Although many of the same patient safety risk factors that exist in medical settings apply to mental health settings, unique patient safety issues arise in the mental health context. These issues are either more common among individuals with mental illness or are not commonly found in acute medical care. Research commissioned by CPSI and the Ontario Hospital Association explored these issues, resulting in a comprehensive report, Patient Safety in Mental Health.

To help healthcare professionals improve patient safety, CPSI and the Ontario Hospital Association also developed five patient safety mental health education modules as part of the Patient Safety Education Program – Canada. The five mental health modules in the resources section below identify specific patient safety issues that people with mental illness face. Each module raises awareness of individual and system factors that contribute to the specific safety issues, and identifies steps and strategies for prevention.