A&E is useless and so is GP

[iloveallthis]

Just wondering if anyone struggling with mental health has found actual help. Three different SSRI's haven't worked. Neither has counselling.

Would a consultation with a psychiatrist hopefully lead to a recommendation for a psychologist?

A psychiatrist is going to have a mental illness/drug treatment/diagnosis perspective. A clinical psychologist (the type you need) will have a talking therapy approach and can’t diagnose or prescribe. Both can be useful, and would often refer on to the other kind. NHS MH teams have both professions in them usually.

GPs can absolutely prescribe SNRIs, which I’ve found to be brilliant and also at least two other types, including bupropion off license - called Wellbutrin and licensed in US for depression disorders but manly used for stop smoking here. All info on NHS site

I think you need both.

Multi discipline team to work together.

I'd also look at counselling psychologist rather than clinical. Equally qualified but in my experience way better at therapy.

@sixtyandsomething not quite right. Psychiatrist is a medical doctor. Psychologist has a PhD in clinical psychology.

It's the terms therapists/counsellors/wellbeing coaches etc that aren't regulated.

An actual clinical psychologist is really valuable. A counsellor or something wouldn't be suitable for this

Thank you. I’ll check out the NHS site. Can I just ask you a personal question though? Why do you find SNRIs brilliant? I ask because I’ve tried quite a few SSRIs and they made me so ill, both physically and mentally, and I really need to find something I can take. It’s fine if you’d rather not answer.

No, this isn't correct.
A psychiatrist is a medically qualified doctor who has undergone specialist post graduate training. One of their primary roles is medication optimisation
A psychologist (as opposed to a counsellor) is someone with a psychology degree and a 3 year post graduate clinical training. They are highly skilled and would use talking therapies.
Sounds like both may be of value.

If you can afford it, find a private psychiatrist for review of mental health, diagnosis and medication. They may also recommend which form of therapy would be best. Then see a private clinical psychologist for some form of therapy. If the difficulties are related to a traumatic incident it might be that trauma focussed CBT or EMDR is indicated. Unfortunately psychiatrists and clinical psychologists are both very expensive but the NHS is a mess and waiting lists for everything are incredibly long. Once she makes it to mental health service there will likely be further waiting lists for any therapy. The only way to bypass waiting seems to be if you've actually made a serious attempt to end your life.