To be sad that gp was like to dd trigger warning suicide

[User26272]

Dd recently took an overdose won’t say on what. She had a telephone call with a gp. He told her to think of her family and also told her gave her some very graphic affects rather than just saying for example it could affect you liver. She’s upset that he had no empathy for her in such a sensitive situation.

I’m sorry your daughter is in such a bad place.

Has she had any proper support? Who is involved with her mental health care?

I think it's important that the GP was honest with your daughter. She needs to know the full impact of what she was planning to do so that she could make a fully informed decision.

Did the GP also offer to refer her for theraputic support?

No nothing he’s referred her to the mental health team but not as an urgent referral.

I think your daughter being given some medical facts is what a GP is for, you can't just sympathise when someone has poisoned themselves, there are risks and symptoms she needs to be aware of. I do hope she was referred to a service that does provide support for her mental health though?

Hi OP

We're so sorry for what you're going through, and for what your daughter is going through.

We find that AIBU can be a robust area of the site and we don't think it's suitable for this particular topic. We're going to move your thread over to our mental health section now.

I think the gp was right to point out that the dangers of overdosing arent just about death. "Affect your liver" is an dangerous understatement. I hope your dd gets the support she needs.

@User26272 - I'm sorry for what your DD and you are going through right now, but maybe you are misdirecting your general sadness about your DD's attempt? Your DD was obviously in a bad place before the GP call, so maybe focus your effort on helping her rather than blaming the GP for giving frank medical advice.

He was telling her the truth. I know someone who took pills, then had second thoughts and called for help. She survived, but ended up spending quite some time in hospital, and for a while we weren't sure how much damage had been done. It's important information.

Just to reiterate that this seems to be a standard response from GP's which I've experienced myself. It doesn't feel that compassionate but presumably something they are trained to do. I hope your daughter and you get the help you need x

Non-urgent referral following a suicide attempt seems odd.

Can you ask to see another GP?

Has anyone from CAHMS phoned you? I would expect a call - which will be another assessment - in days.

CAHMS are underfunded but move quickly in cases like your child's.

Tbf she was completely wasting his time by refusing to tell him what she had taken and in his situation I might not have had much empathy either.

Did she actually tell him in the end? Because usually in that situation if they don't know what you've taken but do believe you've taken something, they will send you to A&E.

Whether you go there under your own steam or in the back of a police car is up to you but by hook or by crook, you go, especially a minor. If he's just left it at that with a non urgent referral then I'd say he is confident that she hasn't actually overdosed on anything and that is likely why he was stern with her for wasting his time.

@LilyMumsnet why was this post allowed with method mentioned, whereas you have deleted many of mine with the same content?

Sorry but why does the doctor need to show your DD empathy? I think they were absolutely right to point out the potential side effects of her attempted overdose.
I really, really hope she gets the help she needs though as this must be an awful time for you and the rest of her loved ones.
I wish you all well.

I'm actually really shocked by the responses to this post.

The poster has a daughter who has taken an overdose.

I'll repeat that: the poster has a daughter who has taken an overdose.

How would you feel if you were her?

How would you speak to a friend?

I'm really not surprised she hasn't returned.
The thread is also extremely unhelpful for anyone else doing a search because they are in a similar situation.

I would guess the poster feels quite overwhelmed. We're in the middle of a pandemic. It's hard to find support at the best of times - but right now, it's awful.
It's hard to know what to do. It's incredibly worrying. It's hard to know how to find help.

People's attitudes towards suicide attempts can be vile. 'Time wasting'. What would be people prefer? A successful suicide attempt?

Support and empathy cost nothing. Advice about how to navigate the CAMHS system and narratives from those with similar situations would be even better.

My guess is that the poster is in quite a horrible psychological place right now. One that most of us hope never to find ourselves in.

She really doesn't need us adding to that.