Original article by Dan Harrison
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 7 : 17-Dec-14

The Australian Institute of Health & Welfare will on 17 December 2014 issue a new report on the treatment of mentally ill people. It shows that the rate at which such patients are secluded in solitary confinement has been falling by 12% on average per annum since 2008-09, to just 5% in 2013-14. The trend is being welcomed by experts, who note that solitary confinement is more of a management strategy rather than actual solution to the underlying problem. The Office of the Public Advocate in Victoria wants seclusion to be phased out entirely, while the Ministry of Health in New South Wales says it is a last resort only

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND WELFARE, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION, NEW SOUTH WALES. MINISTRY OF HEALTH, VICTORIA. OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE