{"id":6781,"date":"2025-10-14T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=6781"},"modified":"2025-10-15T21:34:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T21:34:13","slug":"i-was-sectioned-four-times-people-need-to-know-my-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/14\/i-was-sectioned-four-times-people-need-to-know-my-story\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I was sectioned four times\u00a0\u2014 people need to know my story\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Shocka\t<\/div>
Shocka is telling his story for an important reason (Picture: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Striding into the Metro office, Kenneth Erhahon, better known as Shocka, has a contagious smile on his face. Some might feel it\u2019s at odds with what he is here to discuss \u2014 being sectioned four times \u2014 but the 37-year-old became a mental health<\/a> advocate to demonstrate that it’s possible to still live a joyful life.<\/p>\n

From 2008, Shocka was in the rap group<\/a> Marvell, which he formed with Vertex and Double S. They were a successful trio, becoming the support act for Chip, Skepta<\/a> and Diversity on sell-out tours, while an average day saw them bump into stars like Rihanna<\/a> and Drake<\/a> at the studio. <\/p>\n

Things were going perfectly until Marvell\u2019s first single came out; it didn\u2019t meet expectations, and the group was dropped by their label in 2011. <\/p>\n

The brutal nature of the industry caused Shocka to spiral. \u2018I lost my sense of reality. It was like I was playing an arcade driving game, in that I was controlling the car, but I wasn\u2019t in it. It was the scariest feeling in the world,\u2019 he tells Metro<\/strong>. He wasn\u2019t sleeping, stopped caring about his appearance (\u2018I wore the same green jacket and G-SHOCK watch every day\u2019), and was either speaking nonsensical thoughts or going completely silent. <\/p>\n

One day in 2012, Shocka was screaming at home and was told by his family to calm down. \u2018No one could snap me out of it,\u2019 he remembers. His uncle, a doctor, recognised he was having a psychotic episode, so he called the emergency services. <\/p>\n

Living with stigma<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Black\t<\/div>
Once Shocka was home, he went online to try to find evidence of a Black man rebuilding his life after being sectioned (Picture: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shocka was sectioned, which he says is the right decision, but adds it was a frightening experience. \u2018I was taken from the ambulance to a detention room and left alone overnight. I didn’t know where I was. I thought, \u201cThis is it, I\u2019m dead\u201d,\u2019 he recalls.<\/p>\n

\u2018After three days, I started coming back to myself, and assumed I was okay to go home, but the nurses wouldn\u2019t allow it.\u2019 Shocka says a \u2018little scuffle\u2019 ensued before he passed out after being injected. \u2018I woke up in an unrecognisable space that they dragged or carried me into. It had a little flap on the door, and my mom was looking through it. I can still remember the concerned face.\u2019 Shocka was diagnosed with manic depression<\/a>, but has since been given a paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis. <\/p>\n

Talking about how he passed the time during his four sectionings, which each lasted up to two and a half weeks, he explains: \u2018I was left to my own devices so I would walk up and down the corridor.\u2019 <\/p>\n

As well as the boredom, Shocka recalls the \u2018eerie smell\u2019. \u2018It\u2019s how you\u2019d imagine the old haunted movies that play on BBC One would smell. I was speaking at a school<\/a> the other day, and it had the same scent, which triggered me. Luckily, I was in the staff room, so I had space to compose myself.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tThe stories behind the headlines\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

Hi, I\u2019m Claie Wilson, Metro\u2019s deputy editor.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At Metro, we\u2019re committed to taking readers beyond the headlines with fresh perspectives on the biggest stories of the day. You can read more in-depth features like this one with our\u00a0News Updates newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
Claie has worked in journalism for 30 years<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

With expert analysis and first-hand accounts of the moments and issues shaping our world, our features inspire, educate and give you the bigger picture.<\/p>\n

Sign up now<\/a>\u00a0to get the top headlines \u2013 and the stories behind them \u2013 delivered straight to your inbox every day.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Despite the harrowing nature of his stay, what scared Shocka most was being back home. He says that, as there was a lack of education around mental health where he grew up, people made judgments. \u2018When we saw people speaking to themselves on the streets, we\u2019d be told: \u201cStay away from that crazy person. They\u2019re losing their mind\u201d, with no acknowledgement of what their full story may be,\u2019 says Shocka.<\/p>\n

Whether he could recover was another concern; he vividly remembers going on Google to find evidence of a Black man who\u2019d been sectioned and then went on to live a happy life. The search was unfruitful. \u2018I didn\u2019t think the cycle could be broken,\u2019 says Shocka, who was most recently sectioned in 2022 after his mother died from cancer<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Part of the problem, he believes, is \u2018no aftercare\u2019. \u2018Prisoners get more help, support and rehabilitation than people with mental health issues,\u2019 claims Shocka. <\/p>\n

He continues: \u2018There’s a common theme amongst all the patients that you’re viewed as less than human, like the staff are just putting up with us in the weirdo section. It\u2019s a feeling you get rather than anything in particular.\u2019<\/p>\n

The bigger picture<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Black\t<\/div>
Kadra has devoted many hours to producing the Black Mental Health Manifesto (Picture: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kadra Abdinasir has worked in mental health policy for over a decade, and tells Metro <\/strong>that \u2018Black people face some of the harshest inequalities in the mental health system, and tend to come into contact under coercion rather than intervention.’ The latest figures published by the NHS show that Black people are detained at four times the rate of white people.<\/p>\n

This is even though they are more likely to need earlier support, as Black people experience structural inequities disproportionately that can contribute to poorer mental health outcomes, such as living in lower-income households, housing insecurity, and facing greater rates of unemployment, incarceration and school exclusions.<\/p>\n

To combat the issue, Kadra is part of a team who\u2019ve produced the Black Mental Health Manifesto. They aim to \u2018break the cycle of a broken system which has continued to fail Black people when they are at their most vulnerable.\u2019 Today, the document, originally published in spring 2024, is in parliament, presenting the key asks. This timing is important as a revived mental health bill is in its final stages, and they want to ensure it commits to tackling racial inequalities. <\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tThe Black Mental Health Manifesto \t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Black\t<\/div>
The Black Mental Health Manifesto is being presented at a parliamentary event today (Picture: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

The Black Mental Health and Wellbeing Alliance, of which Mind is a supporter, is holding the parliamentary launch of its Black Mental Health Manifesto, which has six key asks:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The government should develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to eradicate racism from society and appoint a cabinet-level minister to oversee this.<\/li>\n
  2. The government must prioritise the reform of the Mental Health Act 1983.<\/li>\n
  3. The government should put an end to \u2018hostile environment\u2019 policies, which harm or exacerbate mental health problems amongst refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in the UK.<\/li>\n
  4. All NHS Trusts, VCSE (voluntary and community sector organisations<\/a>) and mental health service providers should embed NHS England\u2019s Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) by March 2025.<\/li>\n
  5. The Department of Education should work with racialised communities to develop and embed an anti-racist and diverse curriculum that incorporates the histories and contributions of all racialised communities in the UK.<\/li>\n
  6. Policymakers, academic institutions, and funders should actively invest in and engage with community research conducted by and for Black communities in a meaningful way.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For more information, you can visit here<\/a>. The initiative is being supported by Black Minds Matter<\/a> and Bayo<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    Explaining why policies need to address Black mental health specifically, Shocka uses a childhood memory: \u2018When we played football at school, whichever team was doing badly would get given good players to level it back out. That’s how humanity should be. Whoever is struggling should get the most help.\u2019<\/p>\n

    \u2018If we get things right for the people that face the harshest inequalities in the mental health system, we get it right for everybody,\u2019 Kadra adds, pointing out that early intervention is key. \u2018Black children made up 36% of those in mental health hospitals, but just 5% of those in community services. We talk about the school-to-prison pipeline as a young Black man, but the school-to-mental health system is often hidden.<\/p>\n

    \u2018Why do their needs only come up at the crisis point?\u2019 she asks. \u2018Schools and community services should pick up earlier and talk to them, but instead, they are seen as badly behaved and given a response like school exclusion.\u2019<\/p>\n

    Road to recovery<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Kadra explains that \u2018stigma\u2019 around mental health also stops Black people coming forward. \u2018They fear that getting a diagnosis might limit their job opportunities or lead to interventions from public bodies such as children\u2019s services. Too often, Black communities face greater scrutiny and punitive responses instead of care and compassion,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

    \u2018Racism<\/a> is toxic to mental health, so they turn to the system, but then they are less likely to have positive recovery journeys. Sometimes the professionals have stigmatising attitudes towards Black communities, leading to discrimination.\u2019 There is a notion that Black people are \u2018strong and resilient\u2019 so should get on with life\u2019s traumas, which Kadra believes is entrenched within healthcare. <\/p>\n

    \u2018The services aren’t culturally competent. A lot of the workforce in the mental health space is white, middle-aged professionals, and they have a Eurocentric therapy approach, where you sit in front of somebody and talk, but some prefer integrating it into a creative activity or talking anonymously online,\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n

    Hopeful future<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
    \n\t\t\"Black\t<\/div>
    By highlighting the issues, it is hoped that the Black Mental Health Manifesto will create a better future (Picture: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Shocka is open about his story because he wants to take the shame out of sectioning. He is doing this through various means, including a TEDx talk, his music releases, a YouTube<\/a> series, A Section of Your Life, and a book of the same name, which features poems written during his last hospital stay.<\/p>\n

    \u2018If people want to know what it looks like to get sectioned multiple times, build yourself back up and have a good life, I want them to think of me,\u2019 he says. \u2018I show the possibility, but I want the next generation to take it to the next level. I hope there are more mental health advocates who are sectioned just once, and they learn amazing tools that I couldn’t figure out.\u2019<\/p>\n

    Kadra adds: \u2018The diversity of the UK needs to be reflected in decision-making and racism needs to be combated. We also want to see more investment in local organisations, which can build trusting relationships with communities, and more data on the issues, so we can get a clearer picture of what needs fixing.<\/p>\n

    \u2018If these things were instilled, there would be less disparity between white and Black people, feeling comfortable to talk about their mental health, and they would get the same quality of service.\u2019<\/p>\n

    Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Josie.Copson@metro.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n


    \n\t\t\tComment now<\/title><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-preferred-source\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shocka is telling his story for an important reason (Picture: Supplied) Striding into the Metro office, Kenneth Erhahon, better known as Shocka, has a contagious smile on his face. Some might feel it\u2019s at odds with what he is here to discuss \u2014 being sectioned four times \u2014 but the 37-year-old became a mental health […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6781"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6781"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6781\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6789,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6781\/revisions\/6789"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}