View source for Seclusion

{{Short description|Act of isolating from society}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
[[File:PaulHermitPretiMattia Preti's St. Paul the Hermit - Cleveland Museum of Art.jpg|thumb|right|Representation of [[Paul of Thebes]], known in the Catholic and Coptic Church as the first saint to live a secluded life]]

'''Seclusion''' is the act of secluding (i.e. isolating from society), the state of being secluded, or a place that facilitates it (a secluded place). A person, couple, or larger group may go to a secluded place for [[privacy]] or [[Quiet Time|peace and quiet]]. The seclusion of an individual is called [[solitude]].

==Restrictions on the seclusion of a man and a woman==
{{Further2|[[Yichud]] (in [[Halakha|Jewish law]]) and [[Khilwa]] (in [[Sharia|Islamic law]])}}
In some cases where there are legal, religious or social restrictions on two people having [[physical intimacy]], there may be restrictions on being together in a secluded place. For example, under traditional schools of [[sharia]] or [[Islam]]ic [[law]], a man and a woman who are not married and not [[mahram]], may be forbidden to be together in a house, a bathroom, or a secluded place. A man and woman could be in a secluded area for work purposes, just talking, or anything that does not allow them to pass their limits. See also [[yichud]]—a similar rule in Judaism.

==As a therapy==
{{See also|Solitude|Padded cell}}
Seclusion may be used as a control tactic in [[psychological]] treatment settings. Seclusion of an agitated person in a quiet room free of stimulation may help de-escalate a situation which may be dangerous to the agitated person or those around them.

In relation to administering medications, seclusion is a tactic devised for [[non-compliant patients]]. Methods used to restrict the freedom of such patients include medication (including [[chemical restraint]]), [[physical restraint]], and [[behavioral therapy]].<ref name="StoffBreiling1997">{{cite book|author1=David M. Stoff|author2=James Breiling|author3=Jack D. Maser|title=Handbook of antisocial behavior: David M. Stoff, James Breiling, and Jack D. Maser, editors|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=grg6nHFYeYMC&pg=PA448|accessdate=12 December 2010|year=1997|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|isbn=978-0-471-12452-8|page=448}}</ref>

Seclusion must only be used in the best interest of the patient, it must only be used as a last resort method, and it must not be prolonged as a form of punishment on the patient. When it is otherwise used, it may be considered a form of [[solitary confinement]]. In Ireland, The Mental Health Commission governs seclusion in [[psychiatric institutions]]. The act states that people can only be placed in seclusion if
* it prevents them from hurting themselves and/or others
* and it complies with the rules set out by the commission.<ref name="MorrisseyJenm2008">{{cite book|author1=Jean Morrissey|author2=Jenm|author3=Brian Keogh|author4=Louise Doyle|title=Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aBL8LwAACAAJ|year=2008|publisher=Dekker|isbn=978-0-7171-4459-4|page=41}}</ref>

To prevent [[contagious disease]] transmission [[Isolation (health care)#Self-isolation|self-isolation]] is used as a [[public health]] measure.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{wikiquote}}
{{Wiktionary|seclusion}}

[[Category:Treatment of mental disorders]]