To think sectioning under the mental health act is rarely done

[User4647]

But it’s shown on tv shows like someone has a breakdown and then they are sectioned. The reality is it’s a battle to even get under secondary mental health care never mind sectioned. AIBU to say very few people are sectioned.

no you're not, very few people are sectioned. TV always portrays Mental Health and Mental Health care very wrong

You're right. To section someone is an absolute last resort. We don't want people to have to go into hospital if it can be avoided.

I know 4 people who’ve been sectioned. My mum and 3 friends of friends.

Absolutely a last resort. I have a relative who ends up sectioned once every year or so and her life at that stage is in danger. It is still very difficult to get a section even when she blatantly needs it.

There are often not enough beds, sometimes the person has to go out of area which adds to the confusion. It really isn't done as a "break" or lightly.

Perhaps but I do know several people who have been sectioned so it’s not that uncommon. All for worry re self harm rather than others, 3 without close family or partners to support them.

I guess the vast majority of people don't know whether its rare or not.

I have no idea how frequent it is, I suspect less common than it's portrayed.

But I know several people who have had to be sectioned. One just last week
: (

Not as rare as you'd think - from family experience

First time, very difficult. After that, not so much...

yanbu.
Sectioned exh once. He was sooooooooooo ill. Nothing like the TV version

I guess it depends how common people think it is? I think some people think you can just check in for a retreat or for some help when you are very low. I think media portray it as easier than it is or soemthing that seamlessly happens when you have a breakdown.

I think there probably is an element of ‘postcode lottery’ with the system. Ime with my exdh, in my area you don’t even get a sniff of a section unless you are in danger of harming others. Self harm doesn’t cut it.

It's uncommon, but I have a few clients who get sectioned every now and again, my DB is sectioned every few years, as is a friend and my ex SIL. All are diagnosed bipolar.

Over the years, I think community treatment has improved and early intervention is better than it used to be.

It is hard to be sectioned from my experience. I was suicidal with a plan and young baby. They said its if you aren't making sense and no insight to your mental health. So I think unless I tried and failed to do it, then they can't section.

Yes and quite rightly too. It is and should be an absolute last resort.

A relative of mine has been sectioned twice, and voluntarily admitted in 4 or 5 times (but really it's more of a "if you don't come in voluntarily we'll get the paperwork and section").

I know of a few others who have been sectioned too (multiple times), so I don't think its uncommon if you have a certain diagnosis or set of symptoms. First section is always the hardest to get. After that I've always found it much more straightforward.

YANBU, unfortunately even as a last resort it really comes later than that and too late in some cases...

It is very hard and as someone already said its a bit of a lottery dependant on space and beds. It is a last resort and yes it should be but some people aren't sectioned purely because of lack of resources and they really should be for their own good.

Its also different to TV in the sense that its usually very temporary. Someone could attempt suicide and be home the next day.

My XP said he'd get me sectioned and phoned for police and ambulance. Had he been watching too much telly? The police came and arrested him.

People only generally get sectioned here if they are a suicide risk, or a risk to others. Just had a google and nearly 50,000 people have been sectioned in the U.K. the last year, most of them have been picked up from hospitals where the patients have actually gone in and asked for help.

Absolutely should be a last resort. Unfortunately though help is often needed before it is given. It means the poor individual is suffering longer and doing more damage when earlier intervention could help.

There is a big gap imho between community care and sectioning where an individual needs more intensive help. Crisis teams are stretched to their bare bones ...

Its not that rare but obviously its a last resort. I'm a Psychiatric Nurse but I left the acute wards a long time ago, when I worked there short term emergency detentions happened fairly regularly and sometimes these progressed into longer term detentions.

I work in mental health.

Sectioning is rarely done, and this is a good thing. It’s only ever a last resort, done for very specific reasons.

I've no idea how common people think it is really. I've known four people who've been sectioned, some of them more than once.

A friend is just transitioning back into the community after being sectioned about six years ago.

Should be a last resort but I work in Mental Health and every hospital I work in is currently full. Mostly detained patients S2 and 3 and some informal clients and sadly many are revolving door clients that i've worked with for the past 20 years

We still don't really treat mental health issues as though they are as real/important/severe as physical illnesses. Its not the NHS fault but its very hard to get proper treatment which unfortunately does mean that some people end up going round in circles through the system.