Why would someone be admitted to a psychiatric hospital?

[smurfgirl]

Bit of an odd one.

What do you have to 'do' to be sectioned these days? Or even voluntary admission, does it have to be psychosis?

This has come up for me recently in that I know I have done pretty dangerous stuff to myself and been told that I am deffo not being admitted which I am very very glad of!

A friend working in A&E has said she has been surprised by what people come in with who after assessment are allowed home with apparently no further input.

I know the services are stretched these days but I just wondered really...

i always thought you had to be a threat to yourself and others??

having said that i know a family where the dad is definitely unstable hes receiving psychiatric help ,has sudden outbursts, becomes aggressive and developed multiple personlities nd hes not been sectioned yet .......

My mother was sectioned (for a short time) when she tried to leave the Psychogeriatric hospital that she lives in. they had no right to detain her unless she was sectioned.

Not sure if that helps or not.

I think that 'A threat to yourself or others' is a good guidline. In Mums case it was the former, she couldn't live without monitoring 24/7

But loads of people attending A&E are a threat to themselves, I think this is why i am confused really.

there are too few places

yes probably psychotic ime

just trying to kill yourself doesnt guarantee an admission

Mental health services are so over-stretched in so many areas that, even when people should be admitted, it can be difficult to find the beds.

Probably like many other partes of the health service it depends on who you see and if there is any pressure or input from relatives. i've been in a psych ward on several occassions and have to say there was little difference between me, a voluntary patient and some of the sectioned patients. We were pretty much all a danger to ourselves. Never met anyone who was a danger to others though...

Yes services are very stretched. We have in-patients whose beds are used while they are on leave - the bed situation is that bad. Someone doesn't have to be psychotic to be admitted - just because you hear voices or have a delusional belief doesn't make you actively unwell or in need of inpatient treatment, so to speak. As has been said, if you are a danger to yourself or others, and will not be admitted voluntarily, then you can be sectioned...
Some clients will acknowledge that they need treatment but in-patient admission may not be appropriate or what they want. In these cases if there is a Home Treatment Service operational, this may be offered instead.