I feel in my experience that NHS mental health services are absolutely lacking.
I had an issue with self-harm at the beginning of the year, it was at its worst point. I got an appointment with a psychiatric nurse and then got an appointment with a psychiatrist the next week.
The way the psychiatrist treated me was degrading. It took a lot for me to go there and tell him how I felt and it felt like he was being dismissive, he treated me like a child. I felt worse when I left and ended up going home and attempting suicide. Apart from A&E I didn’t see anyone else from the NHS for six weeks. My GP tried to help with referrals but I still had to wait.
When I did get back to the psychiatrist he didn’t apologize although he knew what had happened and he had the same dismissive behaviour. By this point I was in a better place so I could handle his attitude.
I found help from a group called Penumbra who help people with self-harm as well as receiving CBT from my local youth centre. I also receive counselling from the Dirrans centre.
I think attitudes of psychiatrists towards mental health patients need to change, they still treat us as lesser human beings and talk down to us.
"The way he treated me was degrading"
About: Dirrans Centre Dirrans Centre Kilwinning KA13 7PH Three Towns Resource Centre / General Psychiatry Three Towns Resource Centre General Psychiatry KA21 5RF
Posted by John Smith 2 (as ),
Do you have a similar story to tell?
Tell your story & make a difference ››
Responses
See more responses from Nanette Masterton
See more responses from Eunice Goodwin