Just wondering what experiences others have had with this, also what you think...
I had to spend FIVE HOURS locked in a police cell yesterday, because they wouldnt let me go until the community 'crisis resolution team' had seen me, as i was suicidal. Fair enough that they couldnt let me go, but is waiting alone in a cell really the best place for someone already extremely distressed? and five hours??!!
As for the crisis team they are so useless I dont know where to begin, but wont start or will go wildly off topic...
Anyway the crisis team did nothing (as usual) but by the time they showed up it was too late in the evening to meet up with friends or anything, leaving me in a much worse position, if it wasnt for my flatmate i wouldnt be here now.
The classic is when someone rings the crisis team, desperate, if they are worried the person will hurt themselves they get the police to make a 'welfare check' (cos of course the police turning up on your doorstep is sooo cheering), all the police can then do is... er, call the crisis team. So the whole thing goes round in circles, with the police getting more and more pissed off with the person in need ("Its not our job to look after you!" "I KNOW, it wasnt me who called you!" - doh).
GRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, people are held in custody as a 'safe place' if they are sectioned - dont know if this is common practice (uk) or just local? But so wrong. grr.
This seems to vary country-wide. I've heard of some areas that have dedicated suites in hopsitals where people who have been detained under section 136 of the MHA can go as a dedicated place of safety to be assessed etc as an alternative to a cell at a local police station.
However, where I live, as a result of local agreements between NHS Trusts and the police, it remains the police station and, on the whole, I agree with you. A police cell is not the most appropriate place for a person experiencing severe mental distress. It's all a bit ridiculous really because the majority of police officers I have spoken to don't agree those in mental health crisis should be in the police station and therefore feel as if they are just going through the motions. They get a bit frustrated with the MH Services. Not surprinsgly really.
I can really relate to the cycle you described - the individual experiencing the crisis gets stuck in the middle - with all sides around at war. It's untherapuetic and unhelpful and unnecessary really. There really should be better systems in place.
ive called the police in during crisis situations in work they are usually very good and do not take people into custody but keep them under house arrest until a psyschairtrist or crisis team arrives,
I definately don't think the polce are always appropriate. One night I was having a bit of an "episode" shall we say and was determined to hurl myself over the bannisters, I was in a state kicking my housemates and shouting as they tried to hold me back, which they could easily do being as they're 6ft plus and I'm 4ft 11 and a half. However one of them called 999 and I had 4 policemen and 2 paramedics arrive to remove me from the house, over reaction much?
All this did was panic me further and made me feel like a right mentalist, I mean how dangerously insane would one small person have to be to warrant 4 big burly policemen to escort them. They also don't seem to have the training to deal with such situations and were frankly very unhelpful and patronising towards me.
Christ knows how scared I'd have been had they put me in custody instead of taking me to the hospital!
Reading this, and also from experiences I've had with the crisis team threatening me with the police (and it was pretty much threatening me as soon as they saw my file on the computer) and knowing experiences other people have had with the police, makes me think/wonder what we can do to help educate the police or change the system in some way.
When I call the crisis line, as soon as they know who I am on the Computer system, they will go from being gentle to "do we need to call an ambulance/police to pick you up and take you to a&e". I suppose it works it that usually it gets me to say I'm fine, put the phone down and get into enough of a state that I'm not able to do anything, but yeah, I agree, it sucks.
I don't know how to do quotes (cos I'm kind of new and just chipping in here and there kind of thing!) but I think that's a really important point above Fallen Rain and that has really got me thinking (what can be done to educate the police etc). The police officers I have come into contact with have all been very supportive and understanding and open/amenable to hearing about what can help in crisis and what can't. I'm not sure what I'm trying to say here...maybe that education could be part of the key to improving understanding and relationships.
Ooops - two posts - sorry - still getting to grips with it.
Last edited by Foxtrot Oscar : 02-04-2008 at 08:10 PM.
Reason: Posted twice - wanted to explain - feel a bit silly.
I have had something similar happen to me. The cops took me straight to the hospital and 2 officers had to wait beside me until the doctors arrived. I had OD'd so I guess that's why the hospital staff had to act faster. It still seemed like a long time waiting though.
If it's the police's job to SERVE AND PROTECT then they really have an obligation to make sure you get immediate medical attention. Keeping you in a cell the the MH team arrives is just unacceptable, dangerous and down right lazy. Don't let some lazy cop say it isn't there job because it bloody well is there job. Whether they like it or not it is there responsibility to serve the community and ensure public safety. Besides that a cell is no guarantee of safety at all. Do some research and you'll find out that many people have commited suicide in cells at police stations.
If something like that happens again maybe you could get a friend or relative that you trust and knows about your condition to take you directly to A&E or your local mental health unit.
"For those who fight for it, life has a flavour the sheltered never know"
-Pinned to a noticeboard at the US Command Post in Khe Sanh.
o god! that sounds awful!! i had the police come for me the other day but all they did as take me to a local hospitalto see the crisis team and i was in and out within three hours, so the time frame may be local to your area or due to time of day, i went in at gone midnight monday night..
anyways i know am not really helping but i jsut wanted to say hey, am glad your okay xx
i think i depends on alot of things as to wot happens in these kinda situation and stuff. like the severity of circumstances, your history, the individual police officers etc
i ranawy and ended up taking an overdoes, the police took me to the hospital and sat with me till my dad got ther (nt tht i wantd him anywer near me) n then in the morning i had to speak to the crisis team, n went home.
wen i was arrested under the MHA (i was really drunk, collapsed unconscious in an alley, i had blood all over my hands so they checkd my arms) so i was handcuffed and taken to AnE and two police officers sat with me in this room from bt 12 at night till 6ish and then once i spoke to the psychiatrist they let me go.
wen i was arrested for DnD they put me in this cell (it was more of a room with a blanket on the floor) with a huge window and they checked on me like evrey 15mins or sumething.
id never been in one, i was so scared and drunk out of my mind, i had a blade in my sock which they dint no bout, i made a mess up my arms pretty bad and passed out.
i dont no wot happened after that bt i ended up in AnE for bout 1hr then they took me back to the station, i was stripped searched, which messed with my head even more coz i carnt stand people touching in any way shape or form. i saw the FME in the morning and they let me go.
