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"Lack of help for vulnerable people"

About: Social Work / Adults West (Socail Work) Social Work / Mental Health Offices (Social Work)

(as the patient),

I have a few undiagnosed issues that affect my day to day living. I get very overstimulated easy leading to panic attacks. Severe depression and a complete lack of self care (showering, clean clothes etc). My house is a bombsite and it overwhelms to the point I struggle to sort it out. I have severe anger issues resulting in several broken doors in my flat. Because of this anger I lock myself away from people as often as I can, leading to me finding it increasingly harder to go out, and when I do I'm on edge and have shouted at people and ended up fighting and being imprisoned so I don't go out because of that.

I have tried to contact social work numerous times, only to be told we can't give you an assessment unless you have a diagnosis. But I can't get a diagnosis because I'm too anxious to call me doctors or attend appointments leaving me in a horrible cycle of anxiety, rage and depression.

I had a phone call recently with social work and the member of staff I spoke to was absolutely disgusting and threatened to hang up the call several times because I was interrupting them. As I didn't feel they were listening I felt I needed to get my point across so interrupted a couple times. I then explained why I do this and that I don't mean to do it and they got very defensive and told me there's nothing social work can do for me.

I feel they are failing a very vulnerable adult in myself and it's breaking my heart and pushing me to the point of losing the plot. I don't know where to turn as I get failed at every single chance the NHS gets. They had plenty of opportunity to help me when I was younger but blamed it on learned behaviour. I know for a fact I'm neurodivergent and I need the support put in place to help me live a normal life because at the moment I'm surviving and I hate every single day.

If I could press a button and not wake up again I would. I don't feel suicidal or want to harm myself in any way, but I do feel I wish I was never born and I hate life and the way it is and the way the world is becoming. I'm becoming increasingly influenced by crazy conspiracy theories and it's warping my perception of reality and I feel like I'm losing my mind.

I don't know where to turn to as I feel I'm being shunned every chance they get and that no one cares and they want me to suffer in silence. I'm absolutely sick of seeking help and being kicked to the curb. It's embarrassing and someone needs to help me before I lose my sense of reality.

This has been an ongoing failure from me being a small child to me now being in my late 20s with zero diagnosis and still struggling daily. I was also put on for psychiatry but due to not being able to leave the house to attend appointments I was struck of and told to start again.

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Responses

Response from Julie Harris, Team Manager, Mental Health Officer (East), Fife Health and Social Care Partnership 3 weeks ago
Julie Harris
Team Manager, Mental Health Officer (East),
Fife Health and Social Care Partnership
Submitted on 09/04/2024 at 10:44
Published on Care Opinion at 10:56


I am sorry to hear that you did not have a good experience in your communications with the Social Work Contact Centre. I think it may have been because they would not have known where to direct your call without more specific information. I am also not sure from your post if you spoke with a Social Worker or a call handler. It may be the call handler was looking for specific information to advise or direct you to the right place. I will share your experience with the Contact Centre so they can consider future training needs.

I understand you are seeking a more specialist assessment. Your GP would need to make a referral for this. I do accept the difficulties this gives you considering your isolation. I would like to suggest that you contact the surgery and ask for a telephone appointment. As they have referred you already to Psychiatry, they might do so again following a phone appointment. I’m sorry this means “starting again” but it is important the right assessment and care is given as services do need to know you and the issues you experience, before the best way of supporting you is agreed.

Most health services now operate a system called ‘Near Me’. This enables face to face appointments by a link being sent to your phone. This method of contact became more popular following the pandemic. I know many individuals have successfully used this where they are unable to attend appointments in person. Unfortunately, due to many services operating waiting lists, undertaking home visits as standard is not always possible at the current time. ‘Near Me’ is easy to use and has been positively received by many. It might better allow you to engage in the process of working with health professionals.

Meantime, may I suggest you contact less formal services who may be able to support you through this process. This would also provide you the opportunity to reach out and talk. ‘Access Therapies Fife’ provides information to help deal with problems and access a range of local services. They can be contacted on 01383 565427 or Home - Access Therapies Fife NHS (scot.nhs.uk).

Also ‘On Your Doorstep Fife' https://www.onyourdoorstepfife.org/Organisation-Search?search_term=&search_category=Mental%20Health and 'The Well' https://www.fifehealthandsocialcare.org/your-community/the-well/ can help you access a range of organisations and services which you may find supportive while you seek a more formal resolution or the diagnosis you need as I know it can take some time to get this right.

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