"Single Point of Access - Sheffield is not fit for purpose"

I have had multiple interactions with SPA Sheffield over the past 8 years. None of them have been helpful, but the most notable are below:

In 2021, I rang the emergency our-of hours line. No-one answered and an automated recording told me to leave a message. I left a message explaining that I was in the middle of a mental health crisis at home alone with my 16 month old child and I didn't feel safe. The police ended up attending at my address after a third party called for a welfare check. I didn't get a response from the Crisis Team until 14 hours after I left my message.

In 2022, I was referred to the Crisis Team for a psychiatric assessment. I was put on a waiting list with a time estimate of 5 months. 9 months went by and I phoned to ask why I hadn't received an appointment letter yet. I was told I had been 'lost in the system'. I then received an appointment, which I was led to believe was with a psychiatrist. When I attended for said appointment, it wasn't with a psychiatrist at all, it was with a lower-level mental health clinician. They were of zero help whatsoever and, in fact, made me feel worse. I explained my 18 years of mental health history and the recent traumatic events that had resulted in symptoms of PTSD and severe depression, amongst other things. Instead of hearing me, they continued to push the narrative that there was "something I was hiding about my childhood". They didn't acknowledge anything I was saying. I eventually became hysterically upset because the clinician would not accept that my childhood was not the root of my illness. I was told they would pass my notes to the psychiatrist for their opinion.

I received a phone call a couple of weeks later to say that the psychiatrist felt they did not need to see me, as they could not diagnose Autism or ADHD and I needed to be referred for those assessments with the specialist services. I told the clinician at the appointment that I was already on those waiting lists. There was absolutely no follow up regarding my difficulties with PTSD or depression or my plea for some kind of therapy or regular support.

It is now 2023 and I am yet again dealing with complete apathy and indifference from SPA Sheffield. I went to my GP on Tuesday following severe symptoms of a mental health crisis. She referred me urgently to SPA and wanted them to see me as soon as possible, as she had serious concerns for my safety. On Wednesday, SPA attempted to call me, but I was asleep. I called them back as soon as I woke up. There was no-one available to take the call and they said they would pass a message on that I'd called. An hour went by and I called again. At that point I spoke to a mental health nurse and explained all over again why I had been referred and what was happening. They then asked me what help I wanted from them. As a mental health service, full of mental health professionals, should it not be them telling me how they can help me given that I am in crisis and have barely managed to get myself out of bed and ring them? I told them that at this stage, I'll take literally any help anyone can provide because it would be better than the zero help I've had for the past few years. I was told they would speak to the team and call me back on the Thursday. Thursday comes and goes with no call. So today, Friday, I call in the afternoon on the instruction of my GP. I explain I was referred urgently and I haven't had a call back when I was supposed to. The person who answered my call tells me that they can see that an email has been sent asking for someone to call me urgently but they just haven't got round to it yet. I explain that my GP wanted something to be put in place to keep me safe over the weekend. The person says she will put a note on my file that I've called, but she can't guarantee anyone will get in touch with me before the weekend.

It is difficult enough, when you are at absolute breaking point and a risk to yourself, to go and ask for someone to help you. To be treated with such indifference when you do ask for help, is just shattering. I honestly feel at this point that there is no help out there, it feels easier to be swallowed by crisis and resolve it in your own way, than to exhaust yourself chasing help that seemingly, doesn't exist. It truly seems that you're not considered to be in crisis, or worthy of help, until you wind up in A&E seriously injured or unwell, which is exactly what I am trying to avoid by asking for intervention before I reach that point. I have found dealing with SPA Sheffield is demoralising, dehumanising & exacerbates the hopelessness & loneliness of being in mental health crisis.