Questions when trying to get help for mental health

[blubberball]

I went on to NHS because I'm struggling with my mental health, and they put you through to like an AI multiple choice form. The only option I could select was female (including trans woman). I couldn't just put female. Then it wants me to select pronouns from a list. I had to Google some of these words, because I had never heard of them in my life. Some of them come from you might be an alien, and some of them mean you might be a fairy. Sorry, but what is actually going on? I've never met any one insisting that they're an alien or a fairy, but I think all logic might have gone out the window. Is it just me being a massive bigot?

I think mental health support should be available to everyone. If offering those options helps some people feel comfortable then fair enough.
You dont have to agree with it or think about it. Just ignore it if it isnt relevant to you.

Thank you

I think mental health support should be available to everyone.

... Including people who are in mental distress and don't want to google pretend pronouns?

What about people who are in psychosis and may be confused or reinforced in delusion when they see the NHS validating terms implying an alien identity?

I think for me, it would have been better if I could have just typed in my answers instead of it being multiple choice. Presumably they haven't covered all the pronouns there, or have they?

Apart from anything else, the form is probably in breach of data protection law if it collects information which it has no legitimate purpose for storing. What is the purpose of storing the info that I am either (a) a woman or (b) a man with a trans identity? It can't help them with their monitoring obligations under equality law because it conflates two protected characteristics. And it can't assist with the allocation of same-saex services. So what is it actually for?

Additionally, what is the info about neopronouns for? Do they really expect health professionals, when discussing a patient's needs with colleagues, to say things like "Aer depression is generally worse in the mornings" or Faer anti-depressants need increasing"? If not, why are they allowed to store this gratuitous info?

It all seems to be AI now. I clicked through a load of terms and conditions I was too distressed to read. Then they send you an AI app, and I assume that I'm on some kind of waiting list to get help from an actual professional human being. The AI app is really crap. I found it overwhelming and creepy.

I’m so sorry you’re struggling. There are some excellent books and podcasts out there which might help. The nhs used to use (and may still?) a series of cbt books called “over coming <enter the thing> which might help whilst you’re waiting?

I agree that the pronoun thing is embarrassing infantilising and slightly creepy Bs

Thank you. What podcasts do you recommend please? Podcasts and audiobooks are the most accessible to me

I suppose it depends on the specific issue?

Is it anxiety, low mood, confidence, depression?

One of the older trans support charities did long forgotten research into the impact on wives many years ago. This research has long been forgotten because of the astronomical rate of psychological crisis it revealed in transwidows.

Of course no such further research has been repeated. If it was I'm sure it would come back with some interesting results.

There is a very compelling reason why we should not be forcing fake pronouns onto anyone. If we are arguing that these forms and questions are triggering, we should be considering whether that is the case for just transpeople. It is not.

I already have trust issues with HCPs. I have a particular family history which doesn't fit the NHS approved narrative due to negative experiences. So all these requests do is continue to serve to undermine my trust issues.

It is biased and not patient focused. Because patient focused means you would be considering all patients. Not just push a particular political agenda.

If you can't trust the NHS on basics how can you trust them on anything? This is the problem.

Move along, nothing to see here. The entire concept of sex, and women's existence as a sex class is being eroded, but it doesn't matter. The important thing is we affirm the delusions and fantasies of people who are unwell.

Yes, all of those at once

I’ll come back to this later if you can bare to wait.

I know you said books aren’t your thing but just parking the overcoming list here (I’m annoyed that it’s not as easy to find them anymore.)

https://readingagency.org.uk/get-reading/our-programmes-and-campaigns/reading-well/reading-well-for-mental-health/

Actually, I can recommend the just one thing series that Michael Mosely did on bbc radio 4 before he died. There’s a huge list but some covered mental health, specifically diet and exercise things. You only need to try ONE of them though!

But cbt methods can also be effective, it’s finding the right one.

Oh yes, I think that I know the series you mean. I have a lot of his books as I have type 2 diabetes as well. He seemed like a good man

Thank you 💐

The dance one iirc was a lot about mood. Most of them included a mood boost. Write it down was specifically about mood.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p09by3yy?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

I loved this audio book. But I have had previous cbt about the basics of what anxiety is and how it works. I was listening to it more because she takes a wider approach that includes exercise and also a perspective on what anxiety is for my job.

I also listened to a couple of her podcast interviews first.

She goes into a lot of the neuroscience behind it all.

Where a therapist would help is identifying what the root of your difficulties are. Eg trauma, perfectionism, disability, upbringing etc as they may do more harm than good and Cbt approaches aim to target the specific thinking processes, beliefs and ideas behind what’s affecting your mental health. Obviously some of these things are fucking hard .

My personal experience is that exercise and food can really help.

I think most people in mental distress would find it overwhelming and creepy, I've been in this position of trying to get help and getting AI bollocks instead, I also know seriously mentally ill people who've found this dehumanised 'help' counterproductive.

AI instead of human is not 'help' it's the opposite, it feels like a door being slammed in your face. You are not wrong to feel this.

Thank you. I found a podcast with her to listen to in the mean time 💐

I couldn't agree more.

I definitely think mental health support should be available for anyone who 'identifies' as a fairy. In fact I would suggest it's a matter of urgency.

transwidows most certainly will seek MH support after the abuse and trauma they’ve endured; being greeted with a wall of pronouns will certainly make their mental state worse and probably would stop any further attempts to see help via that route

I hope it helps, if not keep listening to similar podcasts.

Kimberly Wilson is now on bbc radio 4 with a series (latest one may be helpful) but she also has an independent podcast and a good instagram account too. She also researches how food can help mood.

Good point.