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What is being sectioned?
Being sectioned means that we're kept in hospital to get treatment and support for our mental health.
A law called the Mental Health Act 1983 explains when and how this should happen. Because the Act has different ‘sections’ for different situations, this is why we call it ‘being sectioned’.
Being sectioned means we have to go into hospital, even if:
- We don't want to go in
- We don't agree to staying
Sectioning is used to keep us safe and get the treatment and support we need. But it's normal to feel scared, upset or angry about being sectioned – we're here to help.
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It was a very daunting time being in hospital, all the different sections, all the terms they'd use. It was hard to take them all in, hard to understand what they meant and how each thing applied to me – Lucy
Why might I be sectioned?
We'll only be sectioned if we're very unwell and doctors are worried that we're a risk to ourselves, or to someone else.
Our doctors should always try to think of other ways to look after us first, like asking us to go into hospital as an informal patient.
Usually, doctors will only section you if everything else they've tried hasn't worked. You might also hear sectioning called ‘being detained’.
Is sectioning like being an informal patient?
While some of us find the experiences quite similar, being sectioned is not the same as being an informal patient.
What happens before I can be sectioned?
Before you can be sectioned, a group of health professionals have to meet with you. They must all agree that you need to be admitted to hospital to get treatment and support for your mental health problem.
You might hear this called an ‘assessment’ or Mental Health Act Assessment.
Who decides if I need to be sectioned?
A team of 3 health professionals have to meet with you to decide. This team will include:
- An approved mental health professional (AMHP) – they're usually a specially-trained social worker or nurse.
- 2 doctors – usually you should know at least 1 of these doctors.
At least 1 person in the team should also be a specialist in young people's mental health.
Everything was pinned on my autism diagnosis… Psychiatrists should be thinking ‘something else is going on’. I should have been admitted to a psychiatric unit far earlier than I was – Polly
What happens in the assessment?
When you first see the AMHP, they should tell you who they are and why they're meeting with you.
They should also ask if you want someone else, like a parent, carer or guardian, to be there while they talk to you. If you want this, the AMHP should organise it for you. But sometimes, like in an emergency, they might not be able to.
The AMHP will ask you questions so they can decide if you should be sectioned and kept in hospital. The 2 doctors will also ask you some questions. This might all happen at the same time, or you might see the doctors on their own.
If the team decide to section you, they should:
- Give you clear information to help you understand what's happening
- Listen to your feelings and views
- Answer any questions you have
It sounds a lot scarier than it really was! It was basically just my normal doctor, a social worker and another doctor that I hadn't met before reading through my notes. Then they came into a room with me and my mum to ask me questions.
Will I go into hospital if I'm sectioned?
If the assessment team decide to section you, they will find you a bed on an inpatient ward in hospital.
You should go to a hospital with a mental health ward for people under 18. You might hear this called:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) ward in England
- Inpatient services or Tier 4 inpatient services in Wales
In some situations, you might go to a general hospital ward, instead of a mental health ward. If this happens, you should speak to an advocate or solicitor about your rights.
I spent a lot of time in general hospitals because there were no beds available in the units – Polly
Where will I go to hospital?
The hospital should be as close as possible to where you normally live.
But if there are no beds in your local area, you might have to go to a hospital far away from where you normally live. This could be for a short stay, or up to months at a time. You might hear this called an ‘out of area placement’.
Some people close to you might not have the time or money to visit you in a hospital far away. This can feel really hard for you and for them. If they're struggling with travel costs, they can ask for some support. You can get more information from your care team.
There were very few beds for quite a large area. It was a 40-minute drive from my home to the nearest section 136 unit – Polly
Staff didn't understand my frustration when my section was renewed or transferred. I was miles away from home... It was so distressing – Martha
Looking after your wellbeing
Being sectioned can be a difficult and scary time. It's important to find ways to look after yourself.
We spoke to young people who wanted to share their own hospital wellbeing tips:
- Try to keep busy and keep having interests. If you can, do the same things you liked doing before going into hospital.
- You can make friends in hospital who might get you through really hard times.
- You might have some great discussions with young people and start to truly understand each other.
- You can do activities together with other young people. Hospital can even be fun sometimes!
What do the different sections mean?
There are lots of different sections, which all have different rules to keep us safe. But the sections you'll probably hear about most are section 2 and section 3.
What is section 2?
Section 2 means you can be kept in hospital for up to 28 days so your care team can:
- Learn more about your mental health problem or what you're experiencing
- Find out what kind of treatment and support works for you
If your care team still think you need treatment and support after 28 days, they might assess you to see if you should be put on a section 3.
You can challenge a section 2 at the Mental Health Tribunal, which means asking for it to end, but you can only do this once. You'd also need to do this within the first 14 days of your section.
My section 2 was when I was 14. I was sectioned at midnight. My family weren't informed. It was quite horrible – Martha
What is section 3?
Section 3 means you can be kept in hospital for up to 6 months if it's the only way to get you treatment and support.
After 6 months, your section 3 can be extended for another 6 months. After these 6-month periods, any further extension can last for up to 1 year at a time.
It doesn't always mean that it will last this long – doctors will monitor you during your section and could discharge you at any point. Your section 3 can only continue if your responsible clinician (RC) thinks you still need treatment and support in hospital.
You can challenge your section 3 at the Mental Health Tribunal once in the first 6 months, once in the 6-month extension, and then once every year.
When I was on section 3, they said I can challenge it. I didn't know what that meant and it wasn't explained… I wasn't in the right mindset to fight – Lucy
What does this mean?
This means that an AMHP and a doctor agree that you need to go into hospital as an emergency, while waiting for a second doctor to assess you.
When the second doctor is available, they will all meet together to decide if you need to be put on a section 2 or section 3.
How long does section 4 last?
Up to 72 hours, which means up to 3 days.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
No, you cannot challenge a section 4.
What does this mean?
You might also hear this called a ‘holding power’. It only applies if you're already an informal patient or staying in hospital for another reason.
It means you need to keep staying in hospital while your care team decide whether to put you on a section 2 or section 3.
How long does section 5(2) last?
Up to 72 hours, which means up to 3 days.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
No, you cannot challenge a section 5(2).
What does this mean?
You might also hear this called a ‘holding power’. It only applies if you're already in hospital as an informal patient.
It means a nurse can keep you on the ward for a short time, so they can arrange for a doctor to assess you and decide if you need to stay longer.
A nurse can only use this section if you have either:
- Said that you want to leave the ward
- Acted in a way that suggests you're trying to leave the ward
How long does section 5(4) last?
Up to 6 hours.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
No, you cannot challenge a section 5(4).
What does this mean?
An AMHP will choose someone to be your ‘guardian’ instead of you being sectioned and kept in hospital. The guardian is usually someone from a local authority, like a social worker for example. You might also hear it called a ‘guardianship’.
You can only get put on section 7 if you're aged 16 or over.
A guardian is responsible for things like making sure you get support for your mental health outside of hospital. For example, helping you to go to important appointments.
They can also make certain decisions about you. For example, they can decide where you live.
How long does section 7 last?
6 months, but it can be extended for another 6 months, then maybe longer.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
Yes. You can challenge a section 7 once in the first 6 months, once in the second 6 months, then once every year.
What does this mean?
This means that your main doctor says you can live outside of hospital, but you have to follow certain rules like:
- Agreeing to regularly see your doctor
- Taking medication
You might also hear this called a Community Treatment Order or CTO.
You can only be put on a 17A if you have already been on certain sections, like section 3 or section 37. You cannot be put on a 17A if you've only been on section 2.
How long does section 17A last?
6 months, but it can be extended for another 6 months, then maybe longer.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
Yes. You can challenge a section 17A or CTO once in the first 6 months, once in the second 6 months, then once every year.
What does this mean?
You can only be put on a section 37 if you have been found guilty of a crime. It means a judge in court says you should go to hospital for mental health treatment, rather than go to prison.
How long does section 37 last?
6 months, but it can be extended for another 6 months, then maybe longer.
It does not mean that you'll go to prison instead of staying in hospital when your section ends. Normally you will be discharged.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
Yes. You cannot challenge a section 37 in the first 6 months, but you can challenge it once in the second 6 months, then once every year.
What does this mean?
If you've been put on a section 37, this means the judge can also put you on a section 41. It means that you need the permission of the Government to be either:
- Discharged
- Moved to another hospital
- Given permission for leave
You might also hear this called a ‘restriction order’. A judge will only put you on a restriction order if they're worried that you're a serious risk to other people.
How long does section 37/41 last?
There is no fixed time limit.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
Yes. You cannot challenge a section 37/41 in the first 6 months, but you can challenge it once in the second 6 months, then once every year.
What does this mean?
This can only happen if you're already in prison for a crime. It means that the Government wants to move you from prison to hospital to get treatment for your mental health.
How long does section 47 last?
6 months, but it can be extended for another 6 months, then maybe longer.
It does not mean that you'll go back to prison when your section ends. Normally you will be discharged.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
Yes. You can challenge a section 47 once in the first 6 months, once in the second 6 months, then once every year.
What does this mean?
If you've already been put on a section 47, the Government can also put you on a section 49.
It means that you need the permission of the Government to be either:
- Discharged
- Moved to another hospital
- Given permission for leave
You might also hear this called a ‘restriction direction’.
How long does section 47/49 last?
There is no fixed time limit.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
Yes. You can challenge a section 47/49 once in the first 6 months, once in the second 6 months, then once every year.
What does this mean?
There are 2 possible situations for a section 48:
- If you're waiting for your court trial for a crime. The Government wants to move you from prison to hospital to get treatment and support for your mental health.
- If you're in immigration detention. The Government wants to move you to hospital so you can get treatment and support for your mental health.
How long does section 48 last?
6 months, but it can be extended for another 6 months, then maybe longer.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
Yes. You can challenge a section 48 once in the first 6 months, once in the second 6 months, then once every year.
What does this mean?
If you've already been put on a section 48, the Government can also put you on a section 49.
It means that you need the permission of the Government to be either:
- Discharged
- Moved to another hospital
- Given permission for leave
You might also hear this called a ‘restriction direction’.
How long does section 48/49 last?
There is no fixed time limit.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
Yes. You can challenge a section 48/49 once in the first 6 months, once in the second 6 months, then once every year.
What does this mean?
If there are concerns about your mental health and safety, the police can come into wherever you are and take you to a ‘place of safety’. This might be a hospital ward, a special room in a hospital, or the place you normally live in.
If the place of safety is the place you normally live, the police can keep you there if you're already there.
There are 2 rules:
- The place of safety can never be a police cell
- The police must be with a doctor and an AMHP when they come into the place you live
You might also hear this called a ‘police power’ or ‘police section’.
How long does section 135(1) last?
Usually for up to 24 hours, which means 1 day, but can continue for another 12 hours.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
No, you cannot challenge a section 135(1). But if you're not happy with how the police acted, you can make a complaint. Find out more on the Police Conduct website.
I don't think police are the right people to be putting people on sections. As a young girl it's scary for police to turn up… It's not the best way to deal with it – Martha
What does this mean?
This is usually used when you've already been sectioned, but you're away from hospital without permission. Section 135(2) means the police can come into the place you are living or staying and take you back to hospital.
The police might come with a doctor or mental health professional, but they don't have to.
You might also hear this called a ‘police power’ or ‘police section’.
How long does section 135(2) last?
The section ends as soon as the police have taken you back to hospital.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
No, you cannot challenge a section 135(2). But if you're not happy with how the police acted, you can make a complaint. Find out more on the Police Conduct website.
What does this mean?
If the police see you in public and they're concerned about your mental health and safety, they can take you to a ‘place of safety’.
The place of safety might be a hospital ward or a special room in a hospital. It could also be the place you live. It can never be a police cell.
You might also hear this called a ‘police power’ or ‘police section’.
How long does section 136 last?
Usually for 24 hours, which means 1 day, but can continue for another 12 hours.
Can I challenge it at the Mental Health Tribunal?
No, you cannot challenge a section 136. But if you're not happy with how the police acted, you can make a complaint. Find out more on the Police Conduct website.
When I got put on a section 136, I didn't realise I struggled with dissociation. I just remember being with police and they put me somewhere, but I didn't understand anything about it. It's very intimidating to be surrounded by police – Lucy
Every time I was sectioned, they'd give me a pack of information, but I was never in a place where I could read the information… I was too busy having meltdowns. No-one offered to talk me through it – Sarah
Can I ask to end my section?
Your section might end after a set amount of time. Or your RC can end your section if they don't think you need it anymore.
You can also ask for your section to end – you might hear this called ‘challenging your section’.
There are different ways you can challenge your section:
- Apply to the Mental Health Tribunal. The tribunal is a special court that is separate from the hospital. It has the power to end your section even if your doctor doesn't agree. You can ask your responsible adult or advocate to help you apply. For information on how to apply, visit the YoungMinds' website.
- Ask the hospital managers. They can meet you and your care team to listen to your views about why your section should end. The hospital managers can end your section even if your doctor doesn't agree.
- Ask your nearest relative to apply for your section to end. If your doctor doesn't agree with your nearest relative, your section will continue. If this happens, your nearest relative could then ask the hospital managers or the Mental Health Tribunal to end the section. Visit our hospital rights page to find out about your right to a nearest relative.
You'll usually meet with the hospital managers or Mental Health Tribunal in person, but it could be over the phone or by video call.
When your section ends, it doesn't always mean that you'll leave hospital. You might need to need to stay longer for treatment and support. But rather than being in hospital under a section, you'll become an informal patient.
I had a conversation with my doctor and we were both in agreement about ending my section. There wasn't much to it.
What other rights will I get in hospital?
When we're sectioned, we have certain rights in hospital to help us. But we will also lose some other types of rights, or notice that they've changed a bit.
Understanding our rights can help us make sure that staff treat us fairly and provide the things we need.
Your rights in hospital under a section
As well as our rights under different sections, and rights related to challenging a section, we also have other rights in hospital.
Our hospital rights page explains more about these rights and what we can do if we aren't getting what we need.
Go to hospital rights pageWhat happens if I leave hospital after my section ends?
The end of a section doesn't always mean leaving hospital. Some of us might need to stay in hospital as informal patients.
But if your section ends and your care team don't think you need to stay in as an informal patient, you can leave hospital. You might hear this called ‘being discharged’.
Leaving hospital can feel like a very big step after spending time there under a section. Before you go, your care team will want to make sure that:
- You're well enough to leave
- There is support in place for you after you leave
When you leave hospital, your care team should give you:
- A discharge summary that explains how long you spent in hospital under your section, plus how your treatment went.
- A care plan that explains a bit about you and the care and support you need. This could include advice on what should happen if you're in crisis.
- Contact details for someone to speak to if you think your mental health is getting worse after you leave hospital.
Your care team might ask you to come back to hospital for appointments, or have check-ups with CAMHS or your doctor. Some of us might need to go back to hospital as informal patients or under section again in the future.
Going into hospital was a very scary experience for me, but I liked to think of it as a chance to restart, to come out a stronger person. It gave me the opportunity to try and create a more meaningful life for myself. It also helped me realise I am not alone.
Mental Health Act 1983
This is a law in England and Wales. It means that you can be sectioned if you have a mental health problem and need treatment in hospital to keep you safe.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryDetained
This is when you are kept somewhere, like in hospital, even if you haven’t agreed to it. This only happens if you’re very unwell and professionals think you might be a risk to yourself or others.
In mental health hospitals, you could be detained using a law called the Mental Health Act 1983. This is also called being sectioned.
See our page on being sectioned for more information.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryVoluntary patient
You're a voluntary patient when you, or someone who looks after you, agree for you to stay in hospital to get treatment and support for your mental health. This is sometimes called being an informal patient.
See our page on being an informal patient for more information.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryMental Health Act Assessment
This is when a group of health professionals meet with you to see if you need to go into hospital to get treatment and support for your mental health. If they all agree that you need to go into hospital, you could be sectioned. You may also hear this called an assessment.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryApproved mental health professional (AMHP)
This is a specially trained social worker or nurse. They're responsible for arranging Mental Health Act Assessments. They’re also responsible for admitting you to hospital if you’re sectioned.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryCare team
These people look after you when you're getting treatment and support for a mental health problem. Your care team might include nurses, doctors and therapists.
They may look after you in hospital, at home or support you through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Visit our full treatment and support glossary
Responsible clinician (RC)
This is the doctor in charge of your care if you’re sectioned.
Only your responsible clinician can make certain decisions, such as giving you leave from the ward. They’re also the only person in your care team who can end your section.
See our guide on being sectioned for more information.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryGuardianship
When you're unwell, this is when someone is appointed to be your guardian instead of you being sectioned and kept in hospital. Your guardian is someone other than your parent or carer.
Your guardian can help make sure you get support for your mental health outside of hospital. They can also make certain decisions about you. For example, they can decide where you live or make sure you go to important appointments.
You can only be put on a guardianship if you’re 16 or above and it’s essential for your safety or someone else’s.
Community Treatment Order (CTO)
This is when you’ve been discharged from hospital but you still need to follow certain rules. For example, taking medication or seeing your doctor. If you become unwell or don’t follow these rules, you could be brought back to hospital.
You can only be put on a CTO if you’ve been on certain sections, like 3 or 37.
See our page on being sectioned for information about the different sections.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryDischarge
This means your treatment at a hospital, clinic or other service is ending. You may be discharged because:
- You’ve completed your treatment
- You’re old enough to use a different service
- You’ve asked to leave
- The next part of your treatment needs to continue somewhere else
Your care team should explain what this means, and what will happen if you need care in the future.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryWard
This describes the area of the hospital you're staying in. You may also hear it called a unit.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryAdvocate
Advocates can help you speak up about things that are important to you. And help make sure your voice is heard.
In some situations, you will have a legal right to have an advocate. This is called statutory advocacy.
Even if you don’t have a right to an advocate, there are other types of advocacy that can help you get your voice heard.
See our page on advocacy for more information.
Care plan
This is a plan that explains:
- Your mental health problem
- What treatment and support you need
- Who will provide that support
They might also cover what should happen if you're in a mental health crisis.
There are different types of plans, such as a Care Programme Approach (CPA) or Care and Treatment Plan (CTP). Whatever type of plan you have, you should always be given a copy of it.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryMental Health Tribunal (MHT)
This is a special court that you can apply to when you’re sectioned. The tribunal decides whether your section can end. They can also give advice about things like hospital leave, hospital transfers and Community Treatment Order (CTO)s.
In England, the tribunal is called the Mental Health Tribunal. In Wales, the tribunal is called the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales.
When you have a tribunal hearing, three people make the decisions. These include:
- A judge
- A doctor
- Someone with experience and expertise in that area of mental health, usually a social worker or nurse
Section 17 leave
When you're sectioned, your main doctor might give you permission to have time away from the ward. This is called section 17 leave. But you might just hear this being called leave.
Your doctor might set conditions or rules for your leave, like only being allowed to go out with a parent or carer.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryHospital managers
Hospital managers are responsible for using the Mental Health Act 1983 in hospitals.
If you’re sectioned and you want your section to end, you can ask the hospital managers. They will meet and consider your case. They can decide to end your section even if your main doctor doesn’t agree.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryNearest relative
This is a family member who has certain responsibilities for you if you're sectioned or on a Community Treatment Order (CTO).
You nearest relative should usually be told if you’re going to be sectioned. They can also:
- Say no to you being sectioned under a section 3
- Be given information about your treatment
- Ask for your section to end if you're on a section 2 or section 3
You can’t choose who your nearest relative is. The Mental Health Act 1983 sets out a list of people who it can be. It’s usually the person who is highest up on this list:
- Your mum or dad (usually whoever is oldest)
- Your brother or sister (if they’re over 18)
- Your grandparent
- Your uncle or aunt
Section 117 aftercare
If you’ve been sectioned under section 3, 37, 47 or 48, you have a legal right to support called section 117 aftercare.
Section 117 support will be personal to you. It depends on what support you need to stop your mental health from getting worse. Your right to support doesn't end until your care team agree that you no longer need that support.
See our page on being sectioned for information about the different sections.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
These are services that can support you with your mental health.
You might see them called different names sometimes, but they offer the same thing:
- In Wales, they're called Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (SCAMHS).
- In England and Wales, you might also hear them called Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS).
Find out more in our CAMHS information hub.
Discharge summary
This is a report completed by your care team when you are discharged from hospital. It should explain any diagnosis you have and summarise the care and treatment you’ve had in hospital.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryConfidentiality
Confidentiality is about keeping your information private.
It means that when you talk to professionals they shouldn’t tell anyone else what you’ve said.
They will only share what you tell them in certain situations. For example, if you ask them to or if they’re worried that you or someone else could be in danger.
See our page on confidentiality for more information.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryRights
Rights generally exist to protect and help us. If you have a right or the rights to something in everyday life, it means you're entitled to have it or do it.
Our rights are often set out in laws, like the Equality Act 2010. Sometimes, rights might be set out in other policies and guidelines.
Some rights can never lawfully be taken away from us. However, sometimes another law can interfere with or restrict our rights. For example, if we are arrested or sectioned.
For more information, see our page on your rights.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryAdmitted
This means going to a hospital, clinic or another service to get treatment and support for your mental health.
If you’re admitted to hospital, you might go in as:
- An outpatient
- A day patient
- An inpatient
Visit our full treatment and support glossary
Solicitor
A solicitor is a type of lawyer who can support and represent you and your family in a legal case. Solicitors can help you understand laws related to any problems you have.
For example, you might hire a solicitor if you're making a complaint or struggling to claim something you have a right to.
Some solicitors can cost a lot of money, while others don't charge at all .
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryInpatient care
This is the care you get when you’re staying in hospital. You might be an informal patient or you might be sectioned. You might also be having treatment and support for your physical health.
See our pages on being an informal patient or being sectioned for more information.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryInformal patient
You may also hear this being called voluntary patient. It means that you, or someone who looks after you, agree for you to stay in hospital to get treatment and support for your mental health.
See our page on being an informal patient for more information.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryIndependent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA)
An IMHA can help you:
- Understand your rights under the Mental Health Act 1983
- Understand any medical treatment you’re having or might have
- With practical things, like attending meetings or seeing your medical records
See our page on advocacy for more information about IMHAs.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryLocal authority
This is the local government for where you live. They provide services such as health services, social services, schools, transport and housing.
Each local government decides how services are run. This means that some services in different areas may have different rules.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryPublished: December 2024
Next review planned: December 2027
We spoke to young people who agreed to give quotes for this page. Their experiences are not related to the people shown in the photos.
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