The meaning of safety in an acute mental health inpatient services

Safety is a priority in acute mental health inpatient services (MHS). In the health context, safety is defined and measured as the absence or reduction of risk (AIHW 2013; ACSQHC 2012). National safety priorities in MHS (AHMAC 2005) focus on reducing adverse events such as suicide, restraint and medication errors, and the primary performance indicator for safety in Australian public MHS is the rate of seclusions per 1,000 patient days (AHMAC 2011).