Experiences of mental health section / inpatient treatment

[OnePercentLover]

I’ve name changed for this thread.

My DS is potentially going to be accepted as a mental health patient or be sectioned tomorrow / soon.

I just wanted to understand what this experience might be like for him. Are patients allowed their phones, talk to their friends?

I can’t imagine him accepting the situation without being able to take his Xbox with him!

Any advice/ experience would be much appreciated.

OP, it's really important that you take care of yourself and get support from friends/ family if you can. Agree with a previous poster about keeping close tabs on care management. Are you his Nearest Relative (this is a legal term)? You may wish to research a little on this if you are not already aware, though you will be given information on it if this is the case. Wishing you all the very best.

If he is detained are you the nearest relative? this will be significant, as NR is consulted regarding tribunal

lol yes we had one of those. It was utterly dire. I was so bored I reorganised that whole room in colour order.

Then I asked my partner to bring me a hand fork so I could weed the garden. Had to ask for that as was locked away. The think I contracted some odd rat illness from the garden as then got very ill. 🤒 and I wasn’t allowed to see a doctor. I actually went to bed thinking I might die in here. And the irony. Because it’s a hospital 😭

Sorry I just forgot I was on your thread Op. That sounds scary and is unhelpful. It’s boring, and is shit. But it will be fine. I didn’t die. So clearly they were right.

Make sure your going regularly and be on the nurses case. It was the right place for me. Even though it took me probably 4 years post release to accept that. I was in for something quite serious and fully recovered and no relapses.

Make sure the release is with a good plan. That’s your time to advocate for all the services and your one bargaining chip is them getting their bed back. You will likely have follow up psychiatrists as standard. Demand a psychologist as well. And any CBT or additional treatment / therapy you desire.

Goodluck

I have been sectioned many times as have schizoaffective disorder.

Yes you can have your phone but not the charger. They normally have to be charged in the nurses office. You can have other devices eg laptop or tablet but nothing that needs to be plugged in as cables/plugs aren't allowed.

You can't have anything that could be used to harm yourself or anyone else & thats a rule even if the patient doesn't self harm as another patient could use the item.

So nothing sharp, no plastic bags, nothing that could be a ligature, nothing with alcohol eg mouthwash, no glass, ceramic mugs, cans of drink etc

They will search all property so will remove & store anything.

Some wards have 'no caffeine' policy so no energy drinks & decaf coffee/tea only.

Smoking & vaping are not allowed but there are some vapes that can be prescribed & used on the ward (the one I was in prescribed dinner lady vapes as they can't be used to self harm & don't give out any vapour)

Ward & trust policies do vary alot & there will be a difference between general wards, specialist & PICU (intensive care)

It's frightening at first but honestly the best friends I have ever made were from inpatient admissions.

Wards can vary from having very unstable & acutely unwell patients to having days where patients socialize, order deliveroo, do activities & sports together, watch TV etc.

Headphones/ear buds with no cable or wires are an essential item.

Snacks & drinks in plastic bottles are useful. All wards I've been on have let patients keep some ready meals & chilled items in the kitchen too.

Be warned that stuff goes missing A LOT, don't take in anything expensive or sentimental value, label everything.

Any other specific questions I will try to answer.

Good luck xxx

Wholeheartedly agree with this advice.

Be warned that stuff goes missing A LOT, don't take in anything expensive or sentimental value, label everything.

oh yes this!

I would get him a bum bag to keep his phone and any cash in.

I was stripped searched in the staff office in one of my stays - the staff office isn't private it's windowed - for all and sundry to see in and out - I had to pull my top up and pants down by a female nurse.
It was mortifying.
I've done my absolute best to stay out of that ward ever since - not been sectioned for approx 4 years now.
I've been in and out of hospital about ten times.

I'm very envious of your tortoise stroking though 😄