I was told recently that it is alleged that Humphrey Smith had mentioned to someone, in a slight tongue-in-cheek manner, that he may possibly go the same way as his father as he got older, which was to suffer from some form of mental illness.
Sadly, many mental illnesses are not treated as seriously, as many other less debilitating physical illnesses. Such an illness, can be very upsetting for all associating with such an individual, such as family and friends - as those who know and like someone, are faced with that person changing on an ongoing basis.
However, it's also possible to 'talk yourself into an illness', or to believe and convince yourself, to the point of actually showing the symptoms.
A further concern, comes from something else I heard recently - and maybe someone could confirm if there's any truth to this. It was alleged, that when HS was going through some marriage difficulties, he actually 'sectioned' himself, under the mental health act!
All of this (if true) would not only prove very worrying for family and friends - but also, from a business prospective. However, it might just explain why a previously successful company Director, should do a U-turn on his own policies, to the financial determent of his own company, with the risk of causing irreparable damage.
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Mental heath sectioning..What does 'being sectioned' mean?The term ?being sectioned? refers to the use of a part of the Mental Health Act to gain legal permission to give someone compulsory assessment or treatment for a mental health problem.
Who can be sectioned under the Act?The power to admit someone compulsorily to hospital under the Mental Health Act is applied only to people experiencing severe mental distress who are posing a danger to either themselves or to someone else, and only if they are refusing to accept help and treatment.
People with different types of defined "mental disorder" can be admitted to hospital under the Act. These include those with "severe mental impairment", "psychopathic disorder" or "mental illness".
Fact..In 2000/2001, 26,707 were formally admitted against their will, in addition to 19,570 who went voluntarily to hospital in the first instance but who were then sectioned.
Source: The Telegraph More info..=====================================
What next?..I think it's time for family, friends and colleagues, to stop burying their heads in the sand, and very seriously think about the current situation. It may be the most humane action to take, to at least encourage Mr H Smith to seek some professional psychiatric assessment, and if deemed necessary - treatment.
Why?Consider this; would anyone of sane mind, start to openly and obviously, damage a family owned business - effectively robbing his spouse of any inheritance? Especially when such actions are illegal, under company law.
Well possibly, if that person hated their spouse and other family members that much, that they wanted to deny them of any inheritance.Would any sane person purposely, and almost with some sign of enjoyment, upset so many people - to the point of seriously affecting other peoples lives - and thus putting themselves at great personal risk from physical attack? And then travel around the country, some times in the dark, on their own, to places with angry drunk people!
Well possibly if you was on a death wish, or you were going for the 'buzz', but was the size of Arnold Schwarzenegger.Would any sane person, continue to flout many laws on a day-to-day basis, such as health and safety, hygiene, employment law, discrimination laws? To name but a few. And of course remember; hacking or trying to disable a website, be it directly, or through instruction - is against the law.
Well possibly if, a) you had no respect for the law, and b), you knew that you had plenty of money to burn on legal representation - a further drain on the business and families inheritance.We are talking about a man, who was once well liked and respected. A man who ran a popular, well respected company. A man who is no longer the same person, and who is angering some people, upsetting many more, and destroying a business he inherited which was healthy - and now, and in the worst possible commercial climate - falling apart.
So does HS qualify? You decide..Remember what the act states, a person who is:
'..posing a danger to either themselves or to someone else, and only if they are refusing to accept help and treatment.'
Useful Information:York and District Mind: Website:
http://www.yorkmind.org.uk/Advocacy telephone number: 01904 647030
DirectGov -
Advice on Mental Health, law and servicesThe Retreat York:
http://www.theretreatyork.org.uk/T: 01904 412551
F: 01904 430828
E:
info@theretreatyork.org.ukCity of York Council -
Mental Health Support Line.
Telephone for more info: 01904 554141
