Section 136s - are they really broad in their reasons?

[Steel Maiden]

I've been 136ed before several times. I was acutely mentally ill for most of them, but two of them I was 136ed for extreme meltdowns / challenging behaviour intermixed with not being totally well (but at the same time not severely mentally ill).

My mental health team and I have agreed that my psychosis is relatively low-level (I hear voices daily and have some paranoia but I am able to logically get around it). But they said that my autism is "very prominent".

I have challenging behaviour on a daily basis and it is worse when I am outside. As I cannot leave the house alone I always have someone with me when I'm out.

I'm scared of the police as I worry that I could have a meltdown / severe challenging behaviour and end up sectioned.

Is it possible to be sectioned for autistic challenging behaviour? I'm scared this will happen. I've been in secure units before when I've had severe challenging behaviour in hospital, including assaults on staff which I NEVER intended to happen; when I have meltdowns I have no self-control and little awareness of what I am doing (psych wards are unbearable for me, the noise, smells, patients, enforced groups etc).

I feel like I should incarcerate myself at home or if I do go out, dose myself up with sh*tloads of medication so that I'm too zombified to do anything. Neither options I like the sound of.

[Steel Maiden]

Just remembered that autism comes under the Mental Health Act so probably yes they could 136 me if I have an incident due to autism.

[sherlock holmes]

I'm afraid I don't really know much about this.

I suppose in theory if someone in a public place becomes violent, or starts to harm themselves, they could be 136'd to get them to a safe place. The reasons behind that behaviour might be down to mental health, or autism, or something else but those reasons might not be discovered until later.

But don't use that as a reason never to go outside. That would be the worst case scenario. In the meantime can you think of things that keep you calm and grounded when you are outside? Like listening to certain music, wearing sunglasses/hat, going outside at times of the day when it's not so busy etc.

[Steel Maiden]

Thanks. I'm trying to get more support hours so that I can go out. Also am seeing my psychiatrist on Friday so will ask about upping my mirtazapine as that has helped a little but I am only on 15mg.