Can you discharge yourself from CMHT

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Is it possible to discharge yourself from CMHT? I want to be discharged but am not being despite no engagement for ages, I’ve asked to be discharged, why am I not being? Someone not in CMHT said about duty of care, but I don’t get that? I’m not under a CTO so surely it’s voluntary? I don’t understand

I have bipolar

Why do you need to be discharged if they are not engaging with you?

I’m not engaging with them. I just want to be free of MH services & a life without CMHT.

Well they are probably concerned about the fact that you are not engaging with them so they won’t discharge you.
Are you taking your medication?

Maybe, guess that makes sense. Yes, I am taking it.

Thank you

It is usually best to play along with them as much as you can as they like to be in control. Have you had problems with keeping stable in the recent past?

I have had a bad episode recently so maybe that’s why? Would they want however much stability first do you think?

Yes, it is understandable then that they would want to feel confident that you had recovered from the recent bad episode before discharging you. So best to try to engage with them if you can for a while.
Do you find them difficult to deal with?

Yes definitely. I don’t like being in the system. I’ve refused contact before & been discharged but I guess was stable for longer then

I know what you mean. It is horrible not having control over your own life but they must be concerned about you as NHS MH resources are so stretched.

In my experience CMHTs are very quick to discharge people for lack of engagement. Obviously you can refuse to engage and request discharge, might be worth a chat with them first though about what they can offer you and if they feel there is a purpose for still being under them.

I was very unwell & have only just got stable. I feel fine now though & just don’t want to be in the system.

It depends though so OP needs to be careful. I have been accused of having fluctuating capacity due to lack of engagement and referred for assessment under the MH act.

I disengaged for a very long time, asked to be discharged, wasn’t, got very unwell, had help, feel better, want to be discharged again, but they won’t

Thank you. I just feel better when not under them

If I’m stable I like to be out of CMHT

well you should be able to understand their concern then as you got unwell last time you thought you were well enough to be discharged 😀

Fair point 🙂 that was different though, although I get they may not realise that!

It does seem like they go against what the patient wants though. When I was in hospital they were discharging people who wanted to stay in but they sectioned me when I wanted to leave.

Why was it different last time to now?

I get that though

Have you put it in writing? That’s what I did when I discharged myself in 2023 and they sent me back a letter saying I was officially discharged a couple of weeks later. I totally get not wanting to be under their care, I am thinking of discharging myself again, would like 2025 to be a fresh start away from mental health services in my life.

I think the biggest issue for people who have bipolar disorder is stopping medication and the biggest reason people stop is because they feel much better.

I guess the concern might be that if you believe you don't need CMHT because you are newly stable you may at some point also think you don't need your meds.

Do you know what caused you to get very unwell last time?

I have been stable for four years and they keep seeing me every six months. I don't understand why they don't discharge me.