Your rights under the Mental Health Act: Section 36

The court has said you can be kept here under Section 36 of the Mental Health Act.

Two doctors have told the court that you need to be in hospital so that a report can be made on your mental health.

This may be up to 28 days starting from the date on which your order was made.

You must not leave during this time unless your doctor says you can.

If you try to go you can be stopped

If you leave you can be brought back.

You might also be arrested by a police officer and taken back to court.

After advice from your doctor the Court will decide whether you should stay in hospital.

The court can remand you for another 28 days but for no more than 12 weeks.

It can do this without you being in court as long as you have a solicitor to speak on your behalf.

Your doctor and nurse will talk to you about any treatment they think you will need.

You may have to take tablets or medicine which will help to make you better.

You can ask the court to look at your case again.

You will need help from a solicitor.

Ask your nurse to help you.

• get information
• help you to understand your treatment
• help you tell your doctor or nurse how you are feeling
• talk to other people for you, on the ward or in meetings.

If you would like to speak to an advocate please tell your nurse.

You can get letters while you are in hospital.

You can send letters to anyone except someone who has said they do not want to get letters from you.

Please tell a member of staff.

Freephone 0800 052 0219

or email [email protected]

We’d like to know if this information was:

• Good or bad
• If anything was missing you wanted to know

If there was anything you didn’t understand let a member of your care team know.