Being sectioned means being detained under a ‘section’ of the Mental Health Act 1983 as long as doctors are worried you’re planning to hurt yourself and akin people. You can be held in a hospital, or receive treatment while continuing to live indoors, while you’re sectioned. You can also be sectioned if you’re refusing treatment. You must have a mental illness that needs urgent assessment or treatment, with an intention to be sectioned. Two most common ‘sections’ of the Mental Health Act are section 2, that means you can be detained for observation for 28 days, and section 3, that means you can be held for a maximum of six months. They’ll tell you how long you can be away for, where you can go, and whether you’ll need someone with you.
Not if you’ve been sectioned under sections 2 and 3 of the Mental Health Act. Only with the permission of your hospital doctor, you can leave temporarily. Right after the tribunal, they’ll decide if your sectioning order must end or continue. I know that the tribunal will read reports written by members of your care team and hear your views. That’s an independent body.
Under sections 2 and 3 you have a right to appeal to the Mental Health Review Tribunal. It’s a well if you’re concerned about someone and think they may need to be sectioned you should contact your local social services -you can usually find their number on your council’s website.
