Since the Lockdown began, many people have found themselves at home feeling bewildered, fearful for loved ones, dependent on reduced pay from employers or receiving benefits. In some cases they have had no income at all. Everyone has had their daily routines changed.
Whilst little reaches the mainstream media, the impact of these changes on the mental health of potentially many thousands of people is and will be significant.
I felt compelled to act because of my own experience and filed for a Judicial Review against the Health Secretary and the Prime Minister at the High Court on the 21st of July on the basis that under the Human Rights Act 1998 my own right to ‘no torture or degrading treatment’ has been infringed upon by what they have done.
There has been a gross miscarriage of justice. The Mental Health Act 1983, which is the law governing the care of patients with mental health conditions in England was changed as part of the Coronavirus Act 2020 to allow just one medical professional to sign off on detaining a person in hospital, and possibly medicating for weeks [or months] at a time.
The amount of time for which a person can be detained pending an assessment of their condition has also been increased, leading to the patient’s will being over-ruled and that person being detained without a second opinion from a qualified professional.
With the changes that the Government has made without the scrutiny of Parliament, they have arbitrarily decided that it would be okay to lock up vulnerable people instead of finding ways to help in this time of national emergency.
So let’s give this some perspective.
According to a study published in The Lancet in July, population levels of clinically significant mental distress rose by 8.4% just a month into lockdown. Increases were greatest in 18–24 year olds, 25–34 year olds, and women respectively. By late April, 2020, mental health in the U.K. had deteriorated compared with pre-COVID-19 trends.
Coupling this with the Office of National Statistics 2018 analysis of deaths caused by intentional self-harm showing an increase but offering no explanation as to why, it is clear that ‘the science’ has not been considered at all in the Government’s decision-making process when changing the law.
There have been reports in the media of suicides committed during lockdown, children not being visited by social services, and domestic violence increasing. So, imagine an innocent person suffering domestic abuse during Lockdown, completely breaking down, and then having lust one doctor decide they need to be locked away in a tiny room and have medication forced into them ‘for their own good’. This sadly, is a very real prospect.
The Government has confirmed the law will only apply if mental health services don’t have enough staff. So if we have a second wave of the Coronavirus Pandemic as many now expect, we could at the very least find a lot of British people becoming long-term customers of the drug companies as a result.
I first raised my concerns on social media in March after the ‘lockdown’ was announced, and from the responses I received, It was clear that not many people were aware of the change in law and what the consequences could be – which still remains the case.
We need an increase in the standard of care enshrined in law. Now.
The Government filed their response with the Court in August and I will be reviewing the papers in the hopes of finding some common ground.
While I will fight this Case through the Court system if necessary, I would rather reach an agreement and then call my GP to book some counselling for myself.
So far, I have liaised with the Department for Health & Social Care and been briefed on the NHS Long-Term Plan for mental health care. I will ensure they stick to their word.
You can help me to help others suffering right now. Please share this article. Please share the NHS Long-Term plan. Most importantly, if you are suffering from any mental health conditions, please contact your Local Member of Parliament with your views on improvements needed to mental health care services – but DO highlight the good things too.
Keep Calm → Protect our Vulnerable → Save Lives. Lijeh Perez English Entrepreneur in the Mental Health Sector
Fantastic.. If I can be of any help in any direction, please feel free to ask!!
Fantastic, work I see Matt Hanc*** is going to 'sunset' the parts of the CV act that only require one medical professional to detain and medicalise a patient now. I wonder if it is related to your case. I don't think it's a stretch to think so and really this is a type of activism that gets results.
Wow Lijeh, this is incredible and really huge respect for this. I will look up your name and work online like another poster has done. I think I might like to go down this line with regards to our Scottish leader too but I'm trying to formulate the best structured argument to put forward as our FM is acting incredibly authoritarian and dismissing any opposition with dismissive fake compassion and a 'i don't want to do this,am suffering with this too, but ....' so am trying to think of a way that ensures she must directly acknowledge and answer without giving her any out. Oh in times like this it would be so muc easier to have our education and health centralised to Westminster...then we can fight allunified. Sadly, I feel like I'm kinda on my own here against a gov who have way too much authority, zero scrutiny and msps in SNP and their followers who are too rabid in their loyalty to Indy. Also, it saddens me that very few are not peacefully non complying here with basics such as no masks, speaking on social media openly (without bombarded with 'youre killing granny burn the dissenters!' ....so, you've given me inspiration and a starting point to work on . You're quite incredible taking this on yourself, amazing. Do you have an update? Thank you and huge well wishes
I thought only a JP could order the detention of anyone and even that had to be short term and reviewed every 7 days or so? Mind you this illegal lot are making up their own rules as they go along. Enough is enough. There are 4million military veterans in this country and they are being treated very badly by the "Government". Pity we can't get them all to go in and arrest the lot of them. There is evidence of mental instability, they don't look so good these days - bit jittery don't you think? They know what they are about to do to us all, but we have to stand firm. People are waking up - slowly.
Amazing - are you doing this on your own?
Excellent!