Older people and the use of the Mental Health Act (1983)

Ball, Laurence Francis Joseph (2013). Older people and the use of the Mental Health Act (1983). University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis explores the use of the Mental Health Act (MHA)(1983) with older people(65+) by providing a multi-perspective insight as expressed by those involved in the process. In particular, it focuses on the personal and social circumstances in which decisions to compulsorily detain older people are made. The thesis comprises two elements; one documentary, one qualitative. The documentary study was over a four year period (2000-2003) gathering demographic data around various themes including numbers of older people detained, gender, age, diagnosis and the relevant section used to detain the older person under the MHA(1983) This provided an insight into the scale of the phenomenon.

Within the qualitative study, 58 semi-structured interviews were conducted providing fifteen case studies which were then thematically described and interpreted using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Semi-structured 1:1 interviews were adopted to allow participants the opportunity to express their personal experience. The thesis concluded that at times, some older people and their caregivers became passive recipients of mental health services, mainly through power inequalities, particularly at the time of assessment and discharge.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):