If you try to kill yourself and fail are you automatically sectioned and sent to psychiatric ward. Or can they send you home.
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Depends on severity. I was sectioned after an overdose and they found SN in my car. That was 1st May 2021. Spent a year and 7 months in there, was discharged on the 14th December 2022.
In the UK, based on my experience, no.
I've woken up in hospital two times, with one being in the ICU, in neither occassion was I sectioned for that incident.
There may be cases where you are, for example if you said you were going to re-attempt immediatley upon release, or if the circumstances surrounding your suicide attempt where caused by a psychotic episode etc.
I think it's one of those where "your mileage may vary".
I've woken up in hospital two times, with one being in the ICU, in neither occassion was I sectioned for that incident.
There may be cases where you are, for example if you said you were going to re-attempt immediatley upon release, or if the circumstances surrounding your suicide attempt where caused by a psychotic episode etc.
I think it's one of those where "your mileage may vary".
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In my experience, no. A quick chat with the MH doctor and mugged off to go home and check in after a few days.
I do live in the UK though where our healthcare system is near collapse and there is pretty much zero MH support unless you can wait 24 months.
I do live in the UK though where our healthcare system is near collapse and there is pretty much zero MH support unless you can wait 24 months.
Thanks for answers. I just don't want to fail and end up in psychiatric ward. Its putting me off attempting. So many hurdles to ctb
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Dot
Info abt typng styl on prfle.
- Sep 26, 2021
- 3,348
Yh in u.k thre r nt n.e beds s/ 2ll nt b givn a bed unlss stuatn = desper8
pillow933
Student
- Mar 7, 2020
- 115
Depends on general availability of beds (you can probably just do some research on the state of MH support in your country to assess this) and the severity of the method.
I was 'sectioned' when I was 15 in the UK and I hadn't even gone through with a method. I was planning on doing it that night but someone found my tied noose, and apparently hanging yourself is considered 'more extreme' as there's not really any possibility to go back after you attempt. I wasn't technicaly sectioned, just strongly advised to be an inpatient, and I imagine if I had said no they would have sectioned me (not like you have much say at 15 anyway). Something like overdosing on most drugs is probably seen as less severe compared to say slitting your wrists or diving in front of a train and they respond accordingly.
I was 'sectioned' when I was 15 in the UK and I hadn't even gone through with a method. I was planning on doing it that night but someone found my tied noose, and apparently hanging yourself is considered 'more extreme' as there's not really any possibility to go back after you attempt. I wasn't technicaly sectioned, just strongly advised to be an inpatient, and I imagine if I had said no they would have sectioned me (not like you have much say at 15 anyway). Something like overdosing on most drugs is probably seen as less severe compared to say slitting your wrists or diving in front of a train and they respond accordingly.
A year and 7 months????? Omg that sound like absolute hell. I guess it didn't "help" since you're on this forum. I've never heard or read of anyone being in a psych ward that long.
Yep I spent 3 months on an acute ward who then referred me to a specialist ward where I spent the remainder of the time. Being at the first ward was hell. People screaming and shouting all day and night, attempting in front of you, it was super lonely. The second ward wasn't as bad. In fact it was actually alright. The staff had more time for you, and the other patients were calmer.
I did attempt once at the ward, I tried partial hanging in the bathroom at night time. One of the nurses walked into my room and had to unlock my bathroom door and cut the ligature. I was so close to passing out that they had to hold me to get me out of the bathroom.
When I was discharged I felt fine. It's been nearly 2 months since I was discharged and I'm almost back to square one. I have a great community team who are supposed to see me every week, but have upped it to twice a week since I'm struggling. Unfortunately nothing is really working for me. They've offered me coping techniques like putting my head in a bowl of ice and water and it does work short term. But long term I'm left suffering and I just can't stand this feeling anymore. I thought I'd got past it but I haven't.
And I'd rather be dead than go back to the psych ward.
pillow933
Student
- Mar 7, 2020
- 115
Sorry you had to go through that... What was the specialist ward for? I've only heard of acute units and intensive care units, what was the process of you being transferred to the other one and the reasonings behind it?
My psychiatrist told me that he didn't know if he'd actually be able to help me, but he'd do his best. On the acute ward they were in constant need for beds and I assume that they needed my bed but didn't think I was ready to be discharged. Therefore they applied for funding to send me to a specialist mood disorder ward, which was successful.
I didn't have much time to process the move. I have autism and find change very difficult and was just starting to settle at the acute ward when two nurses from the specialist ward came to talk to me. They told me it was entirely my choice to move or not (they lied), a day later I was told I was moving in 2 days. Staff drove me to the new ward which luckily was only about 20 minutes away.
Superdeterminist
Enlightened
- Apr 5, 2020
- 1,875
pillow933
Student
- Mar 7, 2020
- 115
That sounds rough I'm sorry :(
Just out of curiousity what was the difference between the acute ward and the mood disorder ward? Just less intensive in general?
Superdeterminist
Enlightened
- Apr 5, 2020
- 1,875
The only difference that was ever explained to me is that the mood disorder was able to prescribe different medications that acute wards could not.
Thisisme373
Arcanist
- Feb 16, 2019
- 418
@Whole-Ad what country was that where they sectioned you? Im actually wondering aswell can people be sectioned like 10+ years if you was just constantly suicidal and didn't improve
pillow933
Student
- Mar 7, 2020
- 115
Really? Sounds very odd given that any ward should have a resident psychiatrist that should be able to prescribe any medication. Mind if I ask what country you were based in?
UpandDownPrincess
Elementalist
- Dec 31, 2019
- 833
I was sectioned in a blue state in the US, Pre-Covid.
Actually, I was only sectioned to the emergency room. Once I reached the psych unit, I was offered the chance to sign a voluntary admission, which I did. It kept the courts out of it and gave me a lot more options.
I had a great doctor, and I knew I was going to the hospital. I needed to be sectioned. My suicidal impulses are a result of my bipolar disorder and I was very dissociated. If I had gone home, there is a good chance I would have succeeded. I was not in my right mind - but the emphasis is that I was not really in MY mind, I was in the grip of my bipolar disorder. The disease is not like this for everyone, so you may not be able to relate to this, even if you have BD.
It's not always the worst thing. As I was coming out of my dissociation, I felt protected from myself and that was comforting to me at the time.
Like I do in many threads, I always suggest a day or outpatient program. It's just better not being locked in overnight. Since inpatient beds are in such short supply, you might be able to negotiate this for yourself.
Actually, I was only sectioned to the emergency room. Once I reached the psych unit, I was offered the chance to sign a voluntary admission, which I did. It kept the courts out of it and gave me a lot more options.
I had a great doctor, and I knew I was going to the hospital. I needed to be sectioned. My suicidal impulses are a result of my bipolar disorder and I was very dissociated. If I had gone home, there is a good chance I would have succeeded. I was not in my right mind - but the emphasis is that I was not really in MY mind, I was in the grip of my bipolar disorder. The disease is not like this for everyone, so you may not be able to relate to this, even if you have BD.
It's not always the worst thing. As I was coming out of my dissociation, I felt protected from myself and that was comforting to me at the time.
Like I do in many threads, I always suggest a day or outpatient program. It's just better not being locked in overnight. Since inpatient beds are in such short supply, you might be able to negotiate this for yourself.
I'm in the UK. A section 3 can first be renewed for 6 months. Then after that can be further renewed for a year I believe as many times as they want.
I'm in the UK. I'm currently on vortioxetene, cariprizene and Trazadone. I believe it's the cariprizene that they cannot prescribe. When I was discharged they had bother getting my meds as they couldn't prescribe it from anywhere else.
assasmash
Member
- Jan 23, 2023
- 8
In the US they're eager to section anyone if given the reason to. One must always talk with a mouthful of eggshells when dealing with someone who has the power to lock you up indefinitely. There is no shortage of hospital space here for that sort for thing (just shortage of staff in some hospitals, and only because they're cheapasses). If you fail an attempt, you're looking at least a couple of weeks forced inpatient.
Big important tip: if they give you the option to sign yourself in, do it. By voluntarily doing so you can prevent some legal headaches and it looks good on your part. They'll still keep you beyond the 3 day minimum, but it gives you wiggle room that you were in sane enough state of mind to sign yourself in for observation.
Toobrokentofix
Experienced
- Jul 7, 2020
- 244
Just been sectioned. I'm so pissed off. I said I would go in voluntarily but they still sectioned me
Toobrokentofix
Experienced
- Jul 7, 2020
- 244
They wouldn't let me last night as have to be superviseed n was too late. I want to die so bad. Its so fucked I don't have a choice. It's my live. My body. My ptsd. Can't funking do this anhmore
Toobrokentofix
Experienced
- Jul 7, 2020
- 244
