"Trying to seek mental health support"

I feel let down by the very services that are supposed to help in a time of need. Twice now I've referred myself to the local mental health service and twice I've felt let down by the way they communicate with poor regard for who they are dealing with.

In the first case I had an initial assessment and opted to seek one-on-one counselling despite the long wait because I am anxious about group sessions and from experience know that I need someone to talk to directly, rather than via online services. I finally received my appointment letter.

The letter stated that my appointment was that very same day. It was at a time that I had an important work meeting booked with many colleagues so rescheduling that was out of the question and I was critical to the conversation. The tone of the letter, despite being an appointment for someone seeking mental health support, I felt, was very threatening. It demanded I let them know with at least 48 hours notice if I couldn't make the appointment and stated that if I didn't make it I might not be offered another appointment.

At best, the letter would have been posted on the previous Thursday so there was never any chance that I would have had the time to contact them (during office hours) when they were available to reschedule.

To me this showed a shocking disregard and disrespect for me as a patient.  I felt the tone of the letter was horrible to read, at a time when I was very low, and made me feel like I was alone. I did not contact them to reschedule in the end - it felt pointless.

Just recently I referred myself for a second time as I'm struggling again after receiving an ADHD diagnosis in my late 30s.

I get really anxious about phone calls unless I know who is calling and know them well, or it's a pre-planned call. For this reason I made very clear in my self-referral, when explicitly given the option by their online form, that I wanted to be contacted by email - not phone. I made an additional comment making it very clear I am not comfortable with calls and would prefer to arrange a time to talk over email.

Today I have received a letter saying that they have tried to contact me by telephone and to, contact them on the above telephone number as soon as possible. If we do no hear from you by a certain date, that they will assume I no longer require help.

I feel ignored and that's demonstrated to me that the service that is supposed to help me can't even listen to my very clear, well stated, anxieties and accommodate them. It would not be hard to email me, I feel they explicitly ignored my request (after asking me what I would prefer!) and called instead and, when I haven't answered (because I block unknown calls) it seems they have simply decided to toss me aside if I don't make myself anxious, nervous and uncomfortable by calling them myself.

It's not good enough.