Final answer:
When initiating a full body restraint, safety is paramount, involving both physical and psychological safety of the individual. Proper clothing, personal hygiene, and adherence to mental health standards must be ensured, while mental health professionals should be readily available. The decision to use restraints should consider wait times, prevalence of mental health issues, and staff-to-student ratios, always prioritizing safety and dignity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Considerations for Initiating Full Body Restraint
When initiating a full body restraint, safety must be the foremost concern. This includes both physical and psychological aspects of the person being restrained. According to the mental health standard, it is crucial that mental health professionals are available to mitigate any psychological harm. For instance, programs might have mental health staff on-call as a resource for those who might experience trauma from restraint situations.
To preserve safety and dignity, individuals must have their personal needs respected. This includes avoiding clothing that could be seen as provocative or disrespectful, adhering to requirements for safety gear, and ensuring personal hygiene is maintained. Clothing choices should never be a contributing factor to the decision to restrain someone.
Using Reasoning Strategies is imperative in decision-making regarding restraints. For example, the problem of long wait times for mental health care may exacerbate the situation, highlighting the need for immediate mental health staff availability. Given that mental health issues are prevalent among the population, with evidence showing high rates among certain groups, and recognizing that an appropriate staff-to-student ratio is not always met, the decision to use restraints should be taken with great caution and oversight.