"Lack of primary care mental health services"

I have suffered bouts of mental health issues for a number of years. Though, happily, on the mend, a few weeks ago, following a period of unpleasant stress, I became worried I may be becoming ill again. It was a weekend, so could not go to my GP and wanted to talk to someone urgently-for reassurance as much as anything.

I rang NHS Direct and informed the nurse I spoke too of my concerns. She informed me that NHS Direct do not have services for people with mental health issues, though said she so happened to have been in psychiatric nursing in the past, and so had some insight. I was shocked that no such service had been built into the thinking of NHS Direct. I told the nurse I spoke too that I would post my thoughts on Patient Opinion. She agreed this was an important omission, and happily reassured me that I was not going "crazy" again.

May I say, the previous year, I reached a crisis. Because my case was not open too a psychiatrist at that time, the local "Crisis Team" were saying I could not access their service. My only alternative to getting immediate help was to go too the local A & E Department-not what I wanted to ( I hate hospitals, and especially psychiatric units), but felt? I had no alternative. A neighbour came too my assistance by offering that I could stay at her home until I felt better. Luckily, I was able to avoid hospital admission, but not thanks to any primary care emergency support out of GP hours.