Choice and Decision-Making During Detention Under the MHA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Choice and Decision-Making During Detention Under the Mental Health Act
IRAS ID
362164
Contact name
Hannah Ridings
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 29 days
Research summary
When someone is detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA), they are taken to hospital for treatment without agreeing to it. This can happen when a person’s mental health is deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. This can be upsetting, especially if they feel left out of decisions about their care. People who are detained are usually kept in a hospital which is locked. Research shows that many people in this situation feel they have little control. Some people say they are included in decisions, but other people feel like staff make most of the choices. Many feel they do not have options because of rules and routines in hospital.
Relationships with other people, like staff and family, can affect how much choice someone feels they have. Supportive relationships can help people feel more involved in decisions about their care. If relationships feel unfair or strict, people may feel more left out of choices.
This study will look at how people detained in hospital experience choice and decision-making in their care. It will also explore how relationships affect these decisions.
We will interview people who have been detained under the MHA and staff who work in hospitals. We hope to speak to 20 people in total. We will ask them about their experience of choice and decision-making whilst detained and whether others helped or influenced their decisions.
We hope this research will help to understand what stops people from making decisions about their care. We also hope to identify times when people did feel they had a choice and understand the role of relationships whilst detained under the MHA. Ultimately, we hope this research will help mental health services involve people more in their care.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/SC/0091
Date of REC Opinion
2 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion