In Scotland an organisation called the "Mental Welfare Commission" has a duty to protect persons who, because they are mentally ill, may be incapable of adequately protecting themselves or their interests. As part of this responsibility the Commission collects information about patients and some interesting statistics were published in their annual report in October 1996.
The statistics collected include information on suicides, the withholding of mail for those in hospital, guardianship and many other figures. The Commission also published information on the number of detentions in 1995/96 due to mental illness. (The numbers below do not include those sent to hospital by the courts)
Lowest number: Western Isles 72 per 100,000 population
Highest number: Argyll and Clyde 181 per 100,000 population
Average: 135 per 100,000 population (total population 5 million.
The total number of those detained when under 18 years old was 82.
Further information is available from the Secretary, the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, 25 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7RN, Great Britain.
Tel 44 131 225 7034. Fax 44 131 226 4027.