"Given the circumstances, I couldn't have asked for better."

I had a bit of a mental health crisis (not what you might call a full suicide attempt, but there was self-harm involved and a very minor overdose).

I was physically not badly hurt or ill but was feeling very unstable and unsafe mentally, so I was taken to A&E. I was triaged very quickly and sympathetically, then had some blood tests which were again done efficiently (and I am notoriously difficult to get blood from! ) I had to wait a few hours to see a Mental Health Nurse, however during this time my fiancé and I were permitted to stay in a small private waiting room. I felt that this was a very sensitive move, as sitting in the main A&E waiting room might have added to my distress, and it gave me some privacy to talk to my partner about things.

I then spoke to the Mental Health Nurse who was on night duty (it was about 1am at this point). I sadly can't remember his name, please pass on this praise. He was absolutely brilliant - very calming, matter-of-fact, empathetic, and helped me to think a bit more positively after what had been a very distressing night. We spoke at length, and he gave me some very useful guidance and resources to look at, to make sure that I wasn't going home still agitated and upset.

Overall I was treated with a lot of empathy and kindness in A&E, which I really appreciated. Stigma and past experience with other services have tested my trust in getting appropriate mental health support before, but the treatment I received last night has helped to restore a little bit of my faith. Given the circumstances, I couldn't have asked for better.