In the area that you live in, how eas... - Research Opportun...
Research Opportunities
In the area that you live in, how easy or difficult is it to access mental health care?
SaskiaHUHealthUnlocked51 VotersIf desired, please discuss your choice in the comments below
Unless you attempt something drastic it is so difficult to be seen . Sadly my sister knows this too well . She has to alert paramedics as going via GP means a swift chat , at best a waiting list or a Mon - Fri 9/5pm helpline which is often engaged . Not only bad for her but harrowing for the family .
It's actually difficult because the closest one hardly have openings. Mine is on zoom but it's been difficult to get for my kids.
I worked in a Children's home which is last resort for very damaged children who presented as too difficult / damaged to thrive and live a normal childhood . Care in the UK for children - some as young as 6 is very varied . Advertised as a therapeutic parent we attempted to make the accommodation homely and there was in house education for those who were not ready to attend local schools however these children were often violent , in and out of A and E and absconded frequently . There were no sanctions for property damage , violence against staff and trust issues therefore a child could still have treats that realistically you couldn't afford for your own children . The worry for me was moving forward as most came from homes where these treats couldn't be bought , behaviour couldn't be handled and the high presence of multiple adults was impossible . Many homes aren't managed properly and the owners detached from the day to day reality seemingly out to make profits in a solution to the LEA of out of sight kids being homed in surreal surroundings which don't mirror the real world .
I worked in such for over 2 years . Not 1 child went home without a return to either us or another home . Some came back more damaged and they trusted nobody as most of the staff they knew had left . Little bonding as even long term staff in their eyes could disappear . Unsure what the solution is but crazy money isn't resolving this . Outsiders are getting very rich and the kids become adults in another fragmented system minus the cushion of decent accommodation , food and the unreasonable treats they were used to .
If anyone can give examples of something that actually works then I would be amazed and very happy .
Talking therapies are available for mild to moderate mental health conditions. Usually a wait of a few weeks. My experience of others with more severe conditions is very patchy support. Usually help available for those in crisis but I did meet someone as part of my previous job whose family had asked for help because he was self harming quite seriously and exhibiting some very concerning behavior, mental health unit told him to book a GP appointment.
Does talking therapy work though as many do not want to relive difficult past and could be more traumatised when they are home alone . The only thing that worked for my sister when returning home from psychiatric in patient stay / also sectioned - was keeping physically busy so a timetabled Art group , yoga / fitness sessions , meet once a week for coffee then a creative writing group but these things need organisation , money availability and time . To be well enough to go home is a massive step .Hospitals provide security away from reality which is so challenging once my sister hit home . The promised home visits soon disappeared and I feel the people attending although doing their jobs couldn't help at all practically to take my sister anywhere to do anything and most didn't have any lists of local activities . Standard go out for a walk etc seemed perplexing . There needs almost an occupational rehab outpatients attached to hospitals as most of the hard work is quickly undone as the leap from the cushion of being institutionalised then thrown off the cliff to reach a ledge which is initially just another step to rock bottom doesn't work . Bit like breaking your leg , given crutches and left which unreal , stupid and unheard of .
Apologies for ranting but this happened all through my Mums life - I was born into this then my sister has almost identical issues 40 years down the line and nothing has changed .
Impossible 😞
I have experience myself. It took 17 months to get talking therapy from first contact. In the first 3 months I had a failed suicide attempt, and despite promises of help when assessed in hospital, nothing happened.
Sorry to hear this DandyButch I hope you are feeling reasonable at the moment. Sending a hug 🤗
Thank you for the hug. Hugs help more than people realise. I'm not talking quick hugs either. I have difficulty crying. I hold it in. I get tense. A hug helps. Mostly, I don't know anything is wrong until it is bad. Don't see it coming. Blame everything else as cause. Lack of sleep, bad eating habits, too much to do. Only hindsight can tell signs. I am usually the strong one, but one person can only take so much. I think I care too much about things. A bit OCD. Get frustrated by mistakes by others. Can't get things out of my head for hours. Etc etc... Thank you for your reply. It means a great deal.
There’s a bit of all of us in your reply. I witnessed my mum having a breakdown when I was about 13 (over 45 years ago). Helped her as best I could. She took on too much and helped everyone. I’m always telling my daughter to think of herself more.
There’s always someone on here if you want a chat. Happy to say “hi” too. You take care ☺️
I have had plenty of advice by doctors and other people, and they have always put MIND first option. I have phoned them and told there was a waiting list. I was also told I could take part in a 3 month option, where I write day to day using a form or online diary. They would phone me so I can chat about my worries and thoughts. I thought this was good but she said there is a waiting list. I have not heard back from them, this was a year ago.
I have been on a few sight for mental help, but after you give some details they say there is a charge. Another system that dont help unless you got money. There are quite a few of these online. This just sets you back and makes you feel you are not worth it.
Years ago if you asked for help with mental health you would be put in a hospital and given medication that may not even work. These days the doctor gives medication and let you get on with it. They say if it does not work to get back in touch. But as we all know it is hard to get an appointment anyway these days with the GP.
This is why we need more help, and not left for long periods as once depression sets in, and you get more worries on top of this you get anxiety, and day to day things do not matter, you just slide further into a zombie like state. This affects your eating and sleeping pattern, and you lose track of time.
If you do end up getting medication that sort of helps, you may get OCD, and exert yourself, and then spend days in bed. The more you stay in the harder it is to go out on medication. so anxiety steps in and you avoid seeing people.
Nobody seems to know this is our life except for those suffering day to day.
So A BIG NOTO GETTING HELP OUT THERE.
And for anyone here suffering, put yourself first, take time to heal, give yourself space. you are not alone and you deserve so much.🥰
Extremely difficult to access. My family & I have been to hell & back over the past 4 yrs. I don’t say this lightly. I’ve over 30 years professional experience in mental health, both as Senior Clinician RMN and more recently as qualified (degree level) counsellor. My son is a psychologist, my husband a senior partner GP with much experience in mental health and my father -in-law a professor of psychiatry. In spite of this wealth of knowledge between us, trying to access and navigate mental health services in order to help a much loved, very unwell family member has been nothing short of an absolute nightmare. What hope for others!
Hi I once accessed through a pain clinic, it was good but the psychologist kept cancelling appointments, moving appointment locations and then left so stopped going. Otherwise is a chat with a Dr nd antidepressants 🤷
Mental Health services are pretty much non existent in my area. Two years ago I attempted to access services while in crisis following a medical trauma. I was assessed and diagnosed with Complex PTSD and told that there is 'no treatment pathway for CPTSD' and my referral was closed. My GP then referred me to the tier 2 mental health team who did a brief phone assessment then wrote to me telling me to self refer to two local services - one which is for childhood sexual abuse and the other for domestic violence, neither of which I have experienced - and my referral was closed.
Months to years on waiting lists unless as has been said, someone has hurt themselves sadly
I have Kaiser coverage here in the USA so a psychiatrist or psychologist is readily available.
Hi, if you go through the public system it takes a while but once you are in the system its not bad getting regular appointments. Its quicker in the private sector but very expensive.
A lot of larger employers also offer coverage through benefits
Practically non-existent, a patients well being is not carried on but that is the state of NHS in Northern Ireland, thus the patients lose faith in the system, some SERIOUS side effects build up, affecting the whole of the public society!
been waiting since last February for support again got a call today to say I had a space for support starting in 2 weeks then the punchline came it was a 3 hour round trip on public transport to me I just couldn`t accept that so now I have to wait a further 20 weeks till she`s in my area.
my discovery is minus insurance coverage or money it is non existent.
In the USA, it is encouraged if you feel you may have issues. And easy to get.......
I live in France, near a metropolis, and still in an urban zone so I do benefit from a decent healthcare coverage financially speaking if I follow the schema prescribed by our governing bodies: consult with my referent GP, get addressed to a specialist (mental health in this case), then get a standing appointment with a specialist accepting new patients.
In my case, there are a lot of small sized cities I can reach via public transportation so I was able to get a psychiatrist that was only 40 minutes away from me but for people in either denser cities, or farther away from metropolises, there might not be a lot of accessible professionals they can get in touch with.
For now the possibility to get coverage for online consultations is too limited here, and there are some conditions to get reimbursed if you do not have a premium ++ medical coverage in sus of national coverage but it's still decent for my situation at least.
Unless you try to commit suicide you can't even get a telephone call