The Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 requires the reporting of chemical restraint. It classifies chemical restraint as a form of restrictive intervention, thereby subjecting it to the same safeguards and oversight as for other forms of restrictive interventions, such as seclusion and bodily restraint.
The ‘Understanding and reporting chemical restraint factsheet’ provides prescribing clinicians practical guidance on what constitutes chemical restraint and when it needs to be reported to the Chief Psychiatrist under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022.
It gives examples of situations where clinicians are typically required to decide whether administering a medication involves chemical restraint. It also outlines why each situation does or does not require recording as chemical restraint.
The factsheet is accompanied with a flowchart to assist with decision-making on determining and reporting chemical restraint. It can be printed for use in the workplaces of designated mental health services.
This factsheet complements the Chief Psychiatrist’s guideline and reporting directive for restrictive interventions.
Fact sheet - Understanding and reporting chemical restraint
docx 460.9 KB
Flowchart – Determining chemical restraint
pdf 157.6 KB
Flowchart – Determining chemical restraint A3 poster
pdf 163.99 KB
Reviewed 20 August 2025
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