In the UK there is someone called a "nearest relative". This person is defined in law[1] and has some powers. If the nearest relative says that a person should be detained in hospital the clinicians must "consider" that option. They don't actually have to do it, but they have to record that they've heard the request, and that they've considered the request, and that they've declined that option.
When you are worried about the mental health of someone you should call their GP. This can be an emergency appointment. S/he will come and assess the person, and maybe ask for a local "crisis and home resolution treatment team" (might not be called that in your area) to come and assess the person. Hospitalisation is sub-optimal, patients have strict[2] rights, and so it can be hard to have a person detained against their will in hospital. It is not lawful to say things like "Go voluntarily or we'll section you", but sometimes the person can be persuaded to go voluntarily.
If the person is out of the home you should either get them home and call a GP; or call the police. The police have something called a "section 36" where they can detain someone for a short time for assessment. This should be a "place of safety" - unfortunately this place of safety can be the police cells, rather than a special building.
Once someone has had a psychiatric incident it's a really good idea to make a "Rainy Day Action Plan". You keep notes of useful phone numbers and contacts[3] and instructions from the person about signs to look out for, and what to try and do, and what to do when things get really bad. You make the person write on this, and sign it. It is their document, and it's important that it's their words and wishes. This certainly helps if you need to get them hospitalised or medicated in future.
UK law is a bit complicated. Every patient should have advocacy available, and I certainly recommend that people try to get hold of advocates.
I am not a doctor or clinician or etc. This is just anecdotal advice from a random internet stranger.
In the UK there is someone called a "nearest relative". This person is defined in law[1] and has some powers. If the nearest relative says that a person should be detained in hospital the clinicians must "consider" that option. They don't actually have to do it, but they have to record that they've heard the request, and that they've considered the request, and that they've declined that option.
When you are worried about the mental health of someone you should call their GP. This can be an emergency appointment. S/he will come and assess the person, and maybe ask for a local "crisis and home resolution treatment team" (might not be called that in your area) to come and assess the person. Hospitalisation is sub-optimal, patients have strict[2] rights, and so it can be hard to have a person detained against their will in hospital. It is not lawful to say things like "Go voluntarily or we'll section you", but sometimes the person can be persuaded to go voluntarily.
If the person is out of the home you should either get them home and call a GP; or call the police. The police have something called a "section 36" where they can detain someone for a short time for assessment. This should be a "place of safety" - unfortunately this place of safety can be the police cells, rather than a special building.
Once someone has had a psychiatric incident it's a really good idea to make a "Rainy Day Action Plan". You keep notes of useful phone numbers and contacts[3] and instructions from the person about signs to look out for, and what to try and do, and what to do when things get really bad. You make the person write on this, and sign it. It is their document, and it's important that it's their words and wishes. This certainly helps if you need to get them hospitalised or medicated in future.
UK law is a bit complicated. Every patient should have advocacy available, and I certainly recommend that people try to get hold of advocates.
I am not a doctor or clinician or etc. This is just anecdotal advice from a random internet stranger.
[1] (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Legislatio...)
[2] Sometimes those strict rights are ignored. It's very annoying.
[3] There's a lot of churn in staff in MH services. Don't expect those contacts to stay valid for very long.