Join our campaign to identify the children of parents detained under the Mental Health Act

We're calling on the Government to approve our proposal for an amendment to the Mental Health Bill that would ensure that children are identified during the process of their parents being detained.

As we know, discussions around parental mental health often overlook the impact on children. This is especially true in cases where a parent is detained under the Mental Health Act, which means being admitted to a hospital for treatment or assessment. It can happen even if they don't want to be admitted.

In 2023, more than 50,000 individuals were detained under the Act in the UK, making it likely that many children were impacted, increasing their risk of experiencing mental health issues themselves.

With the support of The Carers Trust, we are currently campaigning for a proposed amendment to the Mental Health Bill, a long-awaited update to the Mental Health Act. The proposed changes would require practitioners to improve the identification of and support for children within families when a parent is detained.

One mother, who attends KidsTime with her 6-year-old daughter, shared the following about how the workshops had made a difference to her after being sectioned:

“I was so isolated before KidsTime. I found it helpful meeting others that had been sectioned and were struggling with the realities of life after. Mixing with people who get and experience illness like me is unique…the only place that has let me and my daughter talk to each other openly about how we feel is KidsTime.”

The UK lags behind other countries in Europe on this issue. A straightforward requirement for professionals to identify the children of parents who have been detained would ensure that no child feels isolated or overlooked.

By encouraging open communication, we can connect children to the specific support they need, and break the cycle of poor mental health.

You can help:

If you have lived experience of being detained under the Mental Health Act, you could help us to raise awareness of the reality of being separated from your family by sharing your story.

Examples can be completely anonymous and will be shared on our website, on social media, and in correspondence with MPs to encourage them to support the amendment.

If you would like to share your own story, please get in touch with Nadya Bettioui, Our Time Voices Project Lead: nadya.bettioui@ourtimecharity.org.uk