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UK still using ineffective compulsory treatment for people with mental illness

General Research

Paul is a 37-year-old man with a history of mental illness. He enjoys football and regularly meets with friends at the pub to watch the game. On weekends he takes the bus to Brighton to visit his girlfriend.

Paul has been admitted to hospital many times on account of his poor self-care and “odd” behaviour when very unwell, but he usually goes home after a few weeks when his symptoms subside.

Last time was different though. Instead of returning to his everyday life when discharged, he was told that he would have to meet with a nurse every week, accept medication by injection and stop drinking. If he did not meet these conditions, he was told, he could be taken back into hospital at any time.

Read the full article on The Conversation website, written by Francis Vergunst, Department of Psychiatry.

Oxford is a subscribing member of The Conversation. Find out how you can write for The Conversation.

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