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Here is a list of things that I, and many others feel need to be changed or implemented into the Mental Health Act, and a summary of the changes which need to be made to the Mental Health Act.

1 - People should have the automatic right to an assessment if they feel it is necessary. Currently this is not the case. 

2 - The ‘nearest relative’ whom can call a Mental Health Act Assessment, apply for discharge, and disagree with the outcome of a MHAA should be down to the patient. Currently this is not the case, and if you wanted to change it, then it would be a court process which is simply not possible for a lot of unwell or detained patients. In addition to this, often the ‘nearest relative’ can be someone who has or wants to cause you harm, and does not act in your best interest. 

3 - Another mental health professional needs to be able to view and have the authority to override your ‘responsible clinician’s’ decisions. Currently this is not the case and the RC has the last say in what happens to sectioned patients. There should be multiple decision makers.

4 - Young vulnerable people should not be put in inappropriate places. When you turn 18 you will immediately be transferred to an adult MHU. These places can be very traumatic and unsettling, with patients as old as 65. There should be specific wards for young adults.

5 - People need to have the right to appeal decisions they don’t agree with. Currently you can appeal Sections 2, and 3 but patients do not have the ability to appeal any other decisions. This could be a decision made by your RC, a major one being discharges when you may feel that you are not well enough to be discharged. It could also be things like ward transfers, medications, and Section 17 leave refusal's.

6 - There should be emergency departments solely for people who are in a mental health crisis/emergency. A&E is not an appropriate place for someone having a mental health crisis, and often people are left in chaotic wards, with nurses and doctors who are not trained in mental health. 

7 - Paramedic’s, Nurse’s, and Doctor’s should receive intensive training on working with mentally unwell patients.

8 - Any patient in a Psychiatric Ward should be automatically given an advocate unless they do not want one. Currently you have to apply for one, and may have to wait until one is appointed.

9 - The CCTV and body cam footage from psychiatric hospitals should be checked frequently, and without warning by higher ups. 

10 - After a patient has been discharged from a psychiatric hospital they should be given the opportunity to have their say on how they feel about their admission. This should be an opportunity given to all patients, and should only not happen if that patient does not want to give any feedback.

Read further for my story⏬️

My name is Izzy, I’m 18 years old and I need your help. I have suffered immensely with ill mental health for as long as I can remember. I’ve been in countless services, including CAMHS, EWMHS,EYPDAS, Personality Disorder Specialist Teams, Crisis Teams including HOMEFIRST and CAMHS Crisis Team, and I have been a sectioned inpatient on multiple wards including both adult and adolescent

Unfortunately I am still fairly unwell, and i’m trying my best to get better but I want to make a change. I could sit here and do nothing but I don’t think I would be able to live with myself knowing how horrific and traumatic inpatient wards can be, and knowing that people are dying everyday due to the systemic failings of mental health services. Could you?

Last year (2023) I was detained under the Mental Health Act on multiple occasions. At one point I was on a section 3 and I was an inpatient at The Lakes MHU on Ardleigh Ward. Despite the fact that I was very unwell and everyone could see that I should not be discharged back into the community at this point, I was. This led to me trying to take my life on multiple occasions, and several readmission’s to hospital. I was also detained by police on Section 136 on multiple occasions, and at that point I was admitted to a different psychiatric unit. I am now in the community again and have been for somewhere around four months. My story could’ve ended very differently, and unfortunately a lot of people’s stories don’t end the way mine did.

We need change. When you’re Sectioned under the MHA your ‘Responsible Clinician’ whom is usually the wards Consultant is the person who will dictate all your care. Right now this can not be overseen nor overrode by anyone. I want there to be a procedure where discharges from sections are overseen and overrode by another professional. People are dying because consultants are discharging them too early, when they could still be a danger to themselves or someone else.

Can you bring yourself to believe the fact that the Mental Health Act has not been amended in over 15 years, and the update occurred in 2007.

Since then it was last reviewed reviewed in 2018 (6 years ago).

If you have come across this petition and decided that you don’t want to sign it I would advise that you take a long hard look in the mirror and ask yourself why you could not bring yourself to do something which could take all of thirty seconds which could determine if someone lives or dies. I’m not asking for much, but I am asking for you to please if you can’t do anything else sign this petition.

I urge you to please sign and share this petition. Mental Health and illness affects all of us, no one is exempt from a mental breakdown. It could be your brother, your mum, your child, your nan, your grandad, or even you. Would you want a loved one to be discharged from a psychiatric unit whilst still a danger to themselves or others? Lives are being lost, families are being destroyed. Please help the mentally unwell and sign this petition. You could be the reason someone lives or dies.