I had been diagnosed with panic attacks, severe anxiety and depression. I was on medication and was due to begin therapy.
However, in the weeks preceding this, I was genuinely at the brink of no return. I tried helplines (that eventually told me I had called too much to be helped anymore that night), I tried going to A+E (where the crisis team told me essentially to come back tomorrow, despite having a suicide plan) and I tried calling 111 (which then referred me back to A+E and to the place where I had been treated badly).
By treated badly, I mean treated in a way in which no one with a mental health issue should be treated. I was told that they did not believe I had to be with someone 24/7; my fears about not being able to control my actions and self harm were subsequently dismissed.
I was told that my boyfriend, who has been my carer for over a month more or less, did not really care about me and he couldn't be that concerned as he hadn't come with me to the hospital. He was in fact covering my shift at work because I had stopped being able to function in any kind of normal way and could not have taken it.
I'm writing this in the past tense, because it makes it all a little easier to digest. However, in reality, this happened tonight. I have no support network. I have nowhere to go if the thoughts get worse. I'm going to see my GP tomorrow if I can to try and empress upon him just how serious the situation has become. I may end up back at the hospital trying to convince them I am not safe. It should not be the case where doing the right thing, aka, seeking help, results in therefore not receiving any.
If I had a broken leg, would I have been told to walk around on it all night and come back in the morning?
Disgusting service by a mental health ''crisis'' team that has left me sat here with google as my only means of support.
"Bad experience with mental health services"
About: University Hospital Of North Durham / Accident and emergency University Hospital Of North Durham Accident and emergency Durham DH1 5TW
Posted by marthaf (as ),
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