Written with the help of sufferers and carers to give an accurate `consumer's perspective' of how the mental health services react when a person becomes mentally ill, Mental Health Assessments focuses on the problems that can arise when someone undergoes a formal assessment for compulsory admission to hospital. Using case studies drawn from real life and selected by the sufferers and carers, the book examines what can go wrong with the assessment process - for example, if an inappropriate section is made, or if the opportunity for an assessment is missed. The author describes the implications of current mental health legislation, including examples of both good and bad practice. She argues that the system can be slow to respond, and that in some cases the law fails to protect both the patient and their families. The final chapter draws out key issues from the assessment process, and provides suggestions for improving the care of those with a serious mental illness.