Assessments under the Mental Health Act are rarely, if
ever, depicted in TV drama. And because of the logistical difficulties
involving consent and privacy, I have never seen a full real life assessment on
TV.
The closest was in an episode of the Channel 4 series
Bedlam, which followed Jim Thirkle, an AMHP, as he attempted to assess a
patient, Rosemary. Sadly, the camera was unable to follow him and the
psychiatrist as they entered her home, so the only way you’ll know what happens
during a MHA assessment is by following my YouTube channel or reading the Masked
AMHP blog.
Back in 2009 there was an Eastenders storyline featuring
a character called Stacey Slater, played by the actor Lacey Turner. According
to Wikipedia, she was given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and apparently the
programme worked with various charities to develop the story. The storyline
culminated in her being assessed under the Mental Health Act and detained under
section 2.
We know it was section 2 because her cool young GP, Dr Al
Jenkins, says so during the scene.
So, is this particular scene an accurate portrayal of the
MHA assessment process?
I’m going to show you the scene, but before I do I’ll
describe who is in it.
Stacey enters the living room.
There is a female police officer, Stacey’s mother and her
GP, Dr “Call me Al” Jenkins standing. A bearded man and a black woman are seen sitting
very quietly on the sofa. They are introduced as Dr Warder and Mrs Cook, who
can “help assess your condition”.
A rather surly and threatening male cop appears at the
doorway.
See if you can work out what might be wrong.
*
So what exactly is wrong with this scene? Let me count the ways.
1. In real life, it’s hard enough to get a patient’s GP
to attend an assessment. When they do, they tend to know very little about the
MHA, and take a back seat. They never lead the assessment.
2. Unless the powers under section 135 are being used, it
is even more difficult to get the police to attend, and certainly not before an
assessment has been completed.
3. The AMHP has responsibility for leading an assessment,
and makes the final decision, having interviewed the patient in a suitable
manner, and taking into account all the circumstances of the case.
4. Who even is the AMHP in this scene? By process of
elimination it can only be the black woman on the sofa, Mrs Cook, who says
precisely nothing. In real life the AMHP would lead, and begin by introducing
all the members of the assessment team, and stating clearly the reason for the
assessment.
5. In real life the AMHP and the psychiatrist would ask
the patient questions, and attempt to ascertain evidence of active mental
disorder. There would then be a private discussion, and a final decision would
be made as to whether or not the patient was suffering from a mental disorder
of a nature or degree sufficient to justify their detention in hospital for
assessment. But I guess that would be a bit difficult to fit into a scene
lasting less than 3 minutes.
6. It very quickly becomes clear that the decision has
already been made. After Dr Jenkins tell poor Stacey that “we think you should
go to hospital”, he very quickly concludes that “we’re all agreed it’s for your
own safety”.
7. As there’s no sign of any pink forms, it’s clear that
the section papers have been completed before the psychiatrist and the AMHP
have even set eyes on Stacey.
8. Dr Jenkins tells Stacey that “there’s a car outside”.
What sort of car? An Uber? In reality, an ambulance would be required, which
would then probably take at least a couple of hours to arrive.
9. Apart from looking intimidating, the male cop appears
to have had no control and restraint training. Not only does he not quickly disarm
Stacey, who is brandishing a very dangerous plugged in table lamp (surely a
first for an offensive weapon), but he allows her to escape into the Square.
I’d be interested to know who advised the story editors on the protocols of an assessment under the Mental Health Act. It certainly wasn’t an AMHP.
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