Sectioned and Mental: A History of the Madhouse.

UK : The Open University/BBC, 2010.

1 DVD (120 min.) : sd., col., PAL

The Open University 2010

In English.

Sectioned is directed by Ben Anthony and produced by Lucy Cohen. Mental: A History of the Madhouse is directed by Chris Boulding and produced by Adam Jessel.

Sectioned was originally broadcast BBC4 on 19 May 2010 and Mental: A History of the Madhouse was originally broadcast on BBC4 on 17 May 2010

Sectioned With unprecedented access to one of Britain’s largest NHS mental health trusts, Sectioned follows the journeys of three men with long-term mental health problems who have been detained under the Mental Health Act (a process known by many as 'sectioning' or 'being sectioned') in the city of Nottingham. Filmed over several months, the documentary follows them as they battle to regain control of their lives, raising questions about the way we as a society perceive and treat mental illness. Richard, a young man in his 30s, is on the Intensive Care Mental Health Unit. Since the age of 19 he has had a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and hears voices on a daily basis. The unit’s main concern is Richard’s belief that he should kill himself on Christmas Day in five months’ time. Mick O’Driscoll, a senior nurse with a special interest in risk behaviour, is part of the team considering Richard’s case. Following treatment, Richard is moved to an open ward, which permits unsupervised trips into the community. But with a history of alcohol abuse, Richard has been using the trips to buy alcohol and drugs. As Christmas approaches, concern for his wellbeing mounts. Mick must take the difficult decision of whether or not to trust Richard’s claims that he is no longer suicidal. Andrew, who in his 50s, has been sectioned several times due to his unusual and sometimes dangerous behaviour during manic episodes. He was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder over 20 years ago, yet has raised two children and maintained a successful career as a pathologist. Now, after 26 years of marriage, he has decided to separate from his wife and start a new life on his own. Initially determined that his decision was the right one, Andrew later admits that his illness may have influenced his judgement. Anthony feels that he has been in a 20 year battle to leave the mental health system behind. He was admitted after he stopped eating following a period without medication. While he has now returned home, the conditions of his section mean that he must go to hospital every fortnight for an injection of anti-psychotic drugs. While Anthony rejects his diagnosis of schizophrenia, the professionals around him disagree. Anthony is unhappy about the medication’s side effects and the fact that he is legally forced into taking it. His doctors maintain that without medication, Anthony would soon become unwell again. His daughter Marcia discusses the impact her father’s illness has had on her life. She now believes that without medication, they can’t have a normal relationship. Anthony’s doctor George Asiegbunam agrees to release him early from his section as long as he agrees to attend appointments voluntarily. Anthony is true to his word, but eagerly awaits the day when he will no longer have to return to the hospital.

Mental: A History of the Madhouse This documentary looks at the mass closure of Britain's mental asylums and the lives of the people who were left behind. High Royds near Manchester hospital, now an atmospheric derelict ruin, is visited and the programme returns to images of the empty hospital throughout. Former patients (some seen receiving treatment and later in the present time) and psychiatric nurses give their testimony. Archival footage of patients and images depicting rigorous security are shown. The establishment of the NHS meant that finally medicine moved away from the means testing ideology of the Poor Law towards comprehensive therapeutic treatment for all. A number of typical treatments are shown such as ECT (electro-convulsive therapy). Insulin therapy is then covered, which induced coma. However, it was proved that this treatment was very harmful (44 people died). A more drastic treatment, lobotomy, is then described. A psychiatric nurse comments on this. Testimony of systematic abuse is given which appeared to be endemic in many mental wards. In the 1950s the launch of anti-psychotic drug treatments such as Largactil was a turning point; archival footage of drug manufacturing is seen. However, these drugs fell short of being miracle cures. Dr Roy Hullin, a neuropsychiatrist at High Royds (1952-1994), was given the opportunity to evaluate the effect of lithium on the brains of patients. High Royds became the centre of excellence in this field. Psychiatry also embraced occupational therapy. A turning point came In 1959 when the government passed the Mental Health Act. The politician Enoch Powell lobbied for the closure of the asylums. During the 1960s, there was a realisation that some of the sedative-type drugs were causing more problems than they were curing. An-inpatient at High Royds who was admitted for one week's observation describes how this stay became 5 years. Footage of RD Laing is shown speaking out in the 1960s. However, hIs thinking was considered to be peripheral to mainstream psychiatry. At High Royds, they pioneered a particular type of brain surgery. This is performed on a female patient, Maggi Chapman (also seen also alive today). Footage taken from a BBC documentary of the time is shown. Maggi describes how having a piece of her brain burnt out felt; she then describes feeling like a zombie for 4 years afterwards over footage of her browsing in a supermarket after the operation. Closure of the asylums only began gradually in the 1970s when the wards were closed one by one. The shortfall in provision required charitable organisations such as the Salvation Army to intervene. Footage from an ITV documentary in the early 1990s shows the closure of a psychiatric hospital and the transition to care in the community. Later, there were a number of high profile cases of violence to members of the public by psychiatric patients. Doctors were then granted powers to force patients to have treatment, which was to some a step back in time. With 'care in the community', the idea of refuge has been lost; but the question is then posed, does the community really care?