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"Helplessness that I couldn't even get help"

About: Adult Mental Health Crisis Services / Crisis Team Mid Notts & Bassetlaw

(as a service user),

I've been under the mental health team for over 5 years now, previously working within the care environment. I had reached a crisis point recently so needed to access the crisis line.

On calling i was given several options which sent my head into total confusion. By the time i had listened to the options i had forgot the information, confusion! Panic! And helplessness that i couldn't even get help if i needed it.  Finally and fortunately for me my husband came to the rescue to navigate this system that caused me so much anxiety that only amplified the negative thoughts going through my head.

I've finally reached a voice on the other end who then begins to reel off question after question to establish my needs to be told its not a mental health crisis i'm experiencing but a physical need so i need to speak to 111.  Believe me, it was a mental health crisis as my husband had managed to dispose of my toxic weapon i had stupidly stored up for a rainy day. The outcome could have been very different.  I sometimes wonder if the people that install and devise these systems have ever experienced or spoken to people who use them?

 Anyway, enough good use of my brain from me today, god only knows when i will need my reasoning tool again.  Could i just say "sit in our shoes for a day during a crisis".  It's like asking your pancreas  to stop being a diabetic while i eat this cream cake or stop my liver from being damaged while i drink this bottle of whisky.  I can't stop my brain from misfiring while i try to understand the information i need to access help! But i suppose it's mental health and we all have control of that...don't we?

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Responses

Response from Carla Eggleston, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 14 months ago
Carla Eggleston
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Submitted on 22/05/2024 at 13:00
Published on Care Opinion at 13:38


Thank you for posting, we take feedback very seriously and I would like to understand more about your experience. I am sorry that the Crisis telephone line caused confusion, I would be more than happy to gather more information to allow us to continue to improve access to services. Please do not hesitate to contact me via email carla.eggleston@nottshc.nhs.uk

Many thanks

Carla

Team Leader

Mid and North Notts CRHT

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