Aspies For Freedom

Try without the medication, then decide if you prefer it.

Should I have curry or chips for dinner?

He won't have a choice about being on the meds, that's what hes saying.

sjc88 I will talk to you on IM as it sounds like you are in a difficult situation.

Your 18, you can refuse treatment can't you?

Not if he's there because he was sectioned under the mental health act.

That lasts two weeks, or (iirc) six months if it's the second time.   Could wait it out, no?  Jolly nice of them to let you on the net.

"Not if he's there because he was sectioned under the mental health act."
Whats that?

No.

Mental health 'sectioning'
The Mental Health Act, which was introduced in 1983, is intended to help doctors deal with patients who may have a psychiatric disorder.

Under the Act, patients can be sectioned or detained against their will and given treatment.

Who can be 'sectioned' under the Mental Health Act 1983?

People with different types of defined "mental disorder" can be admitted to hospital against their will under the Act.

These include those with "severe mental impairment", "psychopathic disorder" or "mental illness".

What happens during the sectioning process?

A patient can be sectioned if they are perceived to be a threat to themselves or other people.

Generally, a patient can only be sectioned if two doctors and a social worker or a close relative of the patient believe it is necessary.

One of these doctors is usually a psychiatrist. The other is often a doctor who knows the patient well.

However, in an emergency one doctor's recommendation may be sufficient.

An approved social worker also has to be involved in the assessment, and has to agree that being sectioned is the best course of action for that patient.

The social worker then makes the application for a place in secure accommodation for the patient.

Sectioning a patient enables doctors to assess the extent of the patient's mental disorder and, if necessary, to administer treatment.

How long can patients be detained?

If a patient is sectioned as an emergency case, then they are said to be detained under section 4 of the Mental Health Act.

This enables doctors to detain them for up to 72 hours.

If doctors believe that further assessment or treatment is necessary then the patient can be detained under section 2 of the Act.

This means that they can be admitted to hospital and detained for up to 28 days to undergo a full psychiatric assessment.

At the end of the 28-day period, if the medical recommendation is for the patient's stay in hospital to be extended, a further six months can be given under section 3 of the Act.

A patient can be discharged from hospital at any time if doctors believe they are no longer a threat to themselves or anyone else.

What rights does the patient have during this time?

Some treatments can be given to people detained under various sections of the Act, even without their consent.

This is possible if the treatment is believed absolutely necessary to prevent the patient's condition deteriorating while they are in hospital.

Some more powerful treatments and operations, however, require an additional court order under the Act.

These include any operations which destroy brain tissue or aim to stop parts of the brain functioning - such as a lobotomy - and the surgical implantation of sex hormones in order to reduce the male sex drive.

Can a patient or his or her relative appeal against detention?

Every patient should have a named "responsible medical officer" who has a duty to keep an eye on progress.

In addition, the patient themselves can appeal for release to the NHS trust which is detaining them.

The "nearest relative" also has a right to "order the discharge" of a patient.

However, doctors can block this by producing evidence that the patient still represents a risk to the public or him or herself.

If this happens, the relative cannot try again for another six months.

Finally, there is a right of appeal to the Mental Health Review Tribunal, which can order discharge after a formal tribunal hearing.

However, there have been frequent complaints that this process is extremely slow-moving.

How often are these powers used?

Between 1989 and 1990, 16,300 were given compulsory treatment against their will.

In 2000/2001, 26,707 were formally admitted against their will, in addition to 19,570 who went voluntarily to hospital in the first instance but who were then sectioned.

From BBC website.

It's not for specific conditions, it's if they think you're going to hurt yourself (or someone else).

These are my thoughts.

sjc88 said -

In my case, I'm an on and off self-harmer and also I get urges to hurt others, including a past history of cold and calculated violence towards others.

This is very serious, do not under estimate how seriously people take violence towards others.

After all, we have a right as Aspergians to live in our "natural" state.

That does not include violence to others. Ever! Not for anyone in society.

For example, if we were the majority, and we felt the natural state NT's live in is detremental to thier or our health, should we be allowed to lock them up and medicate them in order to make them fit into our scheme of things??

This is not an AS vs. NT issue. They aren't doing this just because you are an aspie. It's because of the violence, that's what you need to personally focus on.

So why not stay in treatment and/or hospital and find out how to handle your situation so you are not self-harming or violent to others?  If you need medication to do that, get a prescription.  Then start working toward a way to getting a place to live and making a living (or get income benefits if you can not work).  There are people that can be assigned to help you do all that.  You might have to ask for some help and be nice to the people working there to get what you need.

You could get fully into the violent character or you could get proper therapy rather than sedating drugs.  Either would be healthy for you, one of them may not be sustainable.

If there was an efficient therapy to stop people being violent we wouldn't need prisons.
It's not that simple.

True there are people who don't care about hurting others.  Psychopaths and that.  Most violence, however, is rooted in personal problems.

I have heard that some schools and other agencies are using some angry management programmes for youth at risk.  They do some roles playing and some scenarios.  They get the participants to fill out these forms to write down what happened, why emotions they felt and then what actions they decided to do.  I think it would help some people who are have aggression that is implusive.  Some other methods might be required for people with longer lasting angry that involves revenge and scheming.

I find that people with explosive angry that bully me are easier to deal with than other people who scheme.  Usually the implusive angry people will apologize later and then if I can learn to avoid what angers them, I will try to stop it (if reasonable).  And usually because violent behaviour towards me is going to get them in more trouble with authority.  

The schemers are more dangerous to me because they can often trick me into giving them information or trick me into doing something that will get me into trouble.  They will often involve other people in their scheming to bully me.  Their anger at me is often just as irrational as the explosive angry people but their choice of actions is less violent and usually more damaging.  Worst of all, the schemers often do not get caught.

HI Sam
I think it is cool you have access to internet because asking for a range of opinion on an issue is useful so you can make an informed decision. Ultimately the decision is yours because you are still voluntary. It is scarey to have to take responsibility and make decisions. If you become violent to yourself or others then you will not have to make any decisions as someone else will make them for you.

But it is very hard to control yourself, especially when you are trying to find out how to be. I have self harmed and found it a temporary relief. But I do not do it anymore because I wondered WHY I did it and got curious about my behaviour.

The trouble is: if you have the right to behave any way you want/feel etc, then other people have the right to behave any way they want to.

Neuroleptics. Find out what they do to you. Do not ever let someone else tell you they will be either good or bad. They can be used. Short term. IF you behave in a way that affects your freedom you will be medicated long term and that will not be good. Right now is a very important developmental phase for you. BE nice to your brain, fella.And those antodepressants? They are not the same as neuroleptics. Learn first then behave. Otherwise you are just a monkey like every other NT.
becca