Sectioning & the mental health act
Detention under a section of the Mental Health Act or 'sectioning' is where a patient is detained by a mental health professionals for safety reasons. The Mental Health Act is a huge document but below are the most important parts of it.
Reasons For Section
This sort of detention is only done when absolutely necessary. In order for a section to be completed the patient one of the following:
- a danger to himself
- a danger to others
- deteriorating to the point that he will be one of the above
The above conditions must be attributed to a mental illness.
Treatment Under The Mental Health Act
- Treatment must be for the mental illness, not any physical illness
- A physical illness may be treated if it is deemed to be causing the mental illness (hallucinations in delirium tremens or depression in hypothyroidism)
Section 2
Why?
This section is for assessment and treatment.
How long?
This section lasts for 28 days.
Who is required?
A section 12 approved doctor (consultant psychiatrist and some GPs); a general practitioner who knows the patient; and an Approved Social Worker (ASW).
Section 3
Why?
This section is for treatment only
How long?
This section lasts for 6 months.
Who is required?
A section 12 approved doctor; a general practitioner who knows the patient; and an ASW
Section 5.2
Why?
Emergency section to detain a patient in hospital. It is generally used to keep psychiatric patients on the ward when they try to leave. It is very difficult to get an ASW, GP and section 12 approved doctor acutely. The 72 hours gives time for these professionals to assess the patient
How long?
This section lasts for 72 hours. The patient must be assessed within that time for further detention to take place.
Who is required?
Any doctor.
Other sections
There are some sections which are not essential but it is worth being aware of.
Section 1.3.6
This section is done by police when they suspect somebody is mentally ill. They can be held in a place of safety (a police cell or a specific ward) until assessed. A&E is not a place of safety, despite what some police officers may think.
Section 5.4
Used in the same way as 5.2 but is for 6 hours and done by a nurse.