I've spent 6 months on a MH section

[missbipolar]

Just that really I've spent 6 months last year under section 2 and 3 in a psych ward. Ama.

How are you doing now OP?

Did you feel understood by the people caring for you?

No real question, just was sectioned once for psychosis so can empathise and hope you are feeling better now OP.

I'm still struggling if I'm honest, the mh team think I was discharged to early but with the shortage of beds currently they're keen on getting you out as quickly possible.

I lost alot of friends as most of them didn't really know what to do/say when I went in.

Sorry you are still struggling. I hope the have put in place good community support for you?

My DH is waiting for a space to become available at the moment and this is all very new to us. I was wondering if you could give a flavour of what life as a long term in patient is like?

The community support hasn't been the best but it can be a bit of a postcode lottery as to what the support is like!

The ward I was on didn't allow any chargers in rooms but did allow vaping inside. I saw the Dr 1-2 times a week, sometimes 3 times if it was a bad week. I was on a 1-1 for 2 weeks. And the rest of the time on I was on 10-15 minute checks. Meal times were a little daunting as they were done in a communal dining room. Also the isolation at the start of admission can be really tough (I had to isolate for 5 days at the start). I found wireless headphones a huge help as it can get pretty noisy on the ward.

Thanks for replying. That's rubbish about the community support, I'm so sorry.

What did you actually do all day when you were on the ward? Were you left to your own devices apart from seeing the doctor or were there things to do?

Hope you're doing well OP. may I ask if you self-referred?

Thanks for sharing and I wish you well with your recovery. I work in a role planning NHS health care at population level, so interested from that point of view.

I’d be interested to know what the different staff roles do and how they interact with patients. Do you also get physical health checks on the ward?

Do you get support in the community for wider lifestyle changes, that could support recovery (supplementary to drugs and therapies). Things like healthy eating, physical exercise, sleep and relaxation, as well as social needs or support access to benefits/ volunteering/ employment. If not, would any of this have been helpful?

So there were groups on the ward you can join in with but I didn't really join in most of the time. I slept alot tbh. And then when I got section 17 leave Id go out daily (only for 2ish hours). I watched alot of Netflix as well!

The first admission I was sectioned following a lithium overdose and the second time (about 6 weeks after my discharge) I asked to go back but was sectioned while I was in there due to absconding and taking an OD.

We were allowed visitors but only for 1 hour and it had to be precooked. Only 1 person was allowed a visitor at a time.

I don't get any support regarding healthy eating/exercise etc but I wish I did!

Thanks @missbipolar for sharing, wishing you well x

What do you think would help you get the section released?

Definitely more support- not just mh support but also general support. Coming out of hospital is so hard and I found it very overwhelming to adjust back to normal life. I was under the crisis team for only 4 days after my last admission and it was really tough after I was discharged from them because I still wasnt particularly stable- wasn't leaving the house bearly showering/eating etc.

I have a friend who has been in hospital for 2 years and is likely to be in hospital for the next 2 years too. She will get support leading to her discharge because she will be in mh services for life. I feel helpless as there is nothing I can do to help. I have a serious and complex mental illness myself and I have only been in hospital for a week in my life because I am able to mask quite well.

When you were first sectioned, were you aware it was necessary? And did you welcome it, or fear it (or possibly you were not in a place to feel anything about it one way or another)?

So with my first section I'd actually gone into the hospital as a voluntary patient, but very quickly decided I'd made a mistake and tried to leave. I fought the section as didn't believe it was necessary- although looking back I can see that definitely was needed!