Caring without tying. International experiences of mental health care free from mechanical restraint.

Mechanical restraint is an extended coercive practice in healthcare settings in the Spanish State. Although there is no transparent information or common records on its implementation, there is consensus on its integration as a common practice in mental health care contexts. Although the dominant narrative of the professionals naturalizes and justifies its use as “inevitable”, international human rights organizations warn that, regardless of its duration, it constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment that can reach the rank of torture. The Spanish State, having ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and by virtue of article 93 of its Constitution, is obliged to eliminate and prohibit this practice. Knowing experiences of resources that provide mental health care free of mechanical restraint can serve as a guide, constituting a replicable reference in our territory to move towards respectful care.