Rise In Scots Detained Over Mental Health

ALMOST 7000 people have been detained for compulsory mental health care and treatment in the past year, official figures show.

- LAUREN GILMOUR

The Mental Welfare Commission said the number in Scotland rose to 6713 in 2022-23, while the number of safeguards fell.

This represented a rise of 1.7 per cent on the previous year and is consistent with increases over the longer term, from 4530 detentions in 2013-4.

It is expected, the commission says, that every emergency detention under the Mental Health Act should be decided by a doctor with the consent of a mental health officer, except if that is not practicable.