"Mental health support"

MAPS

In the early part of 2018 I received counselling as I had recently escaped from an abusive relationship and recognised its impact on my mental health and wellbeing.  The counsellor told my I exhibited the symptoms of complex PTSD and recommended I approach my GP for NHS referral, which I did in December 2018.  In May 2019 I was given an appointment for late July.  In early July I was called and told the appointment had to be cancelled and a new appointment would be issued.  However, that date was unsuitable.  The next available date was late October at which point I was assessed and advised that I should be treated by the service.  I would receive an appointment to explore what treatment might be the most appropriate, although this could take up to six months.

Having heard nothing further by late January I called my GP to ask for any news and they spoke with the service on my behalf.  A few days later I received an appointment for February.  This date was also unsuitable but on contacting the service it was clear that there would be further delay so I cancelled my other commitment and kept the appointment.

Unfortunately the psychiatrist I saw advised me that the appointment was not in fact the discussion I had been promised and they were unclear as to why I was seeing them.  It appeared that I had simply been given an appointment with the psychiatrist 'in case' I was in crisis.  They recommended I call the service direct to find out where I was in the system.

I have just called and been told that I am 20th on the waiting list.  I am unlikely to get my appointment 'for some considerable time', likely many months.  I will not move up the waiting list until others are discharged and there appears to be no prospect of an appointment for the foreseeable future.

I am struggling and feel very let down, and frustrated.  What are the target times for mental health treatment and what are the resources that are made available for the service to deal with demand?  I really am at a loss to see what help I can get and there seems to be no realistic prospect for support or treatment in the NHS.  It looks like three years, rather than six months is the likely waiting time in my case.