"Crisis care from crisis team"

My experience of the crisis team has been so awful. A few years ago when I was referred to them a member of the crisis team came into my flat, stayed less than five minutes, told me it was my fault I'd been raped, that God still loves you and then they left me sobbing and completely distraught. I wrote feedback at the time to the manager but no one contacted me or had anything to say about the way she treated me. I thought after that I would never use them again.

However to avoid being sectioned I agreed to work with them. They arrive, spend less than five minutes in my flat and go through a tick box check list - appetite, sleep, suicidal ideation, but don't care about what your answers are. I tried to tell them how acutely suicidal I've been feeling, but they said because I haven't attempted suicide this time I am "low risk" even though I've had several previous very serious suicide attempts in the past which were nearly fatal. Instead of supporting me with suicide prevention, it feels invalidating and like they almost want you to attempt suicide to prove that you are actually suicidal, never mind if the consequences are fatal.

There are often only male staff on the crisis line at night and for a woman who has been raped talking to a man isn't going to help. Also they only want to know your personal information to log you called, they don't let you talk about feelings or what is going on for you. Have a bath, go for a walk (even if it is 2am) and take medication are the three stock responses to anything you say. Sometimes just a short conversation and someone listening with some compassion and care would be helpful. Any contact I've had with the crisis line has been literally less than a 5 minute phone call.

I think that all crisis line staff need to do Samaritans or similar training as it feels like there is a huge lack of compassion, listening skills or empathy. Tick box check lists and paperwork aren't helpful. Asking someone if they have plans to kill themselves as they are already walking out the door isn't helpful. Telling someone that because they haven't actually killed themselves yet, means they are doing well isn't helpful.

If someone is asking a crisis team for help it is because they need help. Don't invalidate, or refuse to offer support because someone hasn't yet attempted suicide, especially if their last suicide attempt was nearly fatal and resulted in long-term damage. Surely prevention of suicide should be the aim and helping support someone before it gets that bad.