Secure hospital detention 'scarred' autistic woman

A woman with autism who was repeatedly detained in secure hospitals as a teenager has said proposed changes to a mental health law do not go far enough.

Lucy Bowerman, from Witney, Oxfordshire, said being sectioned at 12 years old, before being diagnosed with autism, left her mentally "scarred".

She is part of a campaign that has called for an end to the detention of people with autism or learning difficulties.

The Department for Health and Social care said its "proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act [would] ensure people get the support they need in the community".

Miss Bowerman told BBC Radio Oxford's Sophie Law she was first sectioned after suffering from "autistic burnout" and attempting to take her own life.

"I had a feeling they saw that as depression at the time, whereas we realise now that I was just very, very deep into autistic burnout and struggling to cope," she said.

"[Secure hospitals] weren't very pleasant places to be. I was only 12 and most of the other patients were 15 or 16 plus.

"That was quite scary being surrounded by some very, very unwell people at such a young age."

Miss Bowerman is co-chair of Oxfordshire charity My Life My Choice, which is run by people with learning disabilities.

The group took part in a protest in Westminster in April against proposed changes in the government's Mental Health Bill.

The government wants to change the law so that disabled and autistic people cannot be detained under the act in most circumstances, unless they have a co-occurring mental health disorder.

Miss Bowerman said the changes do not go far enough and more support should be available in the community so people can live in "good homes".

She said: "The reason I'm involved... is partly to get justice for my younger self, who shouldn't have been put through what I was put through.

"But most importantly, for the people who are still locked up in these places because this should not be happening in this day and age."

In December the BBC reported that the current wait for people seeking a diagnosis for autism in Oxfordshire is 18 years.

Miss Bowerman said: "If we're unable to effectively diagnose people and support them, there are going to be more people ending up in burnout... and ending up in these institutions."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "The number of autistic people and people with a learning disability in mental health hospitals is unacceptable.

"Through our proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act, we will ensure people get the support they need in the community, closer to home, improving care and keeping people out of hospitals.

"We welcome stakeholders' contributions, including through the public consultation, and will engage further as the bill progresses through Parliament."

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