Sectioning Under Mental Health Act

RFMS

Hi

I need some urgent advice.

I am wondering whether a certain situation could lead to Sectioning Under Mental Health Act in the UK.

My relative has been suffering from mental health issues for a few years: Extreme paranoia, obsessive compulsive habits, intrusive thoughts and generally abnormal behaviors. This has been witnessed by myself, his wife and others that know him. As well as his wife, he has two kids and while he is British, he has moved over a year ago to live with his wife and kids in a different EU country (origin of his wife). Until recently his behaviors have not constituted a risk to himself or others, he refuses to see a doctor and is in denial about all of this. I do not believe he has been formal diagnosed by a doctor with a mental health issue.

A few days ago I have been told that his condition has deteriorated and has has been threatening to his wife and upsetting the kids.
He pulled a knife out to his wife and threatened her, among other things. While he hasn't actually caused physical harm, he now is a risk to his family and possibly others.

She initially went to the police for advice and they said that they can arrest him and given that kids are involved are able to put him into court the next day. Due to the situation, she has been advised that they are likely to deport him to the UK either after spending time in prison or directly. However this country is unlikely to treat his mental health issue. They also advised that while the mental health has been witnessed by others, if she doesn't have any witnesses to the threatening behavior and she doesn't have bruises from actual violence then the court may just release him if he denies it and there is no proof.
Clearly she is worried that he might just be released so as a first step she has asked him to leave and if he doesn't do so in the next 24 hours she will press charges with the police and take her chances.

If he returns to the UK on his own free will or if he gets deported, can I get him sectioned?
He needs professional help but I have no idea if what he has done, and the fact that he has done it outside the UK, would be applicable to section him on his return to the UK.

If I try to section him can he find out that I was the one that wanted him sectioned? I have my own family to protect.

I am also considering contacting the police here in the UK, but unsure if they are able to do anything before he arrives back here.

I would appreciate any advice.

wolfehouse

ask for help from MIND
http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/mental-health-act-the-mind-guide/
they have a helpline and you can talk things through with them.


taking away someone's freedom is not done lightly and the chances are it will eventually come out you were involved and resentment will build. I would tread carefully because you might get embroiled and still not be able to get your relative assessed.

lilmissreading

Complicated.

What's the reason he won't get treated here if he's deported? Is it because he'll either refuse or if the source of the risk is his family and they are in a different country he won't be deemed sectionable?

I would imagine if he you try to get him sectioned it will be the same as for your relative's wife - you would have to call the police and have him arrested for assualt/threats. It would be unavoidable that he would know that you caused the police to be called and you would be relying on the police to section him before taking him to a mental health hospital for a different section by a doctor and social worker. The police charges and the mental health section are different. There could be no legal proof of his behaviour, hence the courts releasing him but mental health professionals could still recommend sectioning.

No-one would act in this country unless the same risks to self or others continue.

I am so sorry to hear your family are dealing with such a stressful situation and it must be so hard for all, including your unwell relative. I hope he gets the help he needs but doesn't want.

Good luck.

picklekin

Sectioning is not really what it used to be, I tried to get my mother sectioned once and the best they could do was a 5 day stay. I am not sure they properly lock people away like how you think of them doing so I'm not sure it would be a long term solution. I think you would need to be very involved with the sectioning process and so he would know.

Errata

If he returns to the UK on his own free will or if he gets deported, can I get him sectioned?

No....................

Gingernutty

To be sectioned here, he would have to prove himself a danger to himself and or others whilst he was here in this country.

What he's done in another country isn't going to influence doctors here.

RFMS

Thank you all for the information. So it sounds like sectioning is unlikely. It's ever so sad I do not know how to get help to him.

To answer a previous question, he refused going to a doctor when I last pleaded with him because he says they are part of the conspiracy he has convinced himself is occurring and also is convinced that he is not having a mental health issue.

Someone has suggested to me that his specific symptoms may indicate Schizophrenia.

I feel terrible for his family and for him. I will call mind but I don't see how this will help as he won't talk to anyone.

RFMS

lilmissreading wrote: »

Complicated.


I am so sorry to hear your family are dealing with such a stressful situation and it must be so hard for all, including your unwell relative. I hope he gets the help he needs but doesn't want.

Good luck.

I just don't know what to do. Thank you for your kind words.

DomRavioli

RFMS wrote: »

Thank you all for the information. So it sounds like sectioning is unlikely. It's ever so sad I do not know how to get help to him.

To answer a previous question, he refused going to a doctor when I last pleaded with him because he says they are part of the conspiracy he has convinced himself is occurring and also is convinced that he is not having a mental health issue.

Someone has suggested to me that his specific symptoms may indicate Schizophrenia.

I feel terrible for his family and for him. I will call mind but I don't see how this will help as he won't talk to anyone.

Hi OP,

Please don't try and diagnose someone - you will only be very disappointed; it is for a health professional to do.

If he won't see someone then that is his right as a human, as much as you want them to get better, they only will when they are ready to admit they have a problem, not before.

If he is so much of a danger, then I'm sure he will present as such if he comes back to the UK, and then any procedures will be followed; until then, try and keep calm and there isn't anything you can do. Different countries, different rules.

RFMS

DomRavioli wrote: »

try and keep calm and there isn't anything you can do.

Very difficult. So I must accept that he will return to the uk, in a very challenging mental state, he has little money and no job. Likely to end up homeless.

Just as some more background, when he first starting having challenges a few years ago and he was alone I let him stay at mine, I pulled a favour and got him a job, I found a room for him to rent and paid it up for 6 weeks. He ended up quitting the job, insulted me and my family, and went abroad. The root cause is his mental health issue.

I can't let him stay at my house again, I have young children and need to protect them, and I'll struggle to find money this time to help him.

There is also the real possibility that the moment he becomes a threat he might go all out and do something very serious.

I understand we have human rights to not see a doctor but how can we in such an advanced country like such as ours allow someone who can't make decisions for himself just fade away and risk the possibility of a major incident.

Sorry but I'm really struggling with understanding this.

Errata

I,m sure it's difficult for you to understand, but nobody in the UK knows what his MH is like and you only have hearsay. If he returns and you honestly believe he will harm someone, report the matter to the police.