Social media access after being sectioned

[P3N]

Posting AIBU for traffic!
My SIL has recently been sectioned after being very unwell with BPD. She's been on a downward spiral for a number of weeks but is over 200 miles away. My DH went down to see her and her ex DP when she self harmed and over dosed (and attacked her recent ex) but hospital initially released her stating she wasn't bad enough. She took 12 boxes of tablets, cut across her legs and physically harmed her partner at the time.
My husband came back home due to work.
Fast forward 5 days and the crisis team decided to sectioned my SIL after my DHs other brother begged them to admit her through A&E when she harmed herself again stating she had a plan to end her life. She's going to stay in hospital for 28 days.
My worry is she's on fb every day, multiple times a day saying how she hates everyone, hates herself, can't wait to die, saying good bye to everyone and for us to look after her ex DP. Is it normal to have access to social media under section? Does anyone have success stories after sections? Should the hospital/doctors be informed? I just want her to get better but I don't know what to do.

I’m a mental health nurse on a hospital ward. It is completely appropriate for you to flag this with the team looking after her. We’ve had incidences in the past where patients have had their mobile phone use stopped or restricted in some way - this is always based on the risks and is care planned. It’s something they could do for her if they feel it is in her best interests.

Thank you for the response. I don't want her to feel cut off even more but at the same time I feel like it's not helping her recovery at all. She's clinging onto her ex, rather than letting him be. He's very upset after her behaviour towards him which is understandable, the violence was scary but it's the constant posting about suicide and harming herself that's also worrying us.

In secure units we try to provide 'least restrictive practice' meaning that while some rights are temporarily withheld, others continue where possible. This might mean that someone on a section has complete access to their phone. Usually, if staff are alerted to the inappropriate use of social media, they will explore this with the patient to see if they can support them to use it appropriately. E.g. access to phone on ward areas only or supervised access for a set amount of time per day. If patients still can't maintain their own safety and use appropriately with staff support, the phone could be removed.

You should absolutely make staff aware of how the phone is being used so that they can support your SIL, and minimise the damage she does to her relationships while she is unwell.

I've seen this on twitter, was a little bit odd but someone I follow or had seen tweets before popped up with some slightly lively tweets about a day trip out. Thought nothing if it then the next day she was sectioned and tweeting for next couple weeks daily about why she disagreed with section decision etc. I did think it was difficult as seen by so many people who didn't know her (lots of very confused replies about why this was popping up on feeds) and that she might go on to regret sharing all the thoughts and photos.

The person I know was allowed their phone to call me and that was it.

I've been sectioned and was allowed my phone at all times (although I wasn't really well enough to be able to use it!) and as far as I know most other patients were too. In terms of success stories after section, it's been about 2 and a half years since I came off section and while I still take medication, I'm working full time and haven't needed any further mental health treatment. Wishing you and your SIL all the best.