Survival tips for a 28 day section under the Mental Health Act

I admit that I was very depressed, but when it was suggested that I should go into a hospital as a voluntary patient I declined. I had spent six months in hospital 17 years previously and  hadn't been impressed. I'd vowed to never go in again.  But six months ago I was left with no choice and at 11.30 one evening I found my self being driven to hospital in the back of a police van. Some of my neighbours still look at me rather warily.

I was furious and still am.  However 6 months later I am also able to look upon my stay as an 'interesting' experience - one I am happy to write about. I'm afraid my view of mental health services have not really changed.  Yes there were some very kind and professional people, but there were also nurses and doctors who were bullying and unpleasant.  I could speak up for myself but I fear for the people who cannot.

One of the first questions I was asked soon after my arrival was "what do you like to be called". I told them that I only liked to be addressed by my first name - and no I didn't shorten it. I thought that would be enough. How naive of me. Not only was my name constantly shortened but when I objected, the staff made a joke of it. "Oh she's the one who doesn't like her name shortened" several of them sneered. Well know I don't and want's wrong with that? I also objected to be called "my dear", "sweetheart", "my love" and a whole host of other things. Perhaps it's comforting to some people but frankly it just made me cross. The final straw was when one of the staff nurses who had shortened my name once again, kindly told me that the only reason why I cared about such things was because I was in hospital. I had no energy to tell her what I thought of that one. How dare she patronise me! I've always thought that it was terribly important to get someone's name right - don't you?

This wasn't the only time I had to point out they were misusing my name. On one occasion when they were sending my drug chart off to pharmacy - I noticed that they had only put half my name on the chart. The nurse snapped at me saying "for goodness sake we know what your name is. It's too long to fit in the space" - No it wasn't. He just couldn't be bothered. I feel sorry for anyone from Sri Lanka who is unfortunate enought to stay in the same hospital as they have some of the longest names in the world.

Organisations need rules, but some of them it's very difficult to understand why they're in place and it was annoying to see them inconsistently applied. Only hospital bedding was allowed. Well that's fine if they can keep you warm enough. For the first twenty four hours I wandered round in three cardigans and a coat. There was a problem with the heating. When my brother wanted to bring in my duvet the next day we were told it was against the rules. We insisted. Being cold was making me physically ill and my fyrbomyalgia deteriorated a lot. They finally agreed that we could but frankly I don't think we should have had to fight. It's a human right to be warm.

I wanted to bring in my computer so I could get on with setting up my business and have access to the internet. Oh no- that's against hospital rules. Apparantly it was in case I was accessing unsuitable sites. You'd have thought it would have been easy to just monitor what I was doing but no rules were rules. Thank goodness for netbooks. I smuggled mine in and with the curtains round my bed I worked in secret.

No one had warned me beforehand what the ward round would be like. Stupidly I thought it would be my opportunity to say something to the psychiatrist. How wrong I was. I did speak because I thought I could and I insisted even though the psychiatrist told me to be quiet. In the end she snapped "this is my ward round!". I am told that this particular psychiatrist is not typical. Perhaps not but it only confirmed to me that in twenty years not much had changed. I heard later that I was a bit of a learning curve for her, because she wasn't used to people questioning her. I can only hope that she meets a lot more of 'me' in the future - but sadly I don't think she will.

You'd have thought that it was unheard of to be depressed and high functioning. Clearly the staff that I came across weren't aware of the many well known and talented people who have struggled with mental illness including Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Winston Churchill, Van Gough, Florence Nightingale. I don't put myself in their league, but I am very bright and the professionals seem to find this difficult. One nurse told me that I should realise 'how lucky I was in comparison to other people who couldn't get out of bed or didn't have my intelligence" Oh I get it. My depression wasn't as severe or debilitating obviously. Well not to them.

On the second day of my 28 day stay, I was told that I hadn't been 'engaging with the staff'. I was amused. Actually half of them hadn't actually spoken to me - accept of course to get my name wrong. I was interested how they didn't think it was their responsibility to talk to me.

I had several terrible migraines during my stay. On two occasions I had the temerity to ask a nurse if my medication could be brought to me, rather than me go and cue. I was told that they were 'too busy for that'. Once I staggered up the corridor and then had to get to the toilet to be sick and then back to cue for my drugs. I could hardly get back to my bed but the nurses showed absolutely no concern. I couldn't work out whether the night staff and day staff didn't communicate with each other or they couldn't be bothered with me.

Care plans are supposed to be a big part of your care. It took about a week to fill it in and then it was supposed to be monitored and updated. The next time I had anything to do with it - I was being discharged and my key nurse asked me to sign the pages she had completed. As she had barely said hello for more than two weeks I almost refused. She did apologise for not having seen much of me, but she said it was because they had been so busy.

1. Make sure you have access to money - Needed for newspapers, crisps, sweets, fizzy drinks and anything else you can buy to counteract the boredom and supplement the terrible hospital food.
2. Avoid over eating - With nothing to do all day , it's easy to fall into the trap of eating make you eat too much and at the beginning of your stay there are few opportunities for exercise. Too many friends and relatives bring chocolate and biscuits. Share them out as quickly as possible.
   
3. Don't get cross with your visitors - Yes they can be very annoying but they act as a welcome relief from the tedium of the day and the endless conversations that go round and round and round.
   
4. Have an MP3 player and charger - Needed to drown out the noise which at times can be overwhelming with the music of your choice.
5. Buy some ear plugs - needed not just to drown out music and televisions, but also useful if any of your fellow patients kick off.
   
6. Challenge your section if you think it's unjust - The staff are unlikely to tell you how to appeal without you asking. The specialist solicitors are great and will act very quickly. You may not win your appeal, but it's still your right to challenge the section.
   
7. Change your next of kin if necessary- Your next of kin needs to be someone who can stand up to the bullying tactics of some of the medical profession.
8. Get an advocate - If you don't have family or friends to support you, then there are some fantastic advocates who will discuss issues with you and speak for you if necessary. (Useful information at Mind)
   
9. Keep a diary - It's good to look back later and realise just how far you've travelled
   
10. Don't be afraid to complain - Services can never be improved unless people do. It's easy to think once back home that it's not worth it. Write a letter. Fill in any questionnaire that they put in front of you. If it's more serious the NHS made changes in 2009 to make a complaint. Information can be found on the NHS  'Choices' website