[LonelyPony]

Hi,

I live in the UK, and I'm aware of the state of the NHS at the moment but I'm still shocked..

About 15 weeks ago I was rushed to hospital after a suicide attempt.. after months of self harm and severe depression. Before this I'd tried to get help with my GP but just been told I'm on the IAPT (improving access to psyc therapies) waiting list and would get a call.

In A&E I was told I needed to see a mental health liason team member otherwise they would bring me in under the mental health act.. so I waited three hours and was seen for 15 minutes: a brief chat where he got my details and background and let me go as I was already on the waiting list for IAPT.

The next week I went to my GP, explained what happened and asked him to please get me therapy more urgently because I wanted to die. He said he would write IAPT a letter asking them to see me as a priority.

I didnt hear anything for 10 weeks.. so I rang IAPT and they recieved the letter from my GP but I do not meet the criteria to be classed as urgent and would have to wait. I asked what the criteria were and they refused to tell me and hung up. My sister called as she was so worried about me and I was getting worse, they said there was nothing they could do.

On the 14th week of waiting I got an appointment letter. 14 weeks after I was in hospital trying to commit suicide. In that 14 weeks my fiance left me and I lost my job. My situation and depression got much, much worse.

The day they sent me the appointment letter I was packing up to move away for a new job. I now have to move GP to another area, so I have to ask for a new referral to IAPT and may well have to wait another 14 weeks.

How is it in the UK that someone who is known as suicidal and is desperately searching for help, and there's nothing out there?

It's ironic because if my attempt had been successful they would all be saying "oh its sad, counseling could have helped"

Thanks for telling us about this, LonelyPony. I had heard from other people on this site and also online friends not on this site that psychiatric care in the UK is in a crisis.

It's obviously a horrible state of affairs. I don't know that anything will change the situation except for activism (people complaining and making a lot of noise about it.)

[Fuzzybear]

This is appalling... I'm so sorry you've been hurt by this state of affairs in the UK

[possum220]

Are there any private counseling facilities that you could access? Ones that are linked to a local council or church. They will often have some-one that you can talk to. Some don't charge anything/much or have a nominal fee rate that is on some sort of sliding scale linked to your income.

Good luck moving. Hope that this can bring you a better look on life.

[BlueEyedMama]

I'm very sorry that you are going through all this it really is a shame. Please try to hang in there. *hugs*

[EmptyInside22]

I'm really sorry you are having such a tough time with the UK services, I am too. After a suicide attempt and having paramedics called out... between them and my parents they decided not to have me admitted to hospital and as a result closer to two years later I am still awaiting therapy.

Its all jumping through hoops with the mental health team, they wont tell you what criteria you need to meet because they don't want to give you a target to aim for because they simply don't have the resources, especially as you will still be seen under the CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health service) which is run even more ragged than the adults service i think.

You aren't alone in waiting but i hope things speed up for you. Best of luck x

[Tauren]

Have you called Samaritans? They may be able to help you get help. I don't know anything about the UK but they've helped friends of mine in the past.

Samaritans UK & ROI
National
Contact by: Face to Face - Phone - Letter: - E-mail:
Hotline: +44 (0) 8457 90 90 90 (UK - local rate)
Hotline: +44 (0) 8457 90 91 92 (UK minicom)
Hotline: 1850 60 90 90 (ROI - local rate)
Hotline: 1850 60 90 91 (ROI minicom)
Website: samaritans.org
E-mail Helpline: jo@samaritans.org
24 Hour service:

[LonelyPony]

Thankyou so much for the comments. It's nice to know other people are aware of the lack of resources and availability of help. I thought I had just fallen through the net and noone cared.

Possum - There seems to be nothing here locally except a private service charging 50 pounds a session, which I definately can't afford. I though about the church but in my previous experience (my parents go to church) the christian view of depression was that it's your fault because it means you aren't enjoying the life God gave you, so it's basically a sin. I used to try my best to believe and go to church but a few years ago I was told at a christian camp that if I was following God's commands I would have a much better, happier life and I should be happy with what I've got.. so I'm a bit reluctant to seek help from a church again.

Tauren - I didn't think of samaritans, I'll definitely look into that, thank you

[BLUEDOVE]

If it gets too bad,you can actually go to Samaritans office to talk
to one of them.You can ask address over phone or look it up in
phone book.

[-jimi-]

Unfortunately it is the same here. Very few get proper help. It's bad yes... But what can you do? Here it's not just psychiatry even if it took the biggest blow, they also refuse to treat others, plain refuse. I live with untreated lupus because of that.

I wish I could change things for us, but I guess the rich can always buy health care in other countries...

[marmaduke]

Have you tried contacting MIND the charity, they organize regular meet ups they might help.