AMHP & MHA process

[Bumblebeedotty]

Can anyone tell me what the process is from referral to AMHP service to MHA please & how long it takes? Thanks

Should be MHAA missed an A

My assessments have always been within 24 hrs, sometimes even just a couple of hours after referral.

Thanks scutterbug & then how long till a bed, if it’s recent times

Well last time I went into hospital I went voluntarily so as not to be sectioned and they actually found me a bed in two days. The time before I was sectioned and I think I waited two days for a bed then as well.
Is it a relative or yourself who is being assessed? I think just bear in mind that lots of people aren’t being hospitalised due to lack of spaces across the country.

My brother recently waited about 3 hours for the assessment. It was another 6 hours before he went to hospital. It could have been sooner but he was somewhat uncooperative and the police/specialist transport team took a long time to arrive. It depends a lot on your local trust. He was fortunate to get a bed in his local hospital. A colleagues wife was sectioned last year and placed 120 miles away.

Thanks both. I don’t think there’s going to be a MHAA then, but not sure what determines there will be one? it’s all very strange.

A MHAA will be triggered generally if the individual is a danger to themselves or others. So for example, when psychotic I thought people were evil and I needed to get rid of them. I was sectioned a couple of times when severely suicidal. That said, I’ve been suicidal since and not been deemed to need hospital so who knows?! It’s a bit of a lottery.

Could you give more background? I am a mental health nurse and could give you more information. It depends if you are on section 136 or section 5:2 or have been referred by a community mental health team?

Thank you both. If hospital is assessed as necessary, but refused can that just be accepted or is a MHAA always done? In the community. Or does it does it depend who did the assessment? It was a CPN.

In my experience, if the MH team felt hospital was necessary but it was refused, then normally that would trigger a MHAA.
However, my team last year wanted me in hospital and requested a MhAA and the AMHPs said no, they asked them to look at alternatives and come back to them if they couldn’t find a better plan. But my MH team are notoriously crap. Some areas are really good.
TBH I try anything to avoid hospital. It doesn’t help and they are so busy, nobody has time for you anyway.

There are no alternatives Scutterbug, they’ve been ruled out.

Thank you for sharing your experience though.

I don’t want to ask CMHT if MHAA is happening as I don’t want to bring it up, I’m hoping they’ll just forget about it, but worried too. Don’t know what happens

I think the system is in chaos. I was referred for a MHAA by the crisis team after they came to visit me at home.
Instead of doing the assessment, they phoned my ex-partner who said I was OK so they discharged me.
I was relieved but I needed to be sectioned really.

That’s a bit mad Pickandmixmood.

If your community nurse referred you it is usually because she may feel your risks are too high to be managed at home, however, the first step would be to refer to shared care/ crisis team first to avoid hospital admission. It sounds as though you are engaging and not being avoidant of mental health support so they should take these steps first and if no improvement then refer for MHAA if you decline a voluntary admission. That is if the crisis team staff review you and feel admission is required.

Thanks OneRubyLeader, that really helps, I don’t know if I have been referred, I just know CPN said she thought I needed to be in hospital, I said no (I don’t think it’s necessary & no intention of going) & crisis team have been consulted & said risks are too high for them.
I’m finding a nice bit of deep sand & burying my head in it & hoping this goes away!

Well done for saying no OP. Make sure you don’t go in voluntarily either as they can section you when you are there. That happened to me a long time ago and it took me over a year to get out

If the risks are immediate then it is possible you will have been referred for MHAA. It is important to be as honest as possible with the doctors and AMHP who will assess you, their job is to avoid mental health admission unless absolutely required. If you can assure them you are aware of the risks and what you are trying to do to mitigate them - calling crisis number/ taking medication as prescribed/ engaging with community team etc (just examples) this may help your case, however when the crisis team say the risks are too high usually a voluntary admission would be offered, however, it sounds like as you’d prefer to receive treatment at home they have jumped straight to MHAA. I hope you feel better soon.

I don’t want to go in at all pickandmixmood

I don’t blame you. I was persuaded to go in for a few weeks to “have a rest” and then sectioned when I wanted to leave.
Why are they saying you need to be in hospital?

Thanks so much OneRubyLeader, I have already been honest so will be, it’s not what I want for so many reasons. But I am honest, I do want to be better, I just don’t want that, so hopefully they can find an alternative. I don’t recognise the risks that’s the problem, it fluctuates. Thanks for explaining it all to me.

I don’t really want to say pickandmixmood sorry. Thanks for your help though

No problem. Hope things work out well for you @Bumblebeedotty

Thanks picksndmixmood