Section 2 progress to Section 3

[ARoomSomewhere]

Hello. I had a thread 'section 2 and spousal control' about my friend who is in the Maudsley and worried about her H's 'control' over her (it could be part of her MH issue but he is not a nice man at all so she could also have some issues with him too). I got some amazingly helpful replies.

I have put a new thread up as her Section 2 has now been changed to a SEction 3. I sent her a lighthearted text about the recent huge Lotto win and she replied that she is not allowed access to her bank account and that it is like being 'In Prison'. Is that correct? Can i take her, say, £30 when i visit or would that not be allowed?
Im not sure what she would spend it on as currently not allowed off ward even to hospital cafe afaik (though they do go on 'patients walks') but she is obviously upset about not being able to access £2 for a lottery ticket/be able to return her library books racking up fines etc.

I didn't see your previous thread sorry so don't have any of the bakground.

Under a s.3 she is essentially 'detained' under the mental health act so yes effectively it's quite possible it feels similar to being in prison.

She can discuss in ward rounds if she feels she needs access to money, but in reality if she isn't currently deemed well enough to have accompanied/section 17 leave to the cafe then it's unlikely that they will see her as needing cash at this point. It's probably also not allowed to be kept by the person on the wards anyway because of the various risks involved.

Realistically her husband should be managing things like library fines. I'm assuming there's a reason if he isn't?

Hey, S3 is no different to S2 really. It just lasts longer. She will feel like it's like prison because she's unwell at the moment, but in reality the staff will be doing everything they can to get her better as soon as they can. Phone up the ward and ask them about the money. Once people start getting better they will introduce more and more 'Section 17 leave', which starts as walks with staff but eventually goes as far as being at home for nights and weeks at a time.

Why is her husband not returning her library books for her and paying the fines?

Surely, any decent man would do that for their wife if they were under section. This to me seems quite worrying.

Do you genuinely think her husband is abusive either emotionally or physically, because if so, I think you should make the Maudsley aware of this. There have been numerous cases when men tell people women are mental, or embellish a mental health condition to get what they want (usually surrounding access to children).

Apologies I haven't read your other thread so don't know what you've said already.