"Navigating the Mental Health Pathway"

Over the past five-ish years, my journey through the mental health services has been challenging. I’ve found myself moving through many parts of the system, from primary care to neighbourhood mental health teams and even early intervention services. It has often felt like being passed from one team to another, with little to no sense of continuity or progress.

Time and time again, I’ve encountered the same frustrating outcome: being told that my situation is either too complex or, paradoxically, not complex enough and then being discharged to another team or practitioner. This constant cycle of referrals, assessments, and waiting has been exhausting. While I did receive some treatment at one point, it didn’t fully address my more severe symptoms, such as hallucinations. Over time, these repeated experiences have taken a toll on my mental health, feeling as though I am beyond help, and due to the delay in support, I do think my symptoms have exacerbated since I first reached out for help all those years ago.

It’s been disheartening to see that the issues I’ve faced are not about the dedication or expertise of the staff, but rather about the limitations and fragmentation of the system itself. There are gaps in the stepped care model, and it’s far too easy for people like me to fall through them.

At one point, I heard of a specialist team that supports people with complex presentations, particularly those linked to personality disorders. When I approached my GP about this, they hadn’t even heard of the team and asked me how to make the referral! Eventually, I was referred back to the same mental health teams in which they offered some treatment options, but only if I had a confirmed diagnosis, which I didn’t have at the time. Receiving that diagnosis later was bittersweet; it was validating to finally have a name for what I’d been living with, but also painful to see it made official.

Through all of this, two people have made a profound difference in my journey: Kate (Health and Wellbeing Lead) and Dominic (Senior Mental Health Practitioner). My experiences with them have been truly transformative for me, inspiring me to write this in the first place. I was hesitant at first, fearing that I might face bias or judgment based on past negative experiences I've had when I had mixed work with my mental health difficulties. Instead, they met me with empathy and understanding.

Bringing this story back to the present day, I am finally making progress in getting the support I need to bring stability back into my life. Kate took the time to listen to my story, validated my experiences, and immediately set things in motion to help break this cycle. Dominic has always been just a phone call away, keeping me updated on each new step and inspiring hope in me that I genuinely thought I had lost. Together, Kate and Dominic helped me feel seen, valued, and understood.

So thank you; I truly mean it. Even when it’s hard to stay positive, I’m so grateful for the hope and kindness you’ve shown me. You really do make a difference, and you’ve been that little light I needed in what’s often felt like a long, dark journey through the system.