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.

I was sectioned after becoming psychotic with PND. I don't remember much about it tbh although I know it happened when I attended hospital for a scheduled appointment. I can imagine I wasn't happy and exh says I swore but looking back I am grateful because I lived and I saw my children grow up and think the outcome would have been very different had it not happened. I later came off all medication under care of psychiatrist and haven't needed any support from MH services since.

It’s not uncommon with serious mental health issues. I have Bipolar and have been sectioned multiple times. More commonly you’re asked to come in voluntarily (you can’t leave voluntarily). One of those times I was a voluntary patient and got sectioned whilst in hospital as I got more ill and they needed to enforce me not being allowed off the ward. Luckily, I’ve been stable for a long while now and hopefully will stay so (my prev ED really worsened my bipolar swings). It is often portrayed wrongly in films, but so is hospital (no therapy, medication, not much to do, often unisex wards but separate sleeping areas - bit different on eating disorder wards and paed wards). You’re sectioned when you aren’t safe outside of the hospital and as already said two doctors must agree. Many of the patients are repeatedly sectioned, but some are not. It’s done when needed and there are different levels of section with different time frames, but lots of patients agree to come in when asked (usually an if you won’t agree, you’ll be sectioned) so the section itself may not be required. If a condition can be safely managed outside the hospital by a GP or CMHT/early intervention team/HTT then a person will not be sectioned, it’s a last resort. Although it’s a horrible and scary experience, the benefits are that the staff can ensure medication compliance (some people would say not a benefit), a safer environment and monitor the person to aid with diagnosis. Obviously it differs on different wards, so an ED ward would have added monitoring nutrition carefully etc. which is less common on general wards, though does happen. Equally, patients can detox from substances that might be preventing them from being well.

I loathed my experiences, but gained a best friend in another patient, and it did drive me to apply to mental health nursing as I know how it can feel on the other side.