im not sure if ive put this in the right place or not.Not sure if it should go here or in Debate or whatever as its really asking for peoples opinions.
This isnt really relating to me or my situation or anything.
Just ive been thinking through a lot of different situations recently, some relating to people here and some not and then others where ive just generally thought up situations and wondered about them, but the question that has come to me through this is when SHOULD someone be sectioned.
im not really asking when could someone be sectioned ie the current/written criteria for sectioning.
But instead when do people think that a person should be sectioned?In what circumstances?
Also before people answer i just want to say though ive never been sectioned i know its often far from what could help a person most as i also on occasion previously found with voluntary admission.i am aware of this and for me this also makes the debate stronger about when it 'should' happen which is partly why im interested in your answers.
Hope some of that makes at least some sense!
Thanks.
xx xx
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i think if someone is refusing medical treatment for something like a lethal OD or deeply cut wrists or throat.
i dont think it should be used for something like threatening to kill yourself in public (like the police do) unless they are actually doing something activly like standing on a bridge or holding a gun to there head or something.
It's a tough one. I suppose there shouldnt be any general rules as everyone's circumstances are different. Some people respond to hospital and some people get worse.
I think that if anyone is going to attempt to take their own life, and they refuse any help, then they should be sectioned.
And as sunshine said, if someone has attempted to take their own life or has harmed badly and needs life saving medical treatment, they should be treated against their will and sectioned if they dont agree to voluntary admission.
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I think if someone is unable to keep themselves safe and refusing treatment, oh and obviously if someone is a danger to others then they shouldn't be allowed to walk about freely until they are ok.
But like others have said, It's a hard one because everyone is different and what someone can handle mentally is different to what another can handle.. Like for example someone can feel depressed/suicidal but not actively act on it yet another person feeling depressed/suicidal can drive them up the wall and not be able to keep themselves safe.
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I think it depends. I think it should be avoided until absolutely necessary, because it's a horrible situation to be in, it often doesn't help, and it can have serious consequences.
I don't know a lot about most sections so I can't really comment, but I think with s.136s there should be a broader range of situations - if you've caused yourself serious harm or attempted suicide obviously, or if you're threatening to. I wasn't suicidal when I was 136ed, and I actually told the police that, but the police officer who detained me said that because he had grave concerns for my safety in that situation he wasn't willing to have that on his conscience - and to be fair, it's their jobs on the line if they let you go off and do something. Obviously the police aren't generally trained in mental health, so I think in certain circumstances they should be able to section someone threatening self-harm or suicide.
But in general I don't think self-harm alone should be a criteria for sectioning - there are better methods for dealing with self-harm than sectioning, and I do think sectioning should be a last resort, especially because it can probably have the opposite effect and cause someone to panic more.
One of my friend's has got sectioned before, and their solicitor actually said that you actually have more rights to appeal against staying in hospital than those who are voluntarily.
I kinda get confused sometimes, because I fear that if I go voluntarily they won't allow me to leave. It has happened before.. and it majorly sucks.
I dunno maybe its just me..
"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes." - W. Gibson.
^ That is confusing because from what I knew even if you walked out of hospital [unless you are a minor], nobody has the right to drag you back, not even the police [unless you are at current risk to yourself]. However sometimes staff will restrain a voluntry patient and take them back, and on other occasions [with very similar circumstances] a person is not taken back and as long as they arrive home, thats it, they dont go back [though this seems far more common if the hospital is many miles from home].
Placing people on a section can be done on grounds in one case that wouldnt be considered in another. Its a part of the law that is frequently bent as far as Ive experianced. The thing is there are several criteria, one being that the hospital has to be actively preventing deterioration. Now, many people get worse in hospital, and so although it may be probable that someone will get worse whilst in hospital, a section may still be used IF the consultant or crisis team want to put someone in hospital.
I dont think anyone can give a general idea as to when someone SHOULD be sectioned, because putting someone in hospital can cause more problems in the long run and I dont think that is considered freqently enough.
I think it's called involuntary commitment in some countries, if that helps?
Basically it means someone can be admitted to hospital against their will for a certain length of time, depending on which type of section is used.
I was sectioned three times, but this was only to send me to a secure unit because I was attacking people left right and centre (floridly psychotic) and I was smashing my face against the walls.
It is strange that to be sent to a secure unit, you have to be sectioned, though.
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
I was sectioned three times, but this was only to send me to a secure unit because I was attacking people left right and centre (floridly psychotic) and I was smashing my face against the walls.
It is strange that to be sent to a secure unit, you have to be sectioned, though.
That's strange. In Denmark you can go to a secure unit even if you are admitted voluntarily.
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Miss anon - Often people who go in voluntary are going in because they are threatened with sectioning - either agree to go in or get sectioned. So you go in voluntary but you can't just leave. It is up to the dr's if you can leave or not, and if you try to leave (even though you went in voluntary) this can lead to you being sectioned. Thus you can't just 'walk out'. Also the police can be sent to pick up any patient who the nurses/drs feel are 'at risk'.
I don't really know what requires sectioning. It can be a VERY traumatic experience for some - the lack of control etc.
Also many can end up relying on hospitals and yo-yoing in and out. But for others getting in hospital, a bit of rest, and get meds stable can be very benificial.
Every person should be treated as an individual. If it is going to benifit the individual, or if they are at risk of harming others then they should go into hospital.
I've always yo-yo'ed. And always had a support system outside of hospital. So even when I ended up in a&E more than 3 times in less than a month, in hospital over 24 hours on drips and such. And saying I'll just overdose again. Yet don't end up sectioned/in psych ward because it wouldn't have benifited me. I would have got out (due to having a good support team outside) and would just overdose again. While when I first ever presented I got sectioned, and admitted frequently to psych wards. It never helped me. And I would always OD as soon as I got out. They also never really looked in to my psychosis after the first time I presented.
So everyone is different. I have seen many friends go into hospital (a&e and psych wards) and I like to know they are kept 'safe' for the time being. but ultimately when they are sectioned for suicidal behaviour they have to put in the work to get better. Meds can take the edge off once stable but they have to put the most effort in and hospital can be worse for them.
I think sectioning is important if they refuse treatment and are at risk and there is no support network outside of hospital to help get them through the rough patch. Or if meds are needed to be given and time will be needed to see if it helps stabalize the patient....
sorry thats a muffled, not great response! But I am kinda for and against sectioning. Just everyone is different and so are each disorder. Sectioning for suicidality is different to someone who is psychotic and at risk but not realising they are....or someone who is manic and thinks they can fly...
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Often people who go in voluntary are going in because they are threatened with sectioning - either agree to go in or get sectioned. So you go in voluntary but you can't just leave. It is up to the dr's if you can leave or not, and if you try to leave (even though you went in voluntary) this can lead to you being sectioned. Thus you can't just 'walk out'. Also the police can be sent to pick up any patient who the nurses/drs feel are 'at risk'.
That's what I was trying to get at. I am rubbish at explaining things sometimes. :)
"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes." - W. Gibson.
That's strange. In Denmark you can go to a secure unit even if you are admitted voluntarily.
Yes it is odd indeed. Although I don't blame them for sectioning me at those times as I was really psychotic/dangerous.
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
