NHS mental health "services"

[Shehasadiamondinthesky]

The worst thing ever. I've not trusted anyone my whole life. Its part of complex trauma. Haven't trusted anyone or asked for help.
Finally decided it was time to change and asked for help via NHS where to cut a long story short was re-traumatised and then dumped to to staff shortages.
Had a chat with the lead NHS psychaitrist the other day and she said they shouldn't have done any of the things they did prior to ending my treatment as it's caused further severe trauma and trust issues.
Luckily for me I've had a significant pay rise at work and can now afford private treatment so I'm going to do that.
I'm disgusted though, I work in the NHS and do my absolute best to treat people with dignity and give them the treatment they deserve.
You just can't mess about with peoples mental health like this - it can and does cause suicides.

I had the same experience. Was supposed to have 6 sessions of counselling but on the 4th session I disclosed that I had been sexually abused as a child, first time I ever told anyone.

I was called an hour later by my therapists supervisor and told that no further sessions would be offered as they 'don't deal with that sort of thing.' I never saw the therapist again although he did phone to ask if I was OK.

Was also told that they wouldn't accept people with suicidal thoughts due to liability and referred me to secondary care. I had 4 psychiatrist assessments over the course of a year, left for mo ths in between with no contact. Then covid hit and I was discharged because I didn't have any private space to do phone appointments. No option to wait until things had calmed down. Either do it now over phone or be discharged.

I'm with a private therapist now and a 18 months in, I'm finally starting to trust that he won't abandon me if I tell him something big. I can't really afford it but if I hadn't I'd be dead.

The standard of MH treatment on the NHS is appalling.

The standard of NHS mh care pre covid was bad now its even worse.
In early 2019 I was referred for treatment of ptsd (caused by NHS) I still haven't had treatment and am told it will be 12-18 months yet. In the meantime they said they'd give me some support (had two phone calls and then they didn't call again even though they'd planned to). Gp referred me to a charity for some cbt, I was refused as too complex. I'm OK because I know to ring my GP if I'm bad but how many people on the waiting list will cause themselves harm waiting? When I spoke to the psychologist she actually asked me to make a formal complaint - its not the staffs fault its a policy/managment/under funding issue.

Shocking stories. I'm so sorry you and I went through that.

Good thread, just wanted to add my tuppence worth!

I'm sure there are some great therapists and psychiatrists who work for the NHS but sadly these stories don't surprise me. The system is based on avoiding culpability and is too focussed on applying labels and prescribing drugs manufactured by big pharma.

I’m sorry to hear these horrendous experiences. They should never happen. A lot of the services are under ridiculously extreme pressure caused by the double whammy of criminal under-funding and a mind-blowing surge in referrals.

My own experience recently has been overall good. After 20 years of sporadic periods of severe clinical depression (mostly under GP, spells under different CMHT’ around the country) I became gravely unwell with a more severe MH condition at the end of last year/early this year. I’ve been put under a phenomenal psychiatrist, assigned a CPN, had crisis team involvement when needed, was found an inpatient bed immediately even at 1am when I needed one urgently, treated with unbelievable compassion & dignity whilst on the ward, have met lovely people in the team, and am monitored regularly. I feel a bit of a fraud as I know there are people far more in need than me. I’m a MH professional myself, and work with people who share my diagnosis but who are in nursing care homes for life as a result. Even they don’t get the kind of help I’ve been given. Perhaps this is because I work in a different area to where I live, so I come under a different (better) CMHT. The CMHT where I work is in special measures and groaning under the weight of a system not fit for purpose.

I am sorry you have had a bad experience. A lot of people also have a good one too, but the ones that have suffered are the ones to take to social media about it... so then people think NHS MH services are shit.. when the truth is they have saved a lot of lives, and got a lot of people on the track to recovery.
Am not invaliding your own experience at all. I hope you get he help you need.

Glad to hear a positive story @MuckyPlucky

I take your point @XenoBitch I guess part of the problem is that no one wants to have to use mental health services and any interaction with them is going to happen at a very vulnerable time. I've just become disillusioned at the lack of a holistic approach but certainly not doubting the compassion that many professionals do have.