To think I should know if I have been sectioned or not?

[Namechangep9786thgt89]

I'm in the process of being discharged from mental health services, so I am nearly "officially" well. Half way through my treatment, I moved and so changed professionals, and also my old case worker left her post, so there was a lot of messing about while my files were transferred.

Anyway, I was chatting to my current case worker the other day, and i said that at least I had never been sectioned - i had been taken to hospital by the police, who then stayed with me until I was admitted, so they could physically stop me running off.

The case worker said that sounds like a special kind of temporary section, but I would have been told at the time. However, if I had been told, I wouldn't remember now, as I have forgotten lots about that time.

I'm now umming and ahhing about asking to see some kind of record, but my case worker says I should maybe just leave it as it might upset me, and anyway sometimes the requests are turned down for things like this.

But I am officially better! no medication, no further treatment. I'm going straight from the pychosis team to my GPs care, which no symptoms for nearly two years.

I should know, shouldn't I?

Glad to hear you are doing so well!
In terms of the emotional aspect, I wouldn't know what to advise in terms of whether what you find out might upset you.
However, on a practical level you are definitely entitled to that information. This is through the Data Protection Act. You need to make an application to see your record. It may cost you £10 or so for the copying fee, but it is definitely a legal right that you have. If you have trouble applying maybe the CAB can help you out?

Remember, once you know something - for certain - you can't "un-know it", so I would think carefully about what confirmation of this - one way or t'other - might do, either for you or to you depending on the actual answer.

Good luck

Hi
If you were brought in to hospital by the police (with no social worker accompanying them), it is quite likely that you were brought in under section 136 MHA. This is a police section that gives the police the power to convey somebody with apparent mental illness from a public place (ie. Not inside your home) to a place of safety for emergency assessment (usually a hospital but can be the police station). The section lasts up to 72 hrs but generally stops once the assessment has been carried out and a management plan put in place. You should have been informed that you were on a section 136 at the time but both the police and MH staff are notoriously bad at doing this (this is not the case for longer sections and is particular to s. 136). If you apply to the data protection depts at the Trusts who managed your care, generally you would be permitted to see your records. If there was anything that staff felt would not be in the interests of yourself or others to see, this would be omitted although this is quite rare and generally applies to 3rd party info where the informant does not wish the patient to know they have provided info. Info about sections generally wouldn't be omitted and if you arrange to see your notes with a member of staff they will be able to answer any queries you have about what things mean in the notes. If you are not currently under the Trusts care, there may be a charge if you wish to receive copies of the notes. Hope that helps and glad you are now on the road to sustained recovery