Sectioning Under Mental Health Act

[Tannedbaldhead]

A close relative of mine was, till this summer, a successful recovering alcoholic. They managed a decade plus drink free in which they progressed to a senior position within their career, married and became a parent.

In the spring of this year they suffered a work related spinal injury. There was an accusation made that the injury was due to deviation from the employer's health and safety policies and my relative was suspended pending a disciplinary investigation and hearing.
We think the stress combined with boredom from being off ill and the medication for the spinal injury (Tramadol and diazapan) having similar effects to alcohol triggered a relapse.

As well as drinking themself to oblivion every day out of shame and not wanting spouse, child or any family members seeing them drink like this my relative leaves the house and drinks in nearby woods. The police have to be called to find what they class as a missing vulnerable person who when found is checked over by paramedics before being poured home.

In the last two weeks my relative has made two attempts on their life and has been caught driving six times over the limit. They were driving where "they couldn't be found so they could go to sleep and not wake up ".

For the spouse's final straw my relative suffered a head injury while in the woods then fought the police and paramedics trying to attend. As they fought they chanted over and over "leave me alone, let me die. I just want to die".

The spouse tried to have my relative detained the next morning as a danger to themselves. After a mental health review this was declined as my relative presents well when sober.

Police, paramedics, family, friends and spouse are furious and in despair.

Where to go from here?

Edited by Tannedbaldhead on Monday 19th September 11:11

[Tannedbaldhead]

Jasandjules said:

I am afraid sectioning is almost impossible without the agreement of the person in question.

Said person values their liberty too much. It is required for drinking, suicide attempts and complete self destruction

[Tannedbaldhead]

Honk said:

pim said:

The Doctor or social worker can section a person without his or her permission.

You have to be mentally ill.

...but sober.

When sober relative is penitent, ashamed and full of resolve to beat this once as they've beaten before and, as such, will go straight out to seek professional assistance. They claim they don't really want to kill themselves. It's just an overwhelming urge to escape the consequences of their actions.

It's exactly what the mental health professionals want to hear.

When drunk they return to drinking themselves unconscious it the cold and rain, necking their prescribed drugs,fighting the police and paramedics then waking up in hospital recovering from injuries and overdose treatment.

[Tannedbaldhead]

XCP said:

I may be getting hold of the wrong end of the stick but is it the case that he has 6 drink driving cases pending? I am astonished he has not been remanded in custody if that is the case and that bail conditions a) not to drive whilst under the influence and/or b) not to consume alcohol have not been imposed.

One conviction, five times the limit. Six taking into account it's a Scottish offence.

[Tannedbaldhead]

Short Grain said:

In the spring of this year they suffered a work related spinal injury. There was an accusation made that the injury was due to deviation from the employer's health and safety policies and my relative was suspended pending a disciplinary investigation and hearing.

Is the accusation true or ar^e covering by the company?

Works in special needs social care. A patient they were walking with fell. Policy is to let them drop then give aid and seek help after they hit the ground. Catching them is against the rules as firstly you could hurt yourself and secondly if you fell with the patient whose to say you didn't cause the injury rather than the floor exposing the employer to litigation.
Apparently letting someone taking a seizure fall on their face is more difficult than it sounds.
Technically speaking H&S patient handling rules were breached. Relative suffered spinal injuries as a result. In their defence it's an instinctive reaction to brake the fall. I'll leave you to judge.

Edited by Tannedbaldhead on Monday 19th September 20:47

[Tannedbaldhead]

Pretty sure my relative was temporarily detained prior to being interviewed by a mental health nurse. The process was called a mental health review. Once carried out and having stated they were remorseful, not suicidal and intending to dry out and seek help to do so (all lies and all against what police, paramedics and family had reported) my relative was let go.
I understand drinking itself is not an issue but genuine suicide attempts while drunk is worthy of intervention.
Police are far from happy with the situation.

[Tannedbaldhead]

Pothole said:

Tannedbaldhead said:

Short Grain said:

In the spring of this year they suffered a work related spinal injury. There was an accusation made that the injury was due to deviation from the employer's health and safety policies and my relative was suspended pending a disciplinary investigation and hearing.

Is the accusation true or ar^e covering by the company?

Works in special needs social care. A patient they were walking with fell. Policy is to let them drop then give aid and seek help after they hit the ground. Catching them is against the rules as firstly you could hurt yourself and secondly if you fell with the patient whose to say you didn't cause the injury rather than the floor exposing the employer to litigation.
Apparently letting someone taking a seizure fall on their face is more difficult than it sounds.
Technically speaking H&S patient handling rules were breached. Relative suffered spinal injuries as a result. In their defence it's an instinctive reaction to brake the fall. I'll leave you to judge.

Edited by Tannedbaldhead on Monday 19th September 20:47

Nothing for us to judge. The rules may be hideous, but they are in place and well known.

Apparently catching patients is an involuntary reaction. It's very difficult not to.

[Tannedbaldhead]

V6Pushfit said:

Having said that is this an injury that's handy to have given the accusation at work?

I can see where you are coming from. In this case the accusation from work is to cover the employer from liability with regards to the accident thus no injury no need for accusation. Relative suffered ruptured disks and muscle torn from disc in fall with patient.

[Tannedbaldhead]

charltjr said:

Tannedbaldhead said:

Pretty sure my relative was temporarily detained prior to being interviewed by a mental health nurse. The process was called a mental health review. Once carried out and having stated they were remorseful, not suicidal and intending to dry out and seek help to do so (all lies and all against what police, paramedics and family had reported) my relative was let go.
I understand drinking itself is not an issue but genuine suicide attempts while drunk is worthy of intervention.
Police are far from happy with the situation.

When you say your relative's statement was all lies do you mean that he's suicidal when sober, or are they only lying about intending to dry out and seek help for the alcohol abuse?

Complicated. Their partner is of the view they would like to dry out but will not engage with the resources who have helped in the past. As for the suicidal thoughts that's that bit more difficult to assess. When sober they wish they were dead but consideration of the impact on others and that deep set sense of self preservation that stops us all from jumping off bridges keeps them in the land of the living. When drunk all bets are off. When sober they are very aware that once the drinking starts the attempted suicides start. There has been one more hospital visit since OP. Relative left hospital with a leaflet for The Samaritans.

[Tannedbaldhead]

I'd like to take this opportunity to praise the BiBs.
Absolutely amazing. Patient, compassionate, empathetic, good humoured and so far the most effective help and providers of the best advice.

In days of yore and in other countries my relative would have taken a good kicking and been locked up for some of the nonsense going on. Has to be restrained and fights back when found wandering in the woods.

Police attitude is the cells and prison are the wrong place for people like this and (this was said with a smile) no point in giving a kicking as there are so many injuries (big drunken face plants and head bouncing off furniture, floors and stairs) that my relative wouldn't notice the extra bruises when sobered up and wouldn't feel the kicks when drunk.