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Being sectioned – for 11-18 year olds

A guide for young people on what happens when you're sectioned and how your section might end.

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.

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:

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

Normally, you should be on a mental health ward with other young people. But in some cases, you might have to stay on an adult mental health ward.

This might happen if:

  • You need to go into hospital quickly but there are no beds on the young people's ward.
  • Being on an adult ward is better for your treatment and care. Like if you're about to turn 18 and don't want to change wards when this happens, or if you have a baby.

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!
Get more wellbeing tips

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 do all the other sections mean?

While sections 2 and 3 are the most common, you might be sectioned under another section, or more than one section.

Under each heading below, you can find out:

  • What the section means
  • How long the section might last
  • If you can challenge the section

Challenging a section means asking for the section to end at the Mental Health Tribunal – you might need a responsible adult or advocate to help you with this.

Jump down to page information on challenging a section.

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:

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:

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:

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.

Remember: if you have already applied to the Mental Health Tribunal, you might need to wait a while before you can apply again.

For more details, you might need to speak to an IMHA or solicitor about the rules of your section.

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 page

What 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.

Section 117 aftercare

Someone should tell you if you have a right to free help and support when you leave hospital. This is often called section 117 aftercare.

Your support will depend on what you need to stop your mental health from getting worse.

This right to support under section 117 doesn't end until your care team agree that you no longer need it.

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.

Published: 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.

References are available on request. If you want to reproduce this content, see our permissions and licensing page.

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