"Unhelpful, disorganised & made me feel worse"

In May 2016 I was put on the Surrey youth counselling list after speaking with my doctor, after 4 months of not hearing from them I called to check in and I was told they were up-to-date with appointments and that my name must have been ‘lost’ from the list. They put me back on the list and I had to wait again… in August 2016 my mum committed suicide and I moved to Brighton, I needed to speak to someone more than ever then. I called Surrey youth counselling to let them know I had moved and they told me I had to start with a counselling service in Brighton now that I had moved and I had to start at the bottom of the list again.

I spoke with the doctor in Jan 2017 and they referred me to Health in Mind, it took months of waiting to have an initial assessment (11th April) once I was given a date for the initial assessment they didn’t email me the documents needed for the assessment (a checklist and list of questions to prepare myself with), I had to chase them to get this sent. Once I had the phone assessment (18th April) they were meant to email me a follow up document again, I didn’t get this and had to chase them (they had all my right contact details and just said the documents mustn’t have sent – twice?).

After the assessment I had my first counselling session booked for 22nd April, finally after 7 months I was booked in to see someone face to face and this felt great, they called me just before the appointment to cancel. The person I needed to speak with was sick. They offered me a telephone appointment instead the day after (23rd April). The person I spoke to was very apologetic that they had to cancel my face to face appointment and said someone will call me to book another appointment soon. They were meant to send me an email confirming our discussion and with a list of resources to help. Again, I didn’t receive this email and had to chase them. I checked all of my details with them again and they have the right details for me, they just aren’t following up their admin.

I was offered another face to face appointment on June 28th. Yet again they called me to cancel. They didn’t have anyone in to see me they said.

Today I received another call from them offering me a date, which unfortunately I couldn’t do, I explained yet again that I could do all of the other dates they cancelled on me but I have work and work away so I cannot do as I’d already cancelled work to make the other appointments they cancelled on me. The person made me feel like rubbish, they told me how understaffed they are and again that if I don’t take this appointment they don’t know if / when they’ll be able to find me in again.

I told the person to take me off the list, trying to arrange an appointment with them has made me feel 10 times worse and to be honest if they’re this rude, unhelp and genuinely could mess someone around who is asking for help this much I don’t think counselling service will be much better. So after 1+ year I am yet to receive any help….