My husband has been in the mental health system for around 20 years.
He has been treated for depression & anxiety and has also made three attempts on his life as he does not want to live a life with how he feels.
He has been referred up to our local mental health unit twice. Once they spoke to him on the telephone but never saw him, the second time around six months ago they saw him for an assessment and then sent him away with some forms to fill in. He returned completed forms.
An appointment arrived which was attended and was asked the usual questions about his mental health, how he was feeling, what he was struggling with, medication etc……..
Asked if he had filled in the forms he said yes. Once via email from the doctor's referral and then again from his first assessment, both can’t be found, sent away again with form and said he would be sent another appointment.
Next appointment arrives and attended and form returned which they flicked though and said they would go through later and assess.
Said they would not look at a change to medication at this point. Said they would not look at formal diagnosis at this point as was going to make a referral for an assessment that could take 6 months - two years for.
We left expecting another appointment. A phone call was made to my husband at a very low point and he remembers very little of and after he was very distressed saying he had been signed off. A letter arrives a few weeks later with some recommendations. No follow up appointment.
I contacted mental health unit asking for a phone call, nothing. Again contacted them for a phone call, nothing. So I called them to be told his clinician had left on maternity leave and the secretary for the consultant was on holiday. Was told I would have a call back.
A week later I had a call back and was told it had taken so long due to GDPR rules.
Went through all the issues and was told I would get a call back later. Call back made and they got him an appointment.
Seen today and went through things and how he felt eg suicidal etc
Asked again about form……..does anyone follow things up or are they just forgotten? Said that there is intense therapy but again a long waiting list and he needs to be seen again. When will they see him? An appointment in 3 months.
Where is the mental health support? Where is the help? It feels like they just wish to blame it on anything!
"Where is the mental health support?"
About: Millbrook Mental Health Unit Millbrook Mental Health Unit NG17 4JT
Posted by Sam726 (as ),
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