Mental Health Section 3

[Boisdeslandes]

My son is on a section 2 which is about to run out and they want to put him on a section 3 but he doesnt want that and I as his nearest relative have the right to stop it happeniong but I don.t know what to do? Really worried if he goes onto Section 3 he will be in hospital for a long time and that that will make his mental health even worse. ny advice?

[bednobs]

i'm not sure you do have the right to stop it happening - whats the point in submitting someone to compulsory treatment if it's not compulsory? What happens if someones "closest relative" is a third cousin twice removed - would they have the right to stop it?
He probably has a right to appeal.
However, i could be wrong of course. Have you been in touch with the PALS service at the hospital where he is currently detained? They are really helpful and can help you/him with his rights. Has his health improved over the month he's currently been detained, or is he worse?

[ummmm]

I would go with what the professionals advise. They don't detain people unnecessarily.

[bednobs]

well ummmm i would have said that, but then i got to thinking what if i was in the position of being detained in a mental health facility for at least six months and didn't want to be and truly thought i'd be better without it? What a scary scary time it must be.

[Tilly2]

As his nearest relative you will be informed, by letter, of his sectioning. The letter will give you details of what you must do if you do not wish the section3 to continue.

As someone who has personal experience of this, I would suggest that you think really hard about objecting to the section. people are not sectioned lightly. He must need intensive treatment. The initial period is for six months but it may not need to be

[ummmm]

It would be scary, I agree.

[Boisdeslandes]

They did a section 3 assessment yesterday and I went to the hospital to discuss their conclusions. It really is down to me. They have said that if I object to the section 3 they will not take it to a court. I have until tomorrow to give them my decision. My son did not understand that they were planning to detain him under section 3 and thought the discussion was all about him coming him. I insisted that they told him what they were recommending and they did but that meant he just got terribly distressed and said I had to get him out. My head says I should go with the doctors recommendations but my heart says something different. he is currently a long way from home and that makes him very isolated. This is the hardest decision I have ever had to make if I get it wrong them how do I live with that?

[Boisdeslandes]

Just wanted to add that yes he is much betteer than he was when he first went into hospital and that actually makes it harder.

[bednobs]

imho (although easy for me to say) YOU are not making the decision, the doctors are

[Duncer]

You can only do your best. What will benefit your son most?

[ummmm]

I think tough love might be needed. As hard as it is it will be best for him in the long run.

[bednobs]

and as for being better sice he's been in, that would say to me it's the right thing to keep him there

[Boisdeslandes]

The issue I have is really about the system. I think he should stay in hospital for a bit longer but once the section 3 is in place there is no urgency for the hospital to release him from it as he can remain there for 6 months. I talked to the nurtse in charge of the ward he is on yesterday and she said that if he goes on to section 3 he is likely to remain with them for 6 to 8 weeks. This seems crazy as he is stabilising on his medication now but in my view not totally well. He just wants to come home and I dont think he will ever forgive me if I dont agree to this. but dodnt think i will be able to forgive myself if I make the wrong decision.

[ummmm]

He's stabilising....not stable.

[AB Editor]

Can comparable treatment be offered at home? If not, then it seems like staying "in" would be the likely best option.

[anneasquith]

id say take the advice of the professionals

[Boisdeslandes]

Yeah think I just need to let the Section 3 happen but still not sure I am doing the right thing as I probably could look after him as well at home :(

[bednobs]

you need to be his mum, not his carer, and you can do that better if someone else is doing the caring and worrying day to day

[lcg]

ok.....so you are aware that if you intervene then they will not extend his section to a 3. however, from my experience (and i am a psychiatric nurse) they would not be able to apply for a section 3 without good reason (i.e. risk to himself, others, self neglect, a lack of insight or non-concordance with treatment). you say he is getting better, but that does mean he is still quite unwell imo (and you did state he got quite agitated and found it difficult to comprehend what was happening) and if he is in hospital, it would be hard for you to look after him, even if he is your son and you are adept at dealing with his illness. hspitals are not in the practice of detaining patients or letting them stay informally for that matter) unless there is a clear clinical need to do so. yes he is your son and it is terribly difficult to say to him that you are not challenging the section or offering to look after him/be completely responsible for him (that is what the nearest relative function is for); but i did that with my husband last year as i had had enough of him not taking meds, being so unwell and unpredictable self harming behaviour. he said at the time he hated me for it (as i had requested the section assessment), but it is not the end of the world and your son will begin to understand in time. let the staff do their job and get him as right as can be before coming home - i also have to ask if you are fully aware of all aspects of your sons care and treatment....but my patients regularly ask us to not mention particular things to their families - especially in a bid to leave hospital. i will subscribe to this thread and if you wish to ask me any thing more.....i will pop back. take care x

[pizza]

Boisdeslandes you need think with your head not your heart, your son needs professional help and you need to accept this you can't be his carer as well the parent it's not fair to either of you.
lcg has given a great reply and you aren't letting you son down with accepting the section 3 you are giving him the chance for the help he needs.
This site will always be here when you need a natter so please don't think you're alone x

[Boisdeslandes]

I do fully understand my sons illness, his care needs and all his medication and the doctors agree with that but I am not sure enough that I could cope with him at home right now as there is only me. Having said that having to deal with how he will react to me deciding not to bring him home will be horrible as he is still blaming me for him being sectioned in the first place. I truely believe I will lose him forever if I don't bring him home but guess at the end of the day so long as he gets well that is all that matters?