"CMHT waiting times putting health at serious risk."

I was referred to the CMHT by the crisis team last July (2020) following a suicide attempt which left me in a coma. The crisis team refused to allow me to see one of their psychiatrist and stated I would have to wait to see the CMHT. Due to the wait (I was advised it would be 12 weeks), I had to go private which put me into debt. 

In January of this year I ended up in hospital due to Lithium Toxicity, I had put off my scheduled appointment with my private psychiatrist as I could not afford it, however having access to a psychiatrist would have prevented my hospital admission. I saw RRLP in hospital who were excellent, they advised they would bump my referral to the CMHT up to urgent. My private psychiatrist had advised both myself and RRLP that he felt I needed the CMHT as he felt his support was not enough for someone in my circumstances. I was therefore discharged having been taken off Lithium and not put on another mood stabiliser.

Two weeks later I received my appointment date with the CMHT,  - 9 months after I had been originally referred and 3 months after my referral had been made urgent. I was therefore being left unmedicated for 3 months, as I knew this would put my mental health and my employment at serious risk I had to again see a private psychiatrist. I had to borrow money in order to do this, putting myself further into debt. I have recently received a letter putting my appointment further back a further week. 

Leaving someone with Bipolar 9 months to see a psychiatrist after a serious suicide is absolutely appalling.