Have you visited A&E when suicidal?

[Downtownmonkeyi]

What help you were offered?

Once. I was assessed by the psych team within half an hour, but then had to wait on a random ward for 16 hours until they could find me a bed in a psych ward in a different hospital.

My DH drove me to the psych ward as would have had to wait another few hours for an ambulance transfer (it was the middle of the night by then).

I had 5 nights on a psych ward as a voluntary patient, followed by 10 weeks with the home treatment team visiting every other day. It wasn't a pleasant experience at all, but I'm glad it happened now. It was the beginning of getting better for me.

A&Es probably get loads of suicidal people. I wonder how they decide who is suicidal enough to be admitted and who are ok with diazepam.

I wondered this, Downtownmonkey.

I could see certain factors that made the psych assessment team's eyes flicker, like I had ticked some boxes: bipolar diagnosis (check), manic (check) has taken time to plan suicide (check).

Also having someone with me who was pushy (my mum) and wouldn't let them fob me off was a factor, I am sure.

My bed was the only bed available that night in a PCT that has three hospitals with psych wards. So I did wonder afterwards....how many others were sent home that night?

Lots of literature/research on this.

I am doing not that well. Cpn asked me yesterday if I need more support. I said no but now I am starting to think that would be a good idea. i will wait until tomorrow to see how I am and maybe contacting cpn. I am going to see cpn on Thursday anyway.