My daughter has severe depression and a potential diagnosis of BPD in January when she turns 18. Recently she's been in an extremely dark place. She's been in and out of inpatient units since she was 14 so we're kind of used to the process of what happens when she attempts to end her life. Two weeks ago she took an overdose, she was taken to a&e, checked over and had a mental health assessment. They deemed her fit to leave and sent her on her way. She has been given no extra support since then despite us asking multiple times. Last night she attempted again. She took 16 Paracetamol with half a bottle of wine and intended on taking another box if we hadn't have stopped her going out. She almost collapsed about 3 hours after and we put two and two together. We called the ambulance and they said they'd send somebody out within 2 hours and to call back if anything changed.
We sat up and waited with her for about 45 minutes when her breathing became very painful, and she said if she didn't force herself to breathe she thought she would stop altogether. She was struggling to stay awake. My DH called the ambulance again to tell them. They said 9 minutes and to hold for a clinician. When we were put through to the clinician she said, quote "from a medical stand point there's nothing wrong with her. She doesn't need to be seen" despite her not being able to breathe and taking an overdose just hours earlier. She kept insisting DD was fine and that she would cancel the ambulance. We asked to talk to somebody else and she kept refusing. We hung up and called again but they kept saying we had to speak to the lady. The ambulance arrived as she was saying she would cancel it. The paramedic checked DD over and said it was best if we went to A&E because of the dose and it was an attempt to end her life. Then her radio buzzed and they asked "why are you still there?" She called up the lady we had been on the phone to and they had a long conversation outside. She then came back and said it was unnecessary to come to the hospital and that DDs mental health team would be informed on Monday. DD has been up all night vomitting and wanting to hurt herself. They didn't even give her a mental health assessment like they're supposed to when somebody tries to commit suicide. She's a minor for God sake!!