I have encountered this every time I try to get help for my mental illnesses, both in a large city and a small town.

I start calling every name on my insurance list, and most are not even accepting new patients, period, and the few that are can't get you in for several MONTHS.

Back then, I was in crisis, so yeah it was a big deal. I was too afraid to tell them I was suicidal because I didn't want them to lock me up and take my baby away. So they wouldn't see me for months.

I wasn't low-income enough to go to county walk-in mental health clinics, and they basically said they wouldn't help me if I had insurance - I could go elsewhere.

The same thing has happened to me now. I got upset with my psych nurse that I've been seeing for 3 years, so I wanted to find someone new. Only psychatrist in town isn't accepting new patients. The only option I had left was a psych nurse that I can't get in to see until July.

What can we do about these situations? I know pdocs and therapists can only accomodate so many people in their schedule, but what if someone needs help right away? The ER is too expensive and not always the appropriate option.

Is there anything we can do to change the system?

What I would love is a system where all you have to do is call ONE phone number, say "I NEED HELP," and they GET you the help you need, quickly. Not call dozens of different providers and get told that they won't see you.

But I dreamed that up 3 years ago and I still haven't done a dang thing to actually implement it. I have no idea how.