Not sure on rights of sectioned people - advice?

Justengaged

One of my friends was sectioned under the Mental Health act a few years ago. Unfortunately she suffered with post natal depression which just spiralled, and she's now in a mental health unit and not allowed out without specific supervisory care.

I go and visit her when I can, but each time I go she seems to be doing abit worse. The care she is getting isn't very good from what she tells me, she isn't mistreated, but they've just made her councillor redundant and she has no one professional to speak to and help her through her problems, and she's now gone from self harming, to trying to take her own life a few times.

Personally I think they've drugged her up too much, and it's not addressing the problem at all - she's effectively been put into a rabbit hutch with nothing to help stop one day blurring into another.

When I visit nothing is done to hide the fact that there is nothing for them to do either. The gym is out of bounds as theres no staff to watch people in there, there's a broken games console, and only recently they managed to get the T.V fixed, which about 10 people share. As someone without any mental health issues, if I lived there I would get depressed as well, there is simply no outlet for them at all. I know this could be any health unit and everyone says they're under funded, but I want to try and help my friend.

I spoke to her earlier today and she said that items have gone missing from her room as well. The only people who have access to her items are staff. My friend isn't forgetful, and even on her drugs is still very lucid so it's not that she's misplaced the items. She has had money taken from her room as well.

I have a few things I want to try and help her with but don't know where to start, top ones at the moment are:-

1. Get her some outside help with councilling, is she still entitled to state help for depression etc even though she is sectioned - would the government help with additional means?
2. If items are being stolen from her room, what can I do to help. If I reported it to the police for her would they even bother following it up or would only the staff at the unit get involved?

Errata

Report the thefts to the unit or ward manager.
Don't speculate about what treatment she's receiving ro what you think she needs unless you have skill, knowledge and understanding of mental health treatments.
Talk to PALS about the lack of amenities.

Justengaged

Thanks, not heard of PALS, but will look that up. My fiance went through deep psychiatric help about 13 years ago, I lean on him for advice on this as he went through alot of (BUPA) help so in terms of what I think she should be getting I've a good idea as he's gone through similar issues himself and can relate.

In terms of the unit/ ward manager, they brush her off. i've seen the looks she gets when she speaks to them, there's no respect. I'm going to speak to a ward manager myself on my next visit though. I just want to know what my options are as I'm almost certain I'll get the brush off as well.

SEE

Justengaged wrote: »

Thanks, not heard of PALS, but will look that up. My fiance went through deep psychiatric help about 13 years ago, I lean on him for advice on this as he went through alot of (BUPA) help so in terms of what I think she should be getting I've a good idea as he's gone through similar issues himself and can relate.

In terms of the unit/ ward manager, they brush her off. i've seen the looks she gets when she speaks to them, there's no respect. I'm going to speak to a ward manager myself on my next visit though. I just want to know what my options are as I'm almost certain I'll get the brush off as well.

Don't speak to the manager, phone PALS and demand it be recorded and that you receive a copy in writing. Far too many of these places are mistreating patients emotionally and physically.

Trust no one within the unit especially if you have noticed your friend regressing and becoming more depressed. Also seek outside help via a combination of mental health advocate, social worker and solicitor. Your friend is entitled to all three and if she has no advocate the hospital is actually breaking the law.

nlj1520

Just want to second what SEE said........your friend is, I believe, entitled to a mental health advocate. I also believe that the unit should be involving her family in her care plan and its delivery. That is if she has family and wants them involved.
Good luck with all this, a difficult situation and good on you for wanting to help.

tilly-roo

As the others have said, make a call to PALS. She should, as a sectioned patient, and as an inpatient, have a care plan and most likely a support worker/advocate. She should have a plan where she is seen by both a psychiatrist and a psychologist for therapy, as you say there is no use medicating somebody without theraputic intervention. Most psychiatric wards have programmes such as art therapy etc, is she allowed on supervised leave etc? As long as she is stable, she should be allowed out for a few hours with friends, family etc. Does she have visitors frequently? It's tough, but if loved ones can stick together and make it so that a few times a week she is able to go for a coffee, go for a walk around town, go out for some dinner - it not only keeps her busy but will stop her from being institutionalised and becoming scared of the outside world. Have they mentioned discharge to her at all? A lot of psychiatric wards in the UK are really only meant for short term rehabilitation but so many get lost in the system and stay there for years which of course puts them at higher risk of going back in when they get out - it becomes safe. I'd definitely put your thoughts to PALS, tell them your concerns, and clarify if she has a mental health support worker or social worker, you may be able to liase with them as her friend and check what progress she is making, though they may be funny about this as you aren't family, although if she gives her permission for them to update you, that should be fine.

Good luck and she's very lucky to have a concerned, understanding friend like you - being sectioned is terrifying (from personal experience) and good friends make the ride so much easier.

Justengaged

Thanks so much everyone that replied, I really appreciate it.

I don't get to see her as often as I'd like due to other work/ personal commitments, and unfortunately I don't think her family see her much either.

I'll look into speaking to PALS as it seems the way forward.

SEE

Justengaged wrote: »

Thanks so much everyone that replied, I really appreciate it.

I don't get to see her as often as I'd like due to other work/ personal commitments, and unfortunately I don't think her family see her much either.

I'll look into speaking to PALS as it seems the way forward.

You can also contact MIND on 0300 466 6463 to discuss any legal issues

[Deleted User]

and even the local MP,let him/her earn their money

mysterywoman10

Has she been there several years?? After post natal depression and where is the baby? The father in all of this?

Sorry but I can't get my head around this at all. I agree with all the advice but I'm confused as to the time spans here.

She is very lucky to have friend who is concerned by the sounds of it.

She also has the right of appeal to a section, I don't think that has been mentioned so far?

any_name_will_suffice

She should have an IMHA (independent mental health advocate).

There's some really good fact sheets by Rethink on rights of people detained under sections.

http://www.rethink.org/document.rm?id=700