Flash
As part of our Raise the Standard campaign, lots of people have bravely been sharing their stories of being in a mental health hospital.
Flash is a poem by Lyra. It describes the mental turmoil they saw when they were in an inpatient unit.
You come at me with hell.
The devil greets my stomach
and chants a haunting melody.
She smiles.
A grin deadlier than sorrow.
She always smiles.
Heaving a ship with my own body weight.
The devil she pours through me like divine tainted water.
They storm in armed and ready.
A troop against a halo - we scream battle cries.
Apparently without war, there is no peace.
Or so it goes.
How you can help
The Mental Health Act is 40 years old. It's the law which says when you can be detained (or sectioned), and receive mental health treatment against your will.
But it’s outdated and not working. People detained under the Act don’t have enough say in their treatment.
It's time for the UK government to Raise the Standard of mental health hospitals, and change the Act before the next election.
Sign our petition, and help us call for this.
Where to get support
We know that going into hospital for your mental health can be really scary. If you're affected by any of the issues on this page, know that you're not alone. We have information on going into hospital, the care you might get, and what happens if you're sectioned.
