Care and detention
Compulsory admission may be necessary if someone has such severe problems that their is a risk to their health or safety, or to the safety of other people, and they refuse to go into hospital.
many people with mental health problems receive care and treatment in the community when necessary and some will never need to go into hospital. Others will experience severe problems from time to time and admission to hospital for assessment or treatment, or both, may be necessary.
Usually the person concerned will agree to be admitted and will be referred to as a 'voluntary' or as an 'informal patient'.
Usually the person concerned will agree to be admitted and will be referred to as a 'voluntary' or as an 'informal patient'.
Most people in mental health units in England and Wales are there on a voluntary basis.
Compulsory admission
Involuntary or enforced admission for care and treatment can be arranged under on of the sections of the 1983 Mental Health Act, and when this is used, the person is referred to as being 'on section'. Mental Health Act
The Act tries to achieve a reasonable balance between ensuring that the necessary care and treatment is given while restricting the patient's freedom as little as possible - so there is a right of appeal against most sections, and special safeguards in relation to compulsory treatment.
Sometimes compulsory admission brings relief to a family if they have had to watch their relative's symptoms get worse over time and had been unable to to stop the decline. For others, the news that a son or daughter has been 'sectioned' may come as a shock, if for example, their relative had been working or studying away from home and the family were not aware of the developing problem.
The Act tries to achieve a reasonable balance between ensuring that the necessary care and treatment is given while restricting the patient's freedom as little as possible - so there is a right of appeal against most sections, and special safeguards in relation to compulsory treatment.
Sometimes compulsory admission brings relief to a family if they have had to watch their relative's symptoms get worse over time and had been unable to to stop the decline. For others, the news that a son or daughter has been 'sectioned' may come as a shock, if for example, their relative had been working or studying away from home and the family were not aware of the developing problem.
