Waiting times for support

[Hannah221b]

I had a really bad low on 27th April and nearly killed myself, but (obviously) I didn't. I've been in touch with my GP and workplace-provided support lines as well as general mental health support lines, but I'm worried that I'm unable to get more specific help.

I was referred to the community team in April, but haven't heard anything for the past 3 weeks although my doctor told me they should get in touch within a 4 day window. I don't want to feel even more hopeless and worried, especially as I'm still in a somewhat volatile headspace.

I am coping better, but even day to day it's really difficult. I don't know where else to go for actual pysch help.

I hope you're all doing OK.

[Hidden]

Hello Hannah

Sorry you have been through a rough time. Services are very slow, in some cases lacking.

All I can suggest is look for activities you enjoy or look on any hobbies you enjoy. You will hopefully get a letter or telephone call to ask you about your problems.

I find the system terrible, sad to say I understand regards the virus although there are other health concerns in Society. I was supposed to have a chat with Social Services seven weeks ago and was told in no certain concerns to wait and will look into how you are after the problems. So now I suppose I will be better, by the time they will want to see me.

I also have appointments that concern regular health concerns and again no-one is being seen.

I hope all goes well for you, let us know how you get on

BOB

[Hannah221b in reply to Hidden]

It took 6 months of pain for my kidney disease to get diagnosed and taken seriously, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I'm getting by, and I do realise coronavirus would disrupt things, as it has with my normal GP appointments and my working routine, but I'd have thought they'd at least give a ballpark figure of when they would contact me, rather than just waiting and barely holding myself together day by day. Thanks for the reply and kind words.

[Hidden in reply to Hannah221b]

Here at the moment the Health Service is beginning to handle things like Stroke, Heart attack and Cancer with more urgency, People have not been contacting the NHS for emergency treatment, so people have been waiting for treatment because of this virus.

Personally I feel going into hospital would be risky, they opened up emergency hospitals for virus patients as they were using the hospital wards as well. You wonder sometimes why they had not moved virus sufferers down to these temporary large wards and kept the actual hospitals for general Surgeries and illnesses

BOB

[Thetealharp in reply to Hidden]

Probably because they can't staff the big hospitals as well. And they don't have all the ICY stuff on site

[_Alex_ in reply to Hannah221b]

Difficult to know if they are just taking their time about it, or something went wrong with the referral. I don't know how long you want to give them... if you can find contact details for a "common point of entry" or "single point of access" (or similar wording) of the local mental health services, then they could probably tell you what is going on, if it's just delays at the moment or whatever.

(In my own case anyway, there was a team that dealt with all the referrals, before going over to the community mental health team; I can't be sure the system works the same way in your area.)

Wouldn't surprise me if it's a coronavirus caused delay, despite the fact that mental health services presumably aren't on the front lines dealing with that, and you would think should still be available to deal with mental health issues.

And yes, you should have been given an accurate idea of when they would contact you. Obviously your GP was telling you what they expected to happen, and what may be the normal timeframe for services in the area.

[Raptorvelo]

Hi Hannah. I don't have any advice as I'm only an expert in depression and anxiety at not at recovering from them but I just wanted to let you know you aren't alone, in terms of suffering or awaiting support - I'm still waiting for referred cbt from community health team...3 months now feel forgotten. Hopefully they come across your case soon. Take care. Jonathan

[Hannah221b in reply to Raptorvelo]

I thought medical and mental health treatment had to legally be within 18 weeks of the initial startpoint? Hopefully you will get help within the next 6 weeks, although it's so upsetting that you've already had to wait this long. It's difficult to keep going when you don't have at least an inkling of what's going on with your medical/mental health support. Thanks for the kind words.

[_Alex_ in reply to Hannah221b]

Quote:

If you're referred for a physical or mental health condition, you have the legal right to start non-urgent consultant-led treatment, or be seen by a specialist for suspected cancer, within maximum waiting times.

This right only applies to services commissioned by the NHS in England and does not include public health services commissioned by local authorities, maternity services, or non-consultant-led mental health services.

nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-se...

You can wait years for some mental health services.

[Hidden in reply to Raptorvelo]

Has your GP pushed for a course of CBT, At the moment your first appointment will be over the phone to discuss your needs. Then you will need to wait as they decide what to do with you. Then they generally write with your first appointment. Here the number of sessions are between 10/12

BOB