[DemolitionRed]

Sectioning someone is only ever used as a last resort. They have to pose a risk to others or themselves and under the mental capacity act it has to be proven that they lack the capacity to make their own decisions about their care and treatment. I don’t know anything about the case you’re talking about. If she’s been properly assessed, diagnosed and medicated and if she’s taking her medication, then she should be seeing improvements. If she’s getting worse then she probably needs to be reassed as an inpatient and if she’s refusing that help, then she could, depending on circumstances, end up being sectioned.

Unfortunately, it can be quite difficult to section someone for more than 72 hours which isn’t nearly enough time to properly assess someone’s mental status and give them the help they need. It becomes a bit of a revolving door for that person needing help.

Mental illness is rife and not everyone with mental illness needs to be sectioned but some do. Lets put it this way. People die every day in this country because there isn't adequate facilities to properly section them.

Mental illness slips through the NHS net more than any other illness.