How many people feel they have been failed with the mental health team?

[coatpin]

How many people feel they have been let down by their own mental health professionals, or their gp,, maybe havent had the support or regular monitoring???

Who feels more could have been done, and what???

[booglebum]

Definitely my mental health team r crap.

[Hidden]

not sure how to answer this really, I waited for months for an appointment then felt ok before the appointment I did not cancel it just did not bother chasing it up! then when things went bad again my Dr asked what happened about the mental health team appt I said I never had one! now I have been waiting months again and still nothing ! I know my physical problems dont help much but I think with the right help (IF I am able to go through with it) I may be able to do some kind of work and at least give something back to the system! also I have tried to get folk to understand I find it difficult to go out of my house and would need the CPN? to come to me but no one listens! its not the NHS fault I blame the red tape and constrictive rules that the EU put in place!

[Gambit62]

Felt that medics can't be trusted when it comes to mental health most of my life ... though that is possibly a different issue and really goes back to being put on tranquillisers at a very young age.

Certainly don't feel that most of them understand - saw one specialist for my migraines at one point and think he was brilliant because he would actually admit that it was 'try this, it might work but we don't actually understand why' ... and ironically that gave me a lot of confidence in him. Was very depressed on one visit and he was also very understanding about that as he was obviously a sufferer himself. He's retired now.

Think it is all very hit and miss - are a few good people out there that understand things and a lot that are just doing their best to get through the day. Most of the time they are following standard ways of handling things but people are individuals and its an area where they might understand a lot more than they did even 5 years ago but its still more of an art than a science. Wish they would be prepared to admit that more often.

Feeling a bit let down by my GP at the moment after he did a report for work that talked about the possibility of making a full recovery - lot of work related stress at the moment - and actually I've been living with this for 30-40 years - sometimes it goes into remission but it doesn't seem like it goes away. The specialist I mentioned talked about coping strategies which I think is much more to the point.

hey ho!

[Hidden]

Hi Coatpin

I can give you a few examples of when I feel I have been let down by the system - and what I did about it : -

About 15 years ago I was going through an extremely difficult divorce (domestic abuse and threats etc) and I became psychotic because I'd not slept for several weeks because of fear, anxiety and worry. On one visit to my GP I asked how she would deal with it if she was in my situation - and she replied "I wouldn't be in your situation". Several visits later - again with no help offered - I actually slammed my fist on the GP's desk and said that I demanded to go to a psychiatric unit because of how I was feeling - The GP did respond to this and I went to stay in a psychiatric hospital (as a voluntary patient) for 6 weeks until I started feeling better and more able to cope. I realise this was a long time ago - but I recently had to see my GP (a different one) about feeling depressed and again I had to ask for help - see details below.

I am now a carer for my 33 year old son who has schizophrenia (and mild depression). He does have a mental health social worker, but obviously she has other clients to see besides my son and I think sometimes she just has to prioritise and see the clients who appear to need support the most. But of course these could also be the ones whose symptoms appear more obvious or who ask for help or complain the most.

I have been feeling depressed now for the last few months. When I visited my GP I found she was not interested and just said "being a carer is stressful" and totally ignored how I was feeling, concentrating more on monitoring my high blood pressure. I had to ask her to offer me counselling on the NHS. My name has now come up after about 8 weeks and I start it next week.

My advice to you would be to try to ask (or demand) any help you think you may need - and not wait for it to be offered to you, because you may have a long wait.

Good Luck

[Lois1959 in reply to Hidden]

I still believe that GP's (or medics in general to be honest) still have little understanding of mental health issues (or empathy) even in this day and age.

It's the same old thing....they can't see it so the problem doesn't exist.

If they can put a bandage on it fine; if not they just don't want to know!

You get 5 mins with them (on a good day) ...doesn't give you time to discuss any progress (or not as the case may be).

I always come out feeling cheated and thinking why did I bother?

[Hidden]

On my last visit to the GP I waited in the waiting room for over half an hour to be seen. When I finally saw the GP she informed me she was running late - and it was obvious she was rushing through dealing with me to try to catch up. Whilst I was waiting all that time in the waiting room I thought about all the people who would find it extremely stressful and might even give up and walk out without being seen.

[Lois1959 in reply to Hidden]

Yes that's not helpful is it? Sitting there all that time getting worked up and then it's almost like dismissing you when you get in!! As I said in my previous response if they can't see it; it aint there.

Radical may be but I think some of the medical profession need to be trained in Mental Health issues as there is still a lack of understanding (and dare I say caring?)