"I was left with nothing to do"

I was admitted to the Lowry ward at Hadrian Clinic a few months ago, I was suffering from severe mental illness. I had asked to be admitted but they had refused admission and then when my illness took a turn the police admitted me.

When I got there I was extremely cooperative and I was willing to do whatever it took to take care of my mental health with medication. My health began to improve.

However it felt like this ward punishes and victimise patients they do not follow guidelines they do not adhere to section 17 and they do nothing to help the mentally ill.

When I got there, when the medication started working I was made informal. I could see that my health was improving and I could see that the medication was working. I was extremely grateful I was taken off my section 2 and made informal and I could tell that I was getting better and I was looking forward to returning to my life. I was driving and I had the occasional drink of alcohol with lunch. No one informed me that I was not allowed to drive or that I was not allowed to drink alcohol, one day I was called in to speak to staff and they informed me that they knew that I was driving and that they knew that I had had a drink and for that reason they were putting me on a 5-2 hold, I told them I didn’t know that I wasn’t supposed to do this and that I wouldn’t do it in the future they said that this was very risky behaviour and because of that they revoked my informal leave and put me on a section 3.

I was extremely upset about this because these two behaviours had nothing to do with my illness. whilst on section 3 I was being refused leave even though I had sold my car and assured them that I would not drink alcohol again and why would I? If it’s bad for my mental health? The worst thing is that I have been granted some escorted leave, but I am constantly refused it because they refused to give me staff to take my leave as a consequence. I was left to wander the hallways all day long with absolutely nothing to do which was having a very negative effect on my mental health.

Recently I had an absolute meltdown because some of the symptoms of my illness started to return and I feel that is because of their incompetence and lack of care, I feel that this was the worst place for mental health.