Dewsbury community activist wants more sectioning powers for 'helpless' families

The plea comes after community activist Tanisha Bramwell said her family member, who suffers from schizophrenia, had a relapse in relation to the disorder, which left the family 'helpless' on not being able to make a decision on their behalf.

Ms Bramwell, of Moorside Road, who runs Bramwell Sports Development Team, in Dewsbury, said she wants to see an increase of powers given to families to allow them to make decisions on sectioning their loved ones.

She said:there was a 'very serious incident' involving her family member yesterday.

Ms Bramwell said her family member is 'okay' at this point, 'but there was no support' for that person when they needed it.

She said the family were unfortunately not able to make the decision to section them and that person would not do that themselves.

"The awareness of mental health issues has risen, but the funding for these services have not - they've been cut," said Ms Bramwell.

Yesterday evening, Mr Bramwell was taken to Pinderfields Hospital, where he was discharged the same evening.

Being sectioned means someone seriously suffering with mental health is kept in hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983. That person can be sectioned if their own health or safety are at risk, or to protect other people.

"I feel like it's going to take something drastic for health services to take this serious," said Ms Bramwell.

"He's not had enough support throughout the pandemic and his health has dramatically dropped.

"There needs to be more powers given to us as his family to make decisions on his behalf because he's not in the right state of mind to make an important decision like that and my family felt helpless."

Ms Bramwell said her brother is now being ordered to stay at home.

She said: "He's been told he's unfit to walk the streets after police ordered a Section 136 which forces him to stay at home, which will just make him worse.

"And this is happening across the country - it's a national crisis."

Under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 police officers can take someone to a place of safety if they may have a mental disorder and should be seen by a mental health professional.

MP Mr Eastwood said: "I'm very sorry to hear of the difficulties faced by Miss Bramwell's family member.

"While I have not been furnished with the exact details of the circumstances, I have reached out to Miss Bramwell to offer my assistance.

"Tackling poor mental health in Kirklees is a priority and the Government has legislated to ensure it's treated with the same importance as physical health.

"As part of the five-year funding offer that will see the NHS budget grow by over £33.9 billion a year, mental health services will receive an additional £2 billion per year.

"Alongside South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, there are some wonderful local groups in Kirklees who do fantastic work to ensure those who require support get the help they need."

Leader of Kirklees Council, Shabir Pandor said: "It's not appropriate for us to comment on individual cases, but we will be taking up the concerns raised with the NHS organisation that provides mental health services in Kirklees."

The Health Foundation said evidence from past outbreaks, as well as early evidence from this pandemic, indicates members of the public are likely to see an increase in mental health problems such as depression, substance misuse and post-traumatic stress disorder across the board, especially for front-line health and care worker.

The NHS offers a 24-hour mental health helpline for anyone registered with a GP in Kirklees.

The service can be contacted on: 0800 183 0558.