AIBU to consider a date with a man who is sectioned under the MH act

I’ve been in group therapy. Being in a relationship with someone you’ve met is strongly discouraged. Even continuing a friendship with someone you meet in therapy is ill advised.

None of these relationships end well, you appear to have found your soulmate because you share a trauma but what you create is more likely to be a toxic codependency. If this man is currently so unwell he’s sectioned he is months or even years away from being fully well. There are other emotionally available men but this one needs a swerve.

It’s inappropriate to start dating a person in such a vulnerable state in their life that they need sectioning for their own safety.

Ignorance works both ways

Honestly my concern is less that he is a red flag. But more that you are.
Why are you considering a relationship with someone in such a vulnerable position?

Considering that in order to get sectioned you have to pose a risk of harm to yourself or others, I think his current state of mind definitely makes him vulnerable. How do you know what he would/will want when he’s better? Best for both of you to say “not right now” in my opinion.

This is from someone who has a loved one who has been sectioned multiple times. I’m not coming from a fearful or stigma perspective.

Sorry you have had some insensitive responses on here, @babypickles . I'd say just take things really slowly. Treat it as a friendship that may lead on to something more in the future.
He's probably not in the best place right now for him to be sensibly able to make any bigger commitment than that, but meanwhile I'm sure you can give a lot to each other in a potentially growing friendship. xxx

Do you have any idea how high the bar is for being sectioned in the UK these days? You say he's emotionally available. You really can't possibly know this. He's very vulnerable and it's absolutely not the time to start a relationship. You also don't know what you would be exposing yourself to. I don't think people are being judgmental. You seem to have no idea what you might be walking into.

I dated someone who had previously been sectioned and it was fine when he was stable. He was reflective about his illness and was a lovely man and supportive boyfriend.

unfortunately he got very unwell again and was in denial about it. I tried for a long time to support him but ultimately he became abusive. It was very sad as I knew it was due to his illness and really not him at all. But I just couldn’t live like that.

that was in 1997/98 and from what I’ve heard he’s regularly been in and out of hospital since then sadly.

agreed. Statistically the majority of replies will
be from people totally clueless about sectioning, and it’s clear they are

Absolutely no no no. It's not as if it's somebody you know.

Also there will be people replying who have no understanding at all because they have never experienced being sectioned or knowing someone who was sectioned. They are probably picturing people in straight jackets or screaming and shouting/being violent. Who knows. It’s just a shame that they comment without knowledge.

This can’t be a for real post surely ?!
if it is real- then definitely do not date this man

If you're so dead set on starting a relationship with someone in a vulnerable position that you get bent out of shape when people rightly think you're being a creep, why did you bother starting a thread about it? Just crack on with your plans and don't bother canvassing opinion if you don't care to find out what the broader public thinks of you.

I would get this moved to the MH board. People are less twatish there.

Why is it obviously made up?

Good lord, even mentally unwell people need love in their life Obviously OP will need to give him the space to recover, get back into life outside hospital, and see if he still feels the same about her, but all that assumed, why not? Lots and lots and lots of people have been sectioned at various points in their life. Are they all to be cast on the MN scrap heap? I expect someone will be along in a minute to warn you that he'll never be "a good provider", OP. I would just leave the thread and use your own judgement about this.

YANBU to date someone who has recovered and previously was sectioned. But I wouldn’t start a new relationship whilst someone was very unwell. It’s not fair to either of you.

Never needs

Hard work how exactly?

You're just trotting out an annoying MN cliché.

Harsh and unkind. Deeply lacking in insight or understanding of mental health problems and it's extremes..
I sincerely hope that you or anyone you know needs mental health crisis intervention. Your crass views belong to the dark ages that are thankfully lessening

If this is genuine, then I’d walk away, No point in looking for stress. 🤷‍♀️

Re read my post - "which YOU could pretend to be outraged by". As in moaning about people being judgemental/harsh, when actually it's irrelevant because this isn't a real story.
Not engaging further - as they say, don't feed the troll.