If you are depressed and have an NHS psychiatrist how often do you see them?

[SundaeSunday100]

After 20 years+ of depression which my GP handled terribly, he finally agreed to refer me to an NHS psychiatrist.

So far, I've been seen 3 times in 2 years (each time by a different person). Is this normal to be seen so infrequently?

Its frustrating being seen so infrequently when I know pretty quickly that what they've prescribed for me isn't a a good match and I then have to wait months to be prescribed something else to try.

The psychiatrists do talk about seeing me more frequently or to contact their secretary if there is a problem with my medication, but despite numerous calls I've still only managed to get 3 appointments in 2 years.

Thanks everyone for posting. It seems that there are quite a lot of us who aren't getting regular appointments. Its such a shame that we are not getting the help we need and is it makes life so very difficult.

@Musicaltheatremum, I'm very impressed that as a GP you contact a psychiatrist for advice. It's great that you do that and I wish more GPs would. Mine was very dismissive of my symptoms and resistant to prescribing me anything other than SSRIs. Not a great approach when I have a long history of failed SSRI treatment!

I used to see a psychiatrist every 6 to 8 weeks before covid (cmht) however over a 2 year period I must have seen 9 or 10 different psychiatrists. Got discharged during covid about 10 weeks after I nearly got admitted as an in patient because they decided I was "coping". I presume that translates as not enough staff, too many referrals and need to bin a bunch of people off the lists. My then 5 year old son got the same from the eye clinic around the same time period.

I can't take SSRIs as they make me very ill so I've basically given up seeking medical assistance with my mental health. Diagnosed with ptsd, depression and gad.

Op within the nhs you'll be under a psychiatrist in the cmht (community mental health team) and it is common to only see your psyc maybe once every 6 months or so for a medication review. Psychiatrists are only there for medication and diagnosis so the treatment you are receiving sounds about right for a nhs service xx

I was referred in Dec 2019.

My first appointment was by phone at the end of March 2020. For about a year I had a phone appointment every 4-6 weeks; then it dropped to every 10-12 weeks, with the same Psych, who was bloody brilliant.

Since February - when my Psych left - I’ve had just one phone call, seven out of eight of my controlled meds prescriptions have been incorrect, and they’re awful to sort out as they’re hand written - so a new one has to be written, collected by me and then given to the Pharmacy.

The fact that they now demand I collect my scripts rather than them posting out really fucks me off - in 2.5 years I’ve not had a single face to face appointment, but I’m expected to trek 45 mins on 2 buses to collect a script that the Pharmacy has found an error with almost every time since my original Psych left.

I have CPTSD and ADHD - and take 4 controlled medications. 3 of them are dangerous to miss a dose of - think potential for seizures, horrific physical side effects - the other one massively effects my ability to function.

I was referred as my GP (who did her first degree in Neuroscience) was almost certain I didn’t have “just” depression and anxiety and that it was more likely CPTSD and some form of Neurodiversity. She was correct.

It only took me 16 years of begging other GPs for help, being put on countless meds that did fuck all beneficial and only made me worse mentally, one caused serious physical health issues too.

CMHT. Admittedly I’m very high functioning under their terms as I’ve recently completed a MRed immediately after doing an BSc as a single parent to three; but it doesn’t mean I’m not fucking suffering, I have to function the way I do otherwise what happens to my children?!

only once

Not seen mine in nearly 3 years. She couldn't give a fuck. Crisis team don't want to know either despite having made a suicide attempt in that time. I don't lie either, I'm fully intending to do it again and this time I'll get it right and I've told them that. They told me to take a warm bath and go to bed.

My therapist has even tried to call them as he is desperately worried but they could not care less.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils so sorry to hear that. There does seem to be a fixation within the NHS (especially at the GP level) on SSRIs. I also can't take them due to the side-effects and they don't work on me anyway. But I keep on being offered them and told "this one will be different", but of course it never is! I've had better experiences with zyban, TCAs and MAOI inhibitors but they've all been prescribed privately and in my experience GPs won't prescribe them and want to push me back onto yet another SSRI.

@YellowPlumbob so sorry to hear that. It sounds absolutely horrific. The NHS is shockingly bad for mental health. And that's ridiculous they can't even get the prescriptions right and you have to pick them up on. Must be awful, as I know when you have a mental health condition seemingly small things like picking up prescriptions can require Herculean amounts of effort and mental energy. And I completely relate to what you say about being deemed "high functioning" but suffering greatly.

@Notanotherwindow Gosh that's really awful. And saying a warm bath and going to bed???? That's so patronising. If only it was that easy! I'm glad at least your therapist is on-board, but given the level of your depression you clearly need decent medication. I really hope things get better for you.

I haven’t seen my psychiatrist for three years! Going to see one privately in a couple of weeks because I’m so tired of having phone appointments and then cancellations.

And the crisis team were useless. I knew more about my condition than they did and if they’d said ‘mindfulness’ one more time I was going to scream. After a week in an NHS psychiatric locked ward I vowed I would never, ever, allow them to admit me again. It was hell and I’d have felt safer sleeping under a motorway bridge🤷‍♀️

I saw my psychiatrist every 3 months, but my primary diagnoses is EUPD. I don't know many people with depression who are under CMHT or even any sort of psych care.... most were just under GP.

It is rare to being under a psychiatrist for depression. The primary function of psychiatrist is to diagnose and to prescribe medication. They also do mental health reviews. They don't usually offer regular ongoing session. You may have been seen by a junior doctor or trainee. They only stay in placement for a period of time before moving on to their next placement.