informed care.  The use of force should be minimized and closely monitored.  There are other non-coercive, effective and less expensive  approaches which should always be considered first and foremost. In a trauma-informed system, forced treatment should be harder to do, not easier.

I am looking forward to this Mad Matters discussion.