"Failed to be effective in a crisis"

After having been referred to the Crisis Team some months earlier and given a telephone number to call in times of mental instability or acute crisis, I did exactly that. I telephoned the number and the results of this were disatersrtrous.

The first time, I actually was connected, I heard a telly in the background and asked whether the person answering was, indeed, watching TV.

Click! The call was disconnected immediately!

I then phoned another four times, each time of which the call was not answered and rang out.

The last time I called the call was answered by an assistant - extremely concerned and friendly - but, alas, had no knowledge WHATEVER of how to deal with mentally ill patients, let alone a crisis.

This number, regardless of what you are told, will not be helpful to you, you will feel worse after trying this service. If you are in crisis CALL 999

DO NOT CALL THE CRISIS TEAM IN A CRISIS!!

GO TO A&E!