Mentally ill should be in hospital not cells, says MP
POLICE in Plymouth regularly have to put people with mental health problems in the cells when they should be taken to Derriford due to a lack of facilities, MPs have heard.
Officers feel this is "inappropriate", and are concerned about the impact it has on the welfare of individuals, the Commons was told.
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They have called for custody staff to receive better training, and also for a qualified mental health nurse to be part of the team in order to carry out assessments.
Problems surrounding the treatment of people with mental illness in the city were raised at Westminster by Oliver Colvile, Tory MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, following a recent visit to Charles Cross police station.
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He highlighted his concerns during a parliamentary debate which saw the Government back moves to overturn a ban on people who have had serious mental health issues being MPs, company directors or serving on juries.
Currently, MPs detained under the Mental Health Act for more than six months are stripped of their seat.
Speaking in support of the backbench Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill, Mr Colvile said: "Hopefully, that will be another step in helping remove the stigma of people suffering from mental health problems, will create a less judgmental society and will stop mental health discrimination."
"This Private Member's Bill should not be the end of our having a better understanding of mental health and how we can deal with patients challenged by these problems."
He called for better training for public servants such as police and emergency workers, improved co-ordination between services, and also making sure funding for mental health "is not just an add-on".
Mr Colvile told MPs: "Two weeks ago, I visited Charles Cross police station, which in 2006 was named as almost the busiest in the United Kingdom, second only to Glasgow.
"I was told that people with mental health problems regularly have to be put into the cells when they should be referred to Derriford Hospital's Glenbourne unit in line with section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. It appears that unfortunately Plymouth does not have the necessary facilities.
"My local police feel that this is an inappropriate way to deal with these people, that in some cases they make these people's lives worse rather than better, and that custody officers should be receiving a higher level of training than is currently available.
"They would very much welcome a qualified mental health nurse being regularly attached to their unit so that correct assessments can be made."
Giving his backing to the proposed legislation, he said: "I support the Bill because I want this to be the first step. I want more training for our front-line service providers and a more joined-up approach. It is not rocket science; it is mental health."
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "These long overdue reforms will send out a positive message that the stigmatisation of people who have mental health problems should not be tolerated."
Comments
by totallynutty
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 4:10PM
“Well, I think we have covered every area of bigotry, lack of knowledge, judgement and stigma in these comments. I am disappointed, yet not surprised by it; I think mental illness is one of the last hidden discriminations in our society, yup the one we call 'humanity'….
So shall we go back to complaining about the traffic on Laira Bridge again….? Yawn”
by kazzyb007
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 9:38AM
“"Mentally deficient"??? What century are you living in? If somebody has a low IQ it is not their fault - any more than being mentally unwell is. And Oliver Col-VILE your hypocrisy is astonishing - it is YOUR party which wants to cut welfare benefits for vulnerable people; YOUR party which persists in backing the "we don't give ATOS medicals" etc.”
by CharlieDodd
Monday, September 17 2012, 10:06PM
“One night recently recently I saw an obviously mentally-ill (or drunk) guy playing with the button at a pedestrian crossing to keep stopping the traffic for no reason so I slipped him £20 and said "go have a meal somewhere on me mate".
"Thanks, but could you let me have another £14 so i can book into a B and B" he replied, so i gave him another £20.
I'm left wondering which of us was nuttiest, me or him..;)”
by jabbathebutt
Monday, September 17 2012, 8:14PM
“From the party that invented "care in the community ". In other words .... put them out on the streets.”
by shipmateron
Monday, September 17 2012, 7:50PM
“HermesThelema, are you David Icke in disguise?”
by celophis
Monday, September 17 2012, 7:27PM
“HermesThelema
nothing can resist the will of man when he knows what is true and wills what is good....learn how to will”
by HermesThelema
Monday, September 17 2012, 7:14PM
“"Where is the Grail!" a High Priestess called.
Having had two police officers and a four-man mental health assessment team visit me twice, once when I detailed Scientology suicide-cult methodologies and approaches taken by a certain bank to a mental health professional by letter, and once when my landlord wanted to sell his flat and evict me; and having also been visited by the Metropolitan Police Fixed Threat Assessment Unit, once to discuss said bank, and once in lieu when I advised them they did not appear to be doing their jobs; I would advise Mr Oliver Colvile (MP) that the cure versus Scientology alliterated language I emailed him appears to be fully correct, and that the cure versus Freemasonry homunculus attack is also now complete.
One question remains, in early 2011, I received a letter from Mr Oliver Colvile (MP) on House of Commons notepaper. I wrote to mi5 in 2009. I have three votes to your two. No wonder I'm raving mad.
"In your opinion, Doctor, I am a paranoid schizophrenic; yet your entire system of psychology is based on the creation of an imaginary representation of what I am thinking inside of your own subconscious. What does this suggest to you?" said Aleister Crowley.”
by jaygeek1
Monday, September 17 2012, 6:55PM
“I am suprised to hear there is not someone who is qualified on hand already.
I think the difficult part is identifying who is actually mentally ill and who is not.
I don't classify someone with ADHD as mentally ill, nor a drug addict in withdrawal.
Too many claim all sorts of rubbish so as not to be locked up and play the system to suit their own ends......
A straight-jacket & head protector fitted seems suitable enough to me to help protect a mentally ill person from themselves whilst in a cell.
I am short of sympathy for many things, especially people who play the system. The public is lucky I am not in charge :p”
by totallynutty
Monday, September 17 2012, 6:24PM
“I didn't I was taken to 'a place of safety', as I as psychotic and suicidal”
by CharlieDodd
Monday, September 17 2012, 6:10PM
“If anybody commits a crime the slammer is always the first stop regardless of whether he/she has got mental problems.
The moral?- don't commit crimes..:)”