"He put me completely at ease"

I was in York one day this week for work purposes, however my mental health had other ideas for me and I was forced to seek help from my local CMHT base back home in Sheffield.

The outcome of that was I presented myself to the A&E Department at The York Hospital seeking safety and assistance. The staff on the desk were very considerate, took my details down in a polite fashion and advised me to take a seat, pointing out where the loo was and access to a drink. They did advise me that the Crisis Team would be along ASAP but they were rather busy.

I have enough experience of A&E and my MH to know that the Crisis Team never come ASAP, and I more fortunate then many in that I understand some of the reasons why this is so. That said, I was just grateful to be in a place in which I felt safe and observed. I wasn't waiting an inordinate amount of time, maybe a couple of hours at most.

Two chaps from the CT came to see me. They introduced themselves and gave me space to explain what was going off. They'ed obviously done their howework and been in touch with the CMHT in Sheffield to get the SP on me. I feel I've managed my MH fine for so long on my own, that when I do interact with such as a CT I feel a bit immune to the proceedings. D and L put me at ease though. They validated my anxieties and just as duty had done back home, asked me what I thought my options where and we went through them.

Upshot being I felt safe enough to leave the department a short while after. Can I thank D and L for the manner in which they engaged with me. They continued the good work of the CMHT that day in helping me to get a hold of and to process my thoughts and feelings.

The real star of the show though was A, who was manned the desk in A&E as I walked into the reception. They say the process of healing, recovery, whatever you want to call it starts the moment you set foot (or get wheeled into) the Hospital building. A confirmed this notion in me and kept the ball rolling.

Although he didn't book me in, he directed me to a colleague who did. I sat down and waited. But while I was doing so, A came over to me every know and then, ever just to check some details and/or just to see if I was OK. He put me completely at ease - his quiet manner and respectful approach. And when he had to be elsewhere, he come over to tell me that, and just should I need some assistance to speak to so-and-so who was on the desk now and they would help me.

He wished me luck and was gone. Please thank A also. They way he treat me as a human being that morning, actually perhaps for the first time that day - he made me feel that I too was a human being also, and that perhaps it *all* was worth fighting for after all.