The security of a mental health facility is a major indicator of its healthcare quality standards. Adherence to safety and security protocols has been reported to improve patient survival outcomes by over 30%, according to the American Hospital Association.[1]
No treatment center can predict when a behavioral crisis, medical emergency, or natural disaster will occur. Therefore, a safety plan should be developed long before an emergency ever happens.Â
A good security response plan consists of three interconnected elements:Â
On this page, you’ll learn how mental health facilities approach security and emergency preparedness to ensure the patients they serve stay safe at all times.Â
Mental health facilities care for people with a wide range of mental health conditions.Â
When admitted, some of these patients may be experiencing:Â
And some people take medications that could increase their risk of falls, allergic reactions, seizures, or other health emergencies.Â
A treatment center needs to be prepared to respond safely to all of these situations at any time, day or night.
Research shows that the risk of suicide is highest during periods of psychiatric crisis and immediately after admission to inpatient psychiatric care.[2] Because of this, the Joint Commission and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommend that suicide prevention strategies be part of a mental health facility’s safety policy.[3]
In addition, treatment centers must maintain emergency preparedness for fires, severe weather, earthquakes, utility failures, hazardous material incidents, and external security threats.
Here are some of the security measures taken by a mental health facility:Â
You can’t just walk into mental health treatment centers. They strictly control who gets to enter and leave the building. A visitor has to check in at the front desk and provide their identification before they receive permission to enter patient areas.Â
Staff members also use secure access systems to move throughout the facility. Some specialized treatment areas are only accessible to authorized personnel after they have proven their identity.Â
Controlled access protocols like these reduce the chance that unauthorized individuals will enter the facility. They also prevent patients from accidentally leaving the facility during times when doing so could place them at a safety risk.
All mental health facilities are bound by law to use ligature-resistant fixtures. What this means is cords, clothing, bedsheets, or other materials cannot easily be looped around anything in the facility to facilitate self-harm. This includes door handles, fixtures in bathrooms, curtain rods, grab bars, closet hardware, and so on.Â
The Joint Commission accreditation for a mental health facility happens only after abiding by strict safety and quality standards.[4] Patient safety standards of the Joint Commission require inpatient psychiatric units to provide ligature-resistant environments in:Â
All patient rooms are regularly checked to make sure they remain comfortable and safe. When a patient is admitted to a facility, their personal belongings may be reviewed to ensure they don’t bring any dangerous items.
Furniture items in patient rooms, like beds, chairs, desks, and storage units, have rounded edges to reduce the risk of injury.Â
Further, anything that you’d expect to be made of glass is instead made of shatter-resistant materials. And electrical outlets and cords are given special attention to minimize any safety hazards.
All mental health facilities use security cameras in public areas such as entrances, hallways, and shared spaces.Â
But cameras are never installed inside patient rooms or in bathrooms so that people’s privacy remains intact. They are only used where they can improve safety while still respecting personal dignity.Â
The cameras help the staff in the facility to monitor activity and respond to any situation when someone needs their assistance immediately.Â
Staff members are always present throughout the facility and particularly around patient rooms for in-person surveillance.Â
All mental health facilities go through formal safety risk assessments conducted by trained professionals. The building and everyday operations are reviewed by these professionals to ensure they meet current safety standards.
Many facilities perform an environmental safety risk assessment at least once a year. And high-risk areas are reviewed more frequently.Â
The assessment is run by a multidisciplinary team consisting of:Â
The team looks for any damaged furniture, fixtures that are at risk of ligature, poor lighting that may cause patient falls, unsecured medications, blind spots in surveillance, malfunctioning doors, and other similar concerns.Â
If any risks are found, the facility develops a plan to correct them as quickly as possible.Â
Every licensed mental health treatment center has written emergency procedures that staff are trained to follow. Below, we provide an outline of these measures.
A mental health emergency can be a patient’s:Â
The first response to such an emergency is a rapid clinical assessment. A mental health professional evaluates the:Â
They also use verbal de-escalation techniques to calm the patient down.Â
The patient is placed under one-to-one monitoring or continuous visual observation until the crisis has passed. If clinically necessary, a psychiatrist may order emergency medication to reduce severe agitation.Â
Physical restraint is used only when less restrictive interventions have failed.
Mental health facilities are also prepared to respond to medical emergencies that may occur during treatment. These emergencies can include:Â
In case of a medical emergency, a staff member will immediately assess the patient’s airway, breathing, circulation, and level of consciousness.Â
The facility has personnel trained in basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) who begin emergency care. Another staff member contacts emergency medical services (EMS) if hospital care is required.Â
Further, all treatment centers maintain emergency equipment for immediate use, such as:Â
A facility is also prepared for unprecedented emergencies like:Â
An emergency plan is developed in coordination with local fire departments and emergency management agencies.
If, for example, a fire alarm is activated, staff will immediately begin evacuation procedures based on the facility’s emergency plan. All patients are guided to designated safe areas after their attendance has been verified using patient rosters.Â
Additionally, fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, emergency lighting, and clearly marked exit routes are regularly inspected in a facility.Â
During severe weather events, patients are moved to protected interior areas away from windows. To ensure care continues if normal operations are disrupted, treatment centers also have:Â
AMFM is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
Crisis management in a residential mental health treatment center follows clinical guidelines that prioritize the least restrictive intervention first.
The first response is almost always verbal de-escalation, as this approach is highly effective for reducing aggressive incidents. Staff are trained to recognize early warning signs of escalating distress, and they actively listen to the patient to ensure calm communication.
If the situation continues to worsen, a behavioral emergency response team (BERT) is activated. The team consists of:
Each team member has a defined role designed to assess the patient, coordinate communication, ensure the safety of nearby patients, and determine the most appropriate intervention.Â
Physical restraint is the last resort when dealing with a crisis.
However, some behavioral crises cannot be safely managed within a residential treatment center because the patient requires inpatient psychiatric care.Â
In these cases, facilities follow established transfer protocols. All details, like the patient’s medical history, current medications, recent behaviors, suicide or violence risk assessments, and treatments already provided, are communicated to the receiving facility.Â
The safety of a behavioral health facility depends as much on its staff as it does on its security systems. Therefore, all employees receive specialized training before working with patients.Â
Trauma-informed care recognizes that many people receiving mental health treatment have experienced some form of physical or emotional trauma. Therefore, SAMHSA recommends trauma-informed care as a core component of behavioral health services.[5]
Many facilities require their employees to get Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training so they can learn essential skills in de-escalation, crisis management, and behavioral intervention.[6]
Mental health facilities also conduct regular emergency response drills so staff know exactly what to do in cases of emergencies. The drills often revolve around:Â
Rehearsing these scenarios before they happen helps the facilities identify gaps in their emergency plans.Â
Staff training is a continuous process. Many organizations require annual refresher courses in suicide prevention, de-escalation, first aid, Basic Life Support, infection control, and patient rights.
Finally, facilities use competency assessments to verify that staff can apply their training safely in real-world situations. All staff members go through periodic performance evaluations, and if any knowledge gaps are identified, they receive additional coaching.Â
A visitor in a mental health treatment center is required to check in at the reception desk, present a government-issued photo ID, and sign a visitor log before entering the facility. Visits only take place during designated visiting hours. They may also be limited to approved family members or support persons identified by the patient.Â
Facilities also have contraband prevention procedures to reduce the risk of dangerous items entering the treatment environment. So, visitors are asked to store personal belongings in lockers or have their bags inspected.Â
Weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs, vaping devices, sharp objects, glass containers, cords, and certain medications are prohibited inside a facility.Â
AMFM (A Mission For Michael) Mental Health Treatment takes the responsibility of protecting our patients very seriously. We are a Joint Commission-accredited provider of inpatient and residential mental health treatment. All of our locations follow nationally recognized standards for patient safety, quality of care, and continuous performance improvement.
We also invest heavily in our people. Every clinical and support staff member at AMFM Mental Health Treatment receives training to stay current with the latest clinical skills, emergency response procedures, legal requirements, and ethical standards.Â
Our locations in California, Virginia, and Minnesota maintain high safety standards and are well-appointed. We accept insurance and are in-network with most major providers. To check your insurance coverage for mental health care, simply complete our confidential online verification form or call us at 866-478-4383.
If you or someone you love is looking for a trusted inpatient or residential mental health treatment program, we’re here to help. Reach out to us today to start the admissions process or learn more about how we can support your mental well-being. Our compassionate team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide guidance with no obligation.
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At AMFM, we strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate medical information based on current best practices, evolving information, and our team’s approach to care. Our aim is that our readers can make informed decisions about their healthcare.
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