Every year thousands of people in England are ''sectioned'' or detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983. For most, it is a relatively private affair - in the case of celebrities such as Frank Bruno, their admission can receive the full glare of publicity.

The Act is used when it is believed that a person is risk to themselves or to others and they cannot be satisfactorily treated in the community.

Mental health professionals have a choice of a number of ''sections'' in the Act under which to admit a patient.

Section two, the most commonly used part of the Act for detaining someone, allows for a person to be compulsorily detained in hospital for assessment for a period of 28 days. An approved social worker or a close relative must apply for the ''section'', supported by two medical recommendations.

The patient or a relative must voluntarily allow the people attending the section to enter their home - if they don't a separate order must be obtained from a magistrate to obtain access.

Police might be required to act as a ''back up'' to mental health professionals carrying out the procedure.

Dr Jim Bolton, a consultant psychiatrist based at St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, Surrey, says mental health professionals attempt to balance the rights of the patient to make his or her decisions with their need to be treated.

''The vast majority of people go into hospital voluntarily,'' he says. ''The stereotype of consultants is that they are bringing people into hospital against their will all the time. That is not the case by any means.

''Usually a section of the Mental Health Act is being used in the best interests of people. What people using it have to consider is the balance between somebody's right to autonomy and right to make decisions for themselves against the right of someone with mental illness to receive treatment.''