"Out of hours mental health support"

I was assessed by the unscheduled care team at Whytemans Brae Hospital. I wish I'd never bothered, as it did significantly more harm than good. I walked in feeling extremely scared, hopeless, and that I’m beyond any help. The response and attitude from the staff member amplified this further. I’d completely withdrawn from friends/ family and participating in life. I foolishly thought that mental health services in NHS Fife could and would help. Getting out my bed, washing, dressing and walking out my front door for the first time in weeks to attend the appointment was a big deal.

The nurse who assessed me presented as dismissive and extremely cold. There was no warmth, kindness or compassion shown whatsoever. They spoke in a very direct and blunt manner, including when they raised my experiences of historic childhood sexual abuse. There was no sensitivity in their robotic/ business-like question style and it was highly distressing. Yet they kept on digging. I answered the nurse's questions truthfully, and this felt exposing and shameful. No words of comfort, reassurance or a basic tissue were offered.

The only words offered at the end of the appointment were that I was free to go, and they will write to my GP. I didn’t attend the appointment looking to be admitted to hospital, I attended because I was scared and wanted to stop things from getting even worse. I was attempting to connect with another human being (given I’d shut myself off from the world) and get some emotional support. Ideally, with some sort of plan to help get me through this.

Instead, I walked out the door (in the middle of the night) terrified because one of the most obvious places to turn to for help (which I thought was the NHS) had basically left me on my own with how I was feeling. This is confusing, because every piece of information on the internet and mental health campaign etc, encourages individuals to reach out for help and support during times of crisis.

If there was someone else with me during that appointment (e.g. a family member or NHS senior manager) I highly doubt the interaction would have been the same.

I feel there is no point in making a formal complaint, because I can only anticipate the comments that would be bandied about. I already feel that it’s me who is the problem - a time waster, a nuisance, an irritation and that I’m badly behaved for asking for help and taking up the service's time.