Husband detained under the mental health act

[Concernedabouthubby]

Hi just that really. DH was prescribed sertraline for depression yesterday. He took a tablet yesterday and this morning, then went out and called the police asking for the children to be taken into care. I called the police immediately to go and find him which they did very quickly. They detained him under the MHA for assessment. I'm not sure what to expect from here or how this us going to go.

You might find this useful OP
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/sectioning/about-sectioning/#:~:text=Mental%20Health%20Act%201983%20(MHA,Health%20Act%20for%20more%20information.

Rethink have a very good helpline should you need further information.

I've been detained. You'd never know.

He should be treated as a patient not a criminal.

I was detained for about four hours. Could be longer while they arrange an assessment with two specialist doctors.

In most cases he'll just be sent home. If he needs more assessment or treatment could be longer.

Everyone was v kind to me. I was in a bad way but if he's not a danger to himself or others they will let him go.

You will need to make sure he accesses community mental health services and GP.

Happy to answer any other questions. This hadn't affected my life in anyway. It's scary now but just wait.

To add to my post above whilst this might dound trivial making sure you've a comforting meal, hot water for a shower and a peaceful environment (could kids stay at a friend's for a few hours) when he gets back will be soothing.

Just show him him love and leave demands or questions for a few days' time.

I'm sorry OP, this must be really tough for you. Like others have said be kind to yourself and him. Most people are only detained for 24 hours or less, is it a section 136?

I’m a MH nurse. The police will have detained him under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act which allows them to remove him from a public place to a “place of safety”. This is usually a “136 suite” within a psychiatric hospital but may be a police station. However, as a police station can only be legally used as a place of safety if the person in question is “immediately dangerous”, with this decision having to be made by a HCP rather than the police, 136 suites are more normal. 136 suites are rooms which are very safe with nothing in that he could use to hurt himself. He will be given food/drinks, things to read/his phone if he wants it and MH staff will chat to him and try and help him feel safe/ calmer. A section 136 allows someone to be detained up to 24 hours for assessment, with an extension of up to 12 hours possible if an assessment hasn’t taken place in the first 24 hours. A MHA assessment involves two doctors and an approved MH professional (usually a nurse or social worker). If they decide that he is unwell enough to need hospital treatment then he will be detained under a Section 2 of the MHA which allows detention for up to 28 days. If he is found to not meet this threshold then he will be free to go home. If he consents, they will inform you so that you can go pick him up.
I really hope this helps. I know this is scary. Please feel free to ask any questions.

Thanks everyone and thanks @JennieTheZebra. That's exactly what's happened. The police are trying to find him an assessment unit. They have been very good and kept me informed. That's good to know the procedure.
@Mangococktail thanks. It's reassuring to know that you have made a speedy recovery. He has been taking his meds it's just it seems he can't take it while he's waiting for them to work. The police said that he said he needed to be away from the kids so they aren't coming round as they aren't in any danger. I think I might have to tell the school what's going on.

I've also been 'detained'. It was for my own safety and I was allowed back home within 24hrs.

Yes, finding an empty 136 suite can sometimes be a challenge. Depending on where you are in the country (for example, Hampshire, where I’m based, has 4 136 suites, but other counties may have less) it may a bit of a distance. I’m glad the police are keeping you informed and I hope that the weight for an assessment isn’t too long.

I'm so sorry OP- I worked on a psychiatric unit many years ago and it was way more common than you realise for people to be in there for assessment for short periods- quite a lot of post birth ( up to 7 months) mums in too - that really suprised me - not just PND but manic conditions too - he's clearly not in a good way mentally - at least he will be getting attention this way and hopefully will improve with support and meds

I think thet are a few round here but none free at the moment. I haven't heard anything so assume they are still looking. They said if they can't find anywhere they'll take him to hospital.

@JennieTheZebra Can I ask some questions? They seem to have found him a suite but it's quite far away. It's also in Suffolk which has a terrible reputation for mh services. If he needs to be sectioned, will they try and get him a place closer to home? Will he be able to have visitors? Also what if I don't think I can deal with it at home?

I have worked with a few people going through this, they would try to find somewhere close to home if possible but there may be nothing available. You can have visitors when sectioned typically, but if he says he does not want visitors then they will not allow any as they must respect his wishes. The only time they would not allow visitors (other than his wishes) would be if they believe there is a risk to him or others.

Depending on what they say, he may be discharged with a care plan and support in place to help manage things going forward, in some cases there will be ongoing care after discharge. They should speak to you about all of this and so you will have the opportunity to let them know how you feel.

I’m sorry OP it’s a terrible situation to find yourself in x

Thank you xx

OP when my DH was taken to a place of safety I got a phone call from one of the psychiatrists (I think) on the assessment panel. They asked if I thought he was a danger to himself or anyone else, what his mental state had been like in the run up and whether I thought he needed to be detained for treatment.

Ok ì guess I can wait for that and ask questions thanks.

what if I don't think I can deal with it at home?

You tell them
If you are taking care of you and young dc at home then tell them you want them to find him somewhere or try one of his relatives

He needs calm place
You and dc need calm place
You need to able to sleep at night without worrying what he might do until meds are working
If he is very unstable for now safe visits with him elsewhere until he in a beter place

This is what I'm thinking. My cousins DH committed suicide and his DC came home from school and found him. That's the worst thing I can think of.
I had to call 111 on Sunday and told them I didn't think I could keep him safe but they spoke to him and said he wasn't suicidal. Things have deteriorated now though.

Thank you everyone for chipping in! Honestly, if he does need to be admitted then a bed is a bed right now. He will be allowed to keep his phone so he can keep in touch with you through that and most psychiatrists are getting very good with technology now, so you should be able to attend weekly “ward rounds” (meetings with psychiatrists and the nursing team plus people from the community MH team if possible) virtually through Zoom. Additionally, as his “nearest relative” under the MHA you also have rights. This gives a bit of information https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/nearest-relative/overview/
We’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves though. For now, have you eaten something recently? Had a drink? This is scary and you need to look after yourself too. The MH team will be in touch and you can deal with each step as it comes. Right now he is safe and people are looking after him. Keep yourself safe too x

Thank you. I work from home and had to cancel loads of things in the morning when this happened but working has distracted me a bit. Kids are getting their stuff ready for school

I think dealing with one step at a time is a good idea. I haven't heard from.the psych team but I've texted him. Yes the most important thing is he's in a safe place. When he walked out this morning I had no idea where he would go. You can walk to the A11 quite easily from where we are.

I feel for you. If you think he is better off staying in then tell the team that. And be really firm.

I told the psychiatrist he needed to stay in. Also told them he was very clever and charming and would try to convince them he was fine - but not to believe a word he said. He wouldn’t voluntarily get help and he would try to commit suicide again.

Anyway, you can probably guess that he charmed them. He’s tried twice since and nearly five years down the line he still hasn’t spoken to a therapist.

I'm.sorry to hear that. I'm scared he won't get the help he needs

Just popping on to send you some hugs - this is really tough.

Also to say I really struggled with mental health last year and had quite a long admission where I was sectioned. It was a scary horrible experience (obviously!) but that was because I was unwell not because of the admission - I got the help I needed and was very well looked after. My husband visited pretty much every day and the kids were able to visit too, they had a special family room for visits with children. Anyway, that’s over a year ago now and though I’m still having treatment I’m back home, doing normal stuff with the kids and back at work. So even if he does need to stay in and is unwell for a longer period of time things can get better and back to “normal” again - and though this is horrid he is at least accessing help.

@stormingnorman how do you live with that?? Are you still together?

Thank you. That's reassuring to hear. It's been a bit of a shock as, although he was down about losing his job he was applying for jobs and making plans and then this has come on so suddenly.