There are many different reasons why a person might need - or want - to stay in hospital to get help for their mental health. It may seem like a scary thing to do, but for many people it is a key step in their recovery.
The important thing to remember is that while your journey is unique, you are not alone.
Here we answer questions you may have about going into inpatient care, what ‘being sectioned’ means, and what your rights are.
Inpatient care may seem daunting, but it’s an important step in getting back the more manageable life you deserve. It will be tough, but you’ll have lots of support from both specialists and peers to help you along the way. You can do this!
What are my freedoms and rights?
Having been to a Mental Health Tribunal, some advice I would give on how to prepare is to make sure you genuinely feel like you have a solid case behind you, and that you and those around you genuinely feel that it’s the right decision.
What about my things, my friends and my family?
I never thought I would gain friends from being in a hospital. I still talk to them a few years on, and because we lived with each other at our worst, it’s become a very strong relationship of sharing problems and understanding each other.
What care and support will I get?
What about school?
While you are in hospital, you should have access to education that is suitable and right for you. Your unit will provide educational support according to the national curriculum. Hospital staff will speak to your school or previous education provider to find out what your educational needs are, and what work you will need to do to continue your educational progress.
If you are well enough, you will be allowed to sit your exams. Colleges will have a policy in place and can let you take a year out if you need to.
When you are leaving hospital, you will also get help finding your way back into education if this is something you want to do.
What happens when you leave hospital?
Being 'discharged' is the term used to describe you leaving hospital.
This can raise many different feelings for you and your family. Although it is generally a positive thing when doctors think you are well enough to go home, it is normal for you to have some worries around how you will cope once you are discharged, and how these risks will be managed when you are at home.
Before being discharged, a Discharge Care Programme Approach (CPA) meeting will be arranged outlining the plans for how you will be cared for in the community. It is very important that you and your family know who the main point of contact (generally referred to as a keyworker) will be in the mental health service you are being discharged to (usually CAMHS or AMHS). It is also important to know who your main contact is for any other services involved, such as a social worker, or Early intervention Support worker.
It is advisable to get dates for your first appointment with the mental health team you are discharged to in these meetings, so that you know what support will be available to you in continuing your recovery after discharge.
Your parent or guardian should be told who to contact if they have any concerns about your progress or who to contact in a crisis.
It may also be helpful for you to have a joint meeting with your parent(s)/carer(s) and your keyworker shortly before discharge to look at what was and wasn’t helpful during your time in hospital, and how you can be supported at home.
As well as community-based services involved with your treatment outside of the unit, it can also be comforting to know other services exist that you can contact if you want to speak to someone not already involved in your care, or hear other experiences. Have a look at the list of services and helplines at the bottom of the page.
Real stories and tips from young people on inpatient care
Complaints and how to make them
If you feel you have been treated unfairly by a member of NHS staff, whether that's in an inpatient ward, in CAMHS or in your GP surgery, you are entitled to make a complaint. To make a complaint about treatment in the NHS, follow these steps.
- If you're unhappy with how your treatment is going but you don't want to make a formal complaint, speak to the clinician treating you, or contact your local PALS (patient advice liaison service) at your hospital for confidential advice and support.
- Check the complaints process. Every NHS organisation has its own process, but they must all follow the same NHS rules. If you can't see the complaints process online, call or email the complaints department.
- Find out who to complain to. It will either be the service you used, or the commissioning group who paid for the service. The gov.uk website can help you find out where to send your complaint.
- Send your complaint and wait for a response. Your complaint should be acknowledged within three days, with details of what happens next.
- Need to take it further? If you're not happy with the results of your complaint, you can contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
If none of this works, you can write to your MP who can complain on your behalf.
Advocacy and support
Advocates are trained support workers who are not connected to your treatment in any way. They listen to your concerns and help you understand your rights.
Advocates can support you to make decisions about your care, or can act in your best interest if you don't feel up to it.
You can find organisations that can help you make a complaint about health services via the Citizens Advice Bureau.
You're entitled to support from an independent advocate when you complain about an NHS service. To find out about complaints advocacy in your area, contact your local council (you can find your local council on the gov.uk website).
If you're in hospital for a mental health condition, you may be entitled to help from an independent mental health advocate (IMHA). They are trained to listen and advise you. Ask the hospital staff for more details.
Advocates also work privately and through charities, so if you're not eligible for an IMHA, other options are available.
Resources on inpatient care
With thanks to Ellern Mede and the Coborn Centre for Adolescent Mental Health