"One of the worst examples of mental health care"

I was hopeful when I contacted the Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service and given an appointment. Sadly, my experience was disappointing and very worrying. My appointment was with a man who seemed the entire time to read from a script and whose chief point was that I did not qualify within the 'range' for depression. I'm curious about this range given the symptoms I clearly explained, and the nature of my issues, which are both fairly consistent with depression. The issue with a cookie-cutter approach to a complex mental health issue is best explained by the counsellor asking me how many times I cried in a week and concluding that it was not enough times to be depression! Sadly, he seemed both unwilling and unable to help further and when I explained I did not feel ready to be discharged, simply took me around in circles asking what I wanted from him and sidestepping the obvious cry for help by stating again that I did not meet the criteria for help. I hope these phone and written records of the conversations are kept, because without a doubt they will in the future form grounds for action against Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service and the National Health Service (this form doesn't allow acronyms) as knowingly minimising patient symptoms and refusing to help, as well as potentially worsening patients' mental health, all seem like actively detrimental patient care. I left the call and burst into tears, unable to believe the state of this service and the audacity to offer themselves as an option when patients will, if anything, be left worse off. The counselors need to be audited, I find it hard to believe mine understood the rudiments of empathy. On reflection, I don't believe he had any range of life experience and simply read from a sheet of paper or a website, often telling me he was doing so, and did not understand the complexity of feelings a failing marriage can bring to the table. In conclusion, going by my experience, an extraordinary poor service staffed by, at least on one occasion, counsellors who are unfit to assist anyone even at a basic level. I greatly recommend you avoid this service.