"Disappointed / lost faith"

I know GPS are pushed.. But I think before asking 'is it an emergency..?' Ought to come the question of what someone's name is.

I have struggled with depression following a tragic event in the last 18 months. I never reach out for help, never, even though people say I should, I try to manage.

But last weekend I had a melt down, so I decided it's time to reach out.. But anyone that has ever suffered with mental health knows it's so hard to get to the point of asking for help.. That's the BIGGEST hurdle, asking.

Its taken 18 months to pluck up courage to phone, and literally wrestled with my own mind since the weekend with strong encouragement from my kids to phone up, when I finally took the bull by the horns yesterday morning to phone.. Only because I thought I'd phone re a different problem, then if I felt comfortable I'd approach the intense depression subject.

In today's world of everything suppose to being geared to 'mental health' the receptionist missed a key point. The first thing she asked ', is it an emergency?..' no, I said, (because if it was I'd have called 999 I thought) and also what is an emergency GP appointment to one person is not to another.. So I said no because I felt compared to other people's, mine isn't an emergency, and I don't want to take someone else's maybe more important appointment.. As I have little self value as to see mines important anyway.. Part of the problem! She then prattled on about how short on GP's they are.. Aren't we all getting a bit sick of hearing this..?

And here I say one thing.. If I'd have had this response at the weekend when I literally was having a melt down I still wouldn't have classed it as emergency, because I'm struggling to see anything to do with me is important, or matters, or seeing the point in anything.. So crucially it's 'KEY' before asking if it's an emergency.. Is to obtain someone's name.. I told her it's taken 18 months for me to pluck up courage to phone, she just started to emphasise I should phone next week if it's not an emerg... I was so taken aback and upset.. I hung up at this point.. What's the point.. This was me reaching out, and now it's put me off.

My point being i was at my witts end at the weekend...im concerned if someone phones that is desperately reaching out, but won't class themselves as an emergency, surely their name should be taken, so if they hang up they can be recontacted to check they're OK.. She may have had my number, but she didn't phone back to check I was OK.

In today's fragile world of heightened mental health a receptionist is a key link for someone reaching out.. For goodness sake, ask someone's name first.