More than 1,000 detentions of people with mental health issues were made in Hampshire, Southampton and the Isle of Wight in the year to March 2023, new figures show.
A mental health charity has called the figures a symptom of a “broken” mental health system.
If a person with a mental illness is deemed to be a danger to himself or others, they may be held under the Mental Health Act, a process often known as sectioning.
According to NHS statistics, in the year ending in March 2023, there were approximately 1,050 detentions in the former NHS Hampshire, Southampton, and Isle of Wight CCG area, or 65 for every 100,000 residents.
Compared to the previous year, when 1,095 detentions were made, this was a decrease.
The number of mental health detentions in England decreased somewhat from 53,300 in the previous year to 51,300 in the year ending in March 2023.
The NHS has cautioned that some data may be missing or may need to be estimated as a result of a cyberattack on specific mental health providers. The numbers for 2022–2023 might therefore be higher.
According to Mind’s CEO, Dr Sarah Hughes, “These numbers show that the mental health system is broken – far too many people are still reaching crisis before they get any support.”
“Many of the tens of thousands of people who were detained under the Mental Health Act tried to seek help earlier,” the speaker went on, “but they became more ill due to long waiting lists and a lack of options for accessing care in communities.”
“While there has been some progress, black people are still less likely to receive early intervention for mental health issues and are far more likely to be detained and subject to unwarranted restrictions. These statistics also highlight the pervasiveness of racial injustice in our society.
With 225 detentions per 100,000 persons under the act, compared to 65 per 100,000 for white people, black people were significantly more likely to be imprisoned.
Mind has made a request that the future government “urgently prioritise” a revision of the Mental Health Act.
The rate of incarceration for younger adults is greater than for older adults: 136 per 100,000 for those between the ages of 18 and 34, vs 85 for those 65 and above.
“There is a risk that compulsory detention and treatment is used too often and that patients do not have enough involvement in decisions about their care,” stated Richard Atkinson, vice president of the Law Society.
“The Mental Health Act should be used in the least restrictive way possible and people who are detained against their will should have their views and choices respected.”
According to Mr. Atkinson, the government should consider amending the Mental Health Act a “priority”.
According to a spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care, the government is improving mental health services “further and faster.” £150 million will be provided for individuals experiencing mental health emergencies, and £2.3 billion will be invested yearly starting this year.
They continued: “We are also continuing to pilot models of Culturally Appropriate Advocacy, providing tailored support to hundreds of people from ethnic minorities to better understand their rights when they are detained under the Mental Health Act.”
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