"My daughter"

She was asked to go to Huntlyburn for a 72 hour observation. She was there for 5 weeks. Her age was 18

She has several mental health problems, making her unable to work.

She cut herself following trips to Asda.

During one visit she had a burn on her arm. She said it had happened while she was cooking. I had seen a similar burn on her arm before.

I choose to believe my daughter, even when her story seems unlikely.

I couldn't sleep for worrying about the burn. At midnight I was so anxious I phoned the ward.

I was told by the person who answered the phone, "There's no self harming here". I asked if someone would check. I was told they couldn't tell me because my 18 year old daughter had requested not to discuss her notes with family. I said I didn't want private information; I wanted someone to a) attend to her burn and b) look into her self harming. Again I was told there was no self harming in the ward.

This has preyed on my mind for nearly 3 years. The day she came home she bought pencil sharpeners and unscrewed the blades. I only know because her sister found the receipt, and I found a blade on the hall carpet.

I subsequently attended a counsellor at the health centre because I was so distressed. It was the  being dismissed and not believed. I didn't phone the hospital at midnight for a chat. I was in a state of anxiety, and phoning the ward made me worse.

My own mental health has suffered due to this incident. It seems so small and unimportant, but almost 3 years later I am unable to shake it off.

Thank you for reading my story.