1. What is The Mental Health Act? Adam Lee. Got questions on the website greatfeelinghappy.com? Message on Twitter: @Sly0114

2. The basics The Mental Act is a big law with a wide range of sections. The Mental Health Act 1983 by law has the power to detain someone who is a danger to them and/or others.

3. How does someone get sectioned? Usually, the three people would be: an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) or the nearest relative a doctor who has been given special training (known as a section 12 approved doctor) a registered medical practitioner (another doctor). They will look at previous notes and files (if available) about that person. They will look at the information and make a quick assessment on there mental health and decide if it is appropriate to section that person.

4. What are the main sections that’s are used on the mental health act to detain someone? Section 2 – Under this section, if the assessment has been decided and they have sectioned and detained you in hospital and you have never been sectioned before you will be put on a section 2. You will have 28 day assessment in hospital and if they think you are still unwell, you will be placed on section 3. Section 3 – Under this section, before you are put on it, you will have an assessment (same stages as page 3 explains). If decided you will have a 6 months period in hospital but your doctor can take you off it at anytime within that period. If you are still unwell they can renew this section but will have to do another assessment. If your section has been renewed after a certain amount of time it will become yearly, but as said, it can be taken off at anytime.

5. What happens if you want to take leave from hospital while on a section? If you are on a section, a doctor will have to write a legal form called Section 17 leave of absence (Mental Health Act). Each hospital will have a slightly different form (design/layout) but they are all legally the same.

6. Discharge options Community Treatment Order – When you are discharged, sometimes it maybe necessary to be put on a CTO. There is certain conditions what are used for your personal needs. If you do not keep to these conditions or your RC (Responsible Clinician) thinks you are becoming unwell again, they can recall you back to hospital. You can only be put on a CTO if you are currently on a section 3 or section 37 (This is a section of the Mental Health Act where you get a hospital order instead of a prison sentence.) Discharge – You also can be completely discharge with no further hospital care. This does not mean you won’t have community care. You don’t have to follow any specific conditions though as you don’t have CTO.

7. Thanks for reading. Thank you for reading.