Thank you for your continued support. 

I have some good news.  The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) has convened a Task Force on Minimising Coercion in Mental Health Care, and a Users and Carers Advisory Board. I have been appointed a Carers representative on both committees.  I have just returned from a fruitful two-day meeting of members of the Task Force on Minimising Coercion.  We considered a Discussion Paper on Minimising Coercion.  The paper is coming up with recommendations for best practice on ways to move towards less coercion throughout the world, including of course Japan. Coercion means all forms of coercion, including mechanical, physical and chemical restraints, seclusion (solitary confinement) and forced hospitalisations.

Martha Savage