A The Mental Health Act, 1983, is the legal framework guiding professionals working in psychiatry. It allows for people suffering from a mental disorder to be brought into a psychiatric unit. The terms being sectioned, committed and detained have been used to mean the same thing.
There are different types of sections. Two of the most common are section two and section three. Section two allows for compulsory admission for a period of assessment up to 28 days. It is not renewable. Section three is for treatment up to six months and can be renewed. It must be demonstrated that detaining someone is in the interests of their health or safety or for the protection of others.
Sectioning someone is not taken lightly. Usually three professionals are required - one approved social worker and two doctors. There are some with a mental disorder who lack insight into their illness and do not realise they are ill, despite being plainly obvious to loved ones and professionals.
Those that do recognise they need help can come to hospital voluntarily, where they are known as informal patients. Patients are afforded many rights under a section, including the right of appeal. In these cases an independent tribunal similar to a court come to the hospital to listen and decide on each case.
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