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Coercion in psychiatry refers to a continuum of measures applied against the patient's will. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that beyond the observation of frequent use in most countries, there are significant disparities between locations where coercion is used, even within a single country. Such is the case in France, where in certain hospitals restraints continue to be used with most patients, while in other institutions restraints are not used at all and wards employ an open-door policy. From a salutogenic perspective, we will turn out attention to the latter category in order to examine the protective factors, which we shall refer to as levers of least coercion. Adopting an interactionist and contextualized approach, we carried out an ethnographic study of four hospitals which in decades past have rarely, if ever, resorted to seclusion or mechanical restraint, and in which wards are left unlocked. This study, which took place between February to June 2022, was led by sociologists and nurse-researchers. It combines observations (62 days) and interviews among a diverse sample (mental health care professionals including psychiatrists, administrative staff, service users) (n = 78). It allows us to confirm that in comparable patients, and without increasing the level of violence or recourse to other methods of restraint, it is possible to keep wards open and still see infrequent or non-existent use of seclusion or mechanical restraint. Facilitating this state of affairs is the activation of relatively ordinary clinical measures based upon the quality of the caretaking relationship, the skills of caretaking teams, and a favorable therapeutic environment. Such clinical levers must be supported by both organizational methods and an institution, emphasizing the essential role played by the management team, the community of psychiatrists, and directors. The importance of a common culture and value system has also been pointed out - a culture which is equal parts caretaking and institutional organization.