Mental health team now closed indefinitely

[Becca19962014]

And I can't cope, supposedly they will phone but as numbers are unknown and unknown numbers are blocked on my phone they can't phone me (blocked by police, DV reasons). It won't reopen as they're only closing non essential departments.

My landlord has written today threatening eviction as I can't cope and my mental health is disrupting others. I can't go to GP as a year ago all their funding for mental health was given to mental health team, likewise a&e (exception with a&e is if taken there by police) people are being turned away anyway to phone 111 to see if they should be there or not and in the case of mental health to phone Samaritans instead (who are over run at the moment). Can't even phone the national mental health helpline as again funding was stopped.

I get daily prescriptions which I was refused today as I'm devastated. Legally I'm not supposed to be left with no support due to being on daily meds due to suicide risk.

I've no community support, no one will help me, supposed to be isolating but can't and I'm really terrified. I was told to leave church as the mental health worker said they were being rediculous regarding mindfulness (which I found made my issues worse when discussed with church was advised its not really appropriate given how it was being taught and that may be adding to my confusion and distress) - mental health team refused to speak to church just telling me they're wrong and need to be told that. So I ended up with no support there at all.

Perhaps someone here can understand..

It's crazy what's happened to everything. I'm so sorry your struggling at the moment. I go to some support groups which are my lifeline which have now been stopped due to this madness which is going on. Medication is a big concern, you should be able to get your medication still. Have you tried calling your gp? Do you have anyone around to support you at the moment? Family? Friends? Do you have kids? X

I've no one safe.
By that I mean I've family and an ex but both were abusive.

They (pharmacy) won't give me meds if I'm in a state like I am, worsened by them wearing gloves, masks, hats and aprons as it triggers my (severe) medical phobia.

No friends as don't go out. Literally only have appointments/get food/meds as I cannot cope with people (severe panic attacks) and already have serious mental health issues as a result of that.

Helplines are impossible. Not even ringing.

How are you op? I don't understand why you can't call your GP, can you explain that again?
If a pharmacist refuses to give meds because they are concerned don't they have a duty of care to get some support? I can't understand how they can just leave you w/o something you are relying on, but I admit I know little about complex MH needs.
Take care

How are you OP? Have you managed to speak to your mental health team, can you ring them? They definitely have a duty of care as does your GP. Keep ringing for support which local authority are you under do you have a social worker? Sorry for all the questions reach out to these people your needs need to be met.

I barely slept last night due to night terrors and got shitty emails from team for being distressed, saying they understand, but tough; and a manager lying everyone wants to support me. Well obviously not.

They don't understand at all.

I'm in five high risk categories for covid-19 and I'm already at risk of my neck collapsing and choking anyway due to a medical condition I have - so I've no chance if I get covid-19. None. Specialist has told me to stay in until July which is impossible for me to do. I've been having mini strokes brought about by how stressed I am as well.

I tried phoning GP and was told I must speak to 111 first to be triaged and see if it's enough of an emergency for an appointment, 111 then pass referral on - it's costs around £20 per GP appointment and there's no way they're going to see me every day to support me getting medication because my medic phobia is out of control especially not as the mental health team I discovered today are the designated disaster centre so they aren't going to believe I'm not allowed to be seen. The doors are locked so I cannot even go there and show them the state I'm in. 111 aren't going to send me to gp for mental health only I know that from Christmas time when everything closed for two weeks and I needed help - I was told if I could call and answer questions I wasn't in crisis that necessitated being seen, as they won't proceed with call without answering questions that's pointless.

Pharmacists have no time to be phoning anyone. They can barely cope with getting meds out to people and today they were sending people away without them.

The social worker was the one who said support suspended indefinitely. Last year a letter was sent to hospital and GP services saying I didn't need any support and was being discharged, my GP argued against this and requested a full mental health assessment but that was rejected at a staff meeting (my social worker wasnt there, it was a junior staff member who hadn't seen me in over six months).

The last time I saw my GP they diagnosed severe depression and said I must reach out more; and they can "see" how bad things are. I don't understand.

I'm so exhausted. I must try and get some rest now. It's just all too much for me alone. And now I know I definitely am alone that makes it even harder.

"You can explain how terrible things are for you, therefore we won't help you" and "if you won't talk to us we can't help you" collide. If I was able to explain that my leg was broken it wouldn't mean I was capable of fixing my own leg alone, I never understand why being able to express your mental suffering gets taken to mean you should be able to fix it alone.

Sorry I can't be much help but I wanted to reply so you knew someone has heard you. I'm terrified and beside myself at having to take this on alone too.

I really hope you managed to get some rest at least.

Thank you. I'm sorry for the massive ramble last night! I'd forgotten I wrote that. Going to rest now as can't take anymore today.

I'm sorry it's effecting you too.

Do you have a Care coordinator OP?

Yes. A Social worker. The person who told me no services indefinitely.

I am absolutely baffled to understand that your care coordinator told you care from them has stopped.

I am certain you can still call your MH centre.

I have a few numbers I can call if I need ranging from local (GP) right up to the crisis line.

Mental health team numbers are now all withheld. You can't just ring them and speak to someone you must be triaged first to see if you qualify. They can't ring me as my phone blocks withheld numbers (I can't change that it was a safety thing put in place by police). Following a meeting I was sent a letter, as was mental health crisis service, GP and a&e stating I cannot be helped by crisis service and must phone friends and family* (named) - my situation regarding other support is well known but this person felt I was lying. I was to be assessed and found support elsewhere - the assessment was done without me present by people I'd not seen in years and thanks for GP and advocate was overturned but management still want me discharged to friends and family (even though I've neither) because I refuse meds (ive had severe reactions to every one resulting in admissions and arguments between mh and other services saying I should stop meds immediately and mh saying not to) so I'm wasting services.

The national helpline for Wales won't support people living here as the healthboard removed funding for their own local support 24/7 self referral for 'everyone' which has now been stopped, though the funding is still with them.

GP requires you to phone for triage as well and again their number is withheld. They have letter saying not to see me re mental health so won't even consider an appointment for me.

A&E equivilent (it's not an a&see like you probably think of one, more MIU but 24/7) won't allow anyone to just turn up due to outbreak everyone must phone 111 and they will assess and if appropriate you can go, but they must have already contacted A&E, the door being locked at all times and inaccessible unless let in. 111 is run by ambulance service so can arrange ambulance direct here.

In regards to advice, the helpline given won't help as they're not funded to, Samaritans are inundated with calls and just cut off after so many rings, the other advice is GP or a&e and there's a link to mindfulness which makes my issues worse (I don't know why it just does, probably because I was bullied into it and blamed when it didn't work and forced to do it again, and again just making things harder and harder).

*both having been abusive.

As the police imposed the block is there any way that the police could release it just for this period or provide a mobile and contact MH with the number so that can accept withheld number and only MH and police know it?

Unfortunately not. I've asked (their response was they should unblock their number for those in my position which apparently they can do) and I can't get another phone as I can't afford it and it would need it be with the same supplier, very bad signal here. Last time they rang I couldn't hear them and they couldn't hear me because of the system they use. Kept demanding a landline which I don't have access to.

Thankyou for replying.

Got to attempt sleep now, unlikely as I'm really wound up about another thread on here. Really shouldn't read here before bed!!

Have you been in hospital for the treatment of the mini strokes you said you've had? Did the doctors who saw you offer any hope with the meds situation?

No hospital. Literally takes being forced there by police. And even then I'm screaming and trying to get away. My GP said it was natural progression of my deterioating genetic illness combined with PTSD and night terrors pushing up my blood pressure to dangerous levels temporarily.

If I was able to go, they didn't want me to anyway due to risk from infection.

My medical condition causing it was diagnosed as going into terminal stage over a year ago so I've been struggling for a very long time. When told they said a cold could see my neck fold and collapse and choke me so no chance with current virus.

As far as meds go neurologist said I must be admitted to be put on anything and them contacted first about anything I'm put on to ensure its safe for my conditions. Mental health team dismissed my condition and refused to engage with neurologist. MH say I can't really be ill if I was fostered, must just be borderline making things up. I've proven medically that's not the case but they won't have it and the neurologist doesn't have time to deal with "people like that" (he wasn't that nice about them!) so no meds.

It does sound very complicated. When did you last have any contact with a health professional?

It is. Sorry. I just need to talk about it as I can't in real life.

Saw social worker Monday, GP almost two weeks ago.

Who is your lead consultant? Did neurology really state they don't believe the MH team?

I've no consultant input anymore.

I think I've not explained clearly, sorry!

The neurologist admitted me for two weeks into a specialist unit and ran loads of tests, including for the mental illness the mh team claimed caused me to "want to be ill" (I forget the exact diagnosis, not borderline something else). The MH team told neurologist he was wrong and it was impossible. He sent them medical proof and evidence and they dismissed it - he's the medical lead in my condition in Northern Europe; his colleague which diagnosed another related condition had the same credentials but MH team refused to accept either diagnosis insisting I wanted to be medically ill. They wouldn't change direction at all despite evidence.

Mental health consultant discharged when meds were stopped and mindfullness didn't work.

There is a crisis textline you can contact 85258 to get support

Thank you I'll look into that!

i was discharged from secondary mental health services in January - didn’t get the letter til. April and when i did it was fabrication from start to finish.

i had 3 emergency re-referrals to the access & assessment team who gatekeep secondary services. refused every time.

i also have physical health issues and am on strong painkillers and immune-suppressing meds, which doesn’t help. poor physical health can make everything seem so much worse on a bad day.

but. i have all my medication (all 19 items!) on repeat and have never had a problem getting them. i know doctors’ surgeries are a nightmare presently, but could you keep trying, and speak to the prescriber/mental health link worker to try and get on top of this?

it isn’t fair that the mentally ill have to work so hard to get help. and then when you seek help, you’re classed as independent and having ‘insight’ and are turned away yet again.

OP, if nothing else works, you should contact your MP. i’m sure MIND will have info on how to do this and may advocate for you.

i really do wish you well. stay safe.

I collect ten items on daily prescription but it isn't for mental health; and that currently I'd hugely difficult as collection us triggering PTSD so I'm missing some days. I can't have more than that prescribed. The meds offered by MH aren't safe - bnf states that's the case for MH conditions and no pharmacist would allow me to have them (before I got them from hospital pharmacy and was forced to pay private fees - last ones via GP were refused on grounds they weren't safe (another row) . I was forced to choose between specialist in London and local MH team who said I'd be fine but dismissed my medical needs.

I've been discharged several times on the say so of people I've never met or not seen in years.

I guess I don't understand the problem. My physical Drs never fought or had issue with diagnoses when I had them. I gave them details and specialist notes job done.

Very rude of me to ask, by but are you at risk of overdose? When we discharge patients where their is a medication risk carers can dispense from a locked box. Daily trips to pharmacy must be ridiculous for you and so expensive for NHS!

Do you have to physically go in yourself?