"No sustained level of care experienced"

To be clear, I don't particularly blame the NHS for the deficiencies in this service - I realise that mental health teams are massively underfunded.

I was referred here by my GP to the adult mental health team. On my first visit I was spoken to by someone who was empathetic and seemed to take my concerns seriously: I had a history of depressive mental health episodes including attempted suicide.

The follow up was not great. I was booked on a course that I said I could not attend because I needed to work at the times it was on and I didn't really understand what it was for anyway.

Follow-up appointments with some sort of caseworker didn't help any more than a quick internet search of 'How to overcome depression' or similar.

I received no therapy or contact with a trained therapist - just caseworker help which was advice.

When I was seen by a psychiatrist they basically ticked a box. Their manner was dismissive and I remember them saying things to me like 'It can help if you get some exercise or go for a walk'. That's not bad advice but for someone who is suffering from thoughts of suicide and severe mental health problems I suppose I expected something a bit more.

I was then discharged from the care of the mental health team because I didn't attend the course that I didn't really want to attend but they'd booked me on for without me really committing to it or understanding what it was for.