"Mental Health in Cumbria"

Hi there, I want to share my experiences of the mental health system in Cumbria.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say that once admitted to the mental health unit the majority of the staff in Yewdale,Whitehaven are absolutely fabulous.

Unfortunately there is a major fight to get the help dearly needed, particularly when in a time of crisis. Not only do I know this through my own experiences but also through attempting to help others.

I myself had 3 crisis talks with the mental health crisis team, I was in full blown acute mania and was loosing touch with reality but was continually, to the shock of my loved ones, sent home each time.

Finally I was picked up by the police and sectioned, something, I feel that could have easily been avoided if the system had listened to my loved ones crying out that something was wrong.

On top of this, a friend of mine was suffering psychosis and we couldn't get a bed for them either. After fighting, shouting and pulling strings we got them a bed in a safe house a week after first starting with psychosis.

It was a help but they could have done with more, in my opinion the top and bottom of it is there are not enough beds.

I understand they're now thinking about closing Yewdale while they re-do the hospital, how are we as service users going to manage if we need acute care and hospitalisation?!