The disability support at my university is atrocious. Last year I didn't see anyone from the mental health team to check how I was getting on. I didn't even know who to contact if I did need someone. So 4 months ago I could tell I was becoming pretty depressed again, and I had a workload I needed prioritising and I couldn't. I went to see the one person who I knew who deals with those in crisis but doesn't offer the support I needed. She was very helpful and initiated a request for funding to be instigated - she said this would take 2 weeks. It didn't. It took 4 months, and during that time I was dealing with managing all the separate teams involved as it seemed no one spoke to each other! It was really stressful and upsetting - plus I still had the original reason why I sought extra help initially.

Eventually I got allocated a mentor, only to find out the majority of these mentors only receive half a day training surrounding mental health issues. I was shocked and anxious about this. I continued on and met with my mentor but due to my mental health issues I was hesitant to use my time to meet with someone who may not help me and could disappear quickly. I arranged to meet every few weeks initially so I could see what she offers/how helpful it will actually be, without feeling as though I have another commitment that would further overwhelm me. There was no mention of an issue with this during this meeting.

Yesterday, so two weeks after this meeting, I get a email from her manager clarifying some of the issues I'd raised in the document they want me to sign (which I didn't ask her to raise/clarify further than what she explained) and asking if it was beneficial for me to see someone else that could offer more flexibility time wise. How do I know if that is more beneficial to me?! I don't know their work commitments - beneficial in what sense exactly!? There was no issue raised with me by the mentor in the session so this is the first I hear of it. It's exhausting, to meet someone else, explain again what I do, what I need or don't need etc. I'm thinking of saying "don't bother" at this stage because it's been tiring and, so far, worse than useless. Are they not aware these changes can be really anxiety provoking and upsetting? Why not ask originally what I need before allocating me someone who can't offer me it?!

I find these sorts of things really overwhelming because it is difficult to talk to anyone about my mental health issues, and I get anxious meeting someone new especially if I feel they may not understand. It's silly but I'm anxious about it all. It makes me wonder how much is confidential in these meetings if everything I question or raise is going to be talked over with a manager I've never met before! I had to get this off my chest.