"I have had many an experience with the drop-in centre"

I have had many an experience with the drop-in centre at Royal Edinburgh. Each time was draining. I took my son on four occasions and each time we had to wait up to four hours in the front of a building with people walking by staring and commenting. No privacy, no facilities to get a drink, nothing. Eventually someone comes out and asks you to go home and return tomorrow or they move u to an other room to wait for more hours. It took me a long time to decide to go there after a recommendation from crises centre. Each time was the same. Awful treatment, awful setup.

The mental health system is shocking I had no idea just how bad it was and I work in social care.

I also took my sister who was at rock bottom and the same procedure, only this time we left as her kids were left at home for hours as we waited to be seen for four hours. Not a good setup. My sister was home for a year and a half with family caring for her every need until finally sectioned and spent 8 months in Royal Ed. She managed to sustain three fractures during her stay. She has been home now for four months and depression has returned. What to do I ask myself. Have her go back to a place where people don't seem to  or can't care. Where's the support or aftercare. I feel I got more support from the voluntary sector than NHS. It's a frightening situation. The staffing levels seemed poor too and so many sufferers. It feels like my sister was left so long as she had a supporting family. It made the job easier for mental health team.

My confidence with this place is not good.  It seems like the only option and we caring family members should be grateful.