Crisis Team

Annoy me, I phoned them as I am feeling suicidal and there is no answer, I have left a message, The last time I called them the same happened so it puts me off calling for help.

Yeah they annoy me too, same thing happens to me! Hang in there

(((((((((( Krazy Cat )))))))))))

Hi Krazy Cat, I know it's not easy, I know it's not fair, I know it's...........but you call them till they do pick pick up!! Every half hour, every hour whatever you can manage, phone back and leave another message if they don't pick up. It's their job to support people in crisis, and if you feel you need their help, then you need their help!!
I mean you've worked up the strength, the courage to call them so you deserve help!!!
Do not let them "off the hook"!!! Call and call again............until you get the help you should have/the help you deserve!!
You matter!! Doesn't make a difference how many times they don't pick up, that isn't going to make that any the less true!! Just remember that and keep trying, they owe you!!!
Alison

Thanks!

I have rang every 5 minutes and still no one is answering, I left a message for my nurse but she won't get the message until tomorrow, Really pathetic, Why on earth are they called "Crisis"?

Can you try a suicide hotline while you wait for them to get back to you?

Hi Krazy Cat, I'm not sure how it works where you are but if you are needing real support in the here and now (!!!) then you could try calling your local ER explaining how you're feeling and tell them that you can't get hold of your crisis team then they may be able to "fast track" you to someone/get/give you the help you need.
Let them know that crisis means crisis!!!
Alison

Call your local ER. Frankbtl is correct...crisis means CRISIS.

I suspect you may also be from the UK and if so I understand why A&E may not be appropriate Crisis teams can be ridiculous, is there no one not even a duty worker you can speak to at the CMHT for the mean time? There's the mental health helpline for out of hours - either can add to you notes (I believe) and make it even more imperative for your CC to contact you. What about the manager at the CMHT, maybe request a brief urgent conversation with them and explain that as it stands you shouldn't have to depend on hotlines at times like this, especially as the more generic ones are pretty limited in what they can do and ideally you need someone who knows you as the first port of call. I hope you manage to get in touch with someone involved in your care soon. In the mean time keep posting, we're here to listen.

Thanks.

Crisis team called back 4 hours later, Actually made me feel worse, They are very patronising all they said was "Take a Zopiclone and go to bed" I feel so let down and this is the reason I hate asking for help.

I'm so sorry you didn't get the help you need.

My CPN (Community psychiatric nurse) Phoned me this morning she knew all about it but told me to go out Lol, I took her advice and went out I felt worse and everyone was starring at me, Maybe I look nuts or something. Anyways CPN is coming out tomorrow.

I'm so sorry Sadly this is an experience i know all too well. I really hope you can find a way of voicing to them the reality of the situation - and more importantly, i hope they listen. Before now i've screamed myself blue in the face at my support team, sometimes it's the only way of getting things across. I hope for you it doesn't have to come to that and you're not continuously fobbed off either - you deserve better. We all do. You're welcome to PM me anytime. Stay strong

I feel like I should be calling my crisis team right now too...but I just don't see the point. They are useless!

wow. Are these people professionals? Because it defiantly does not sound like it. I would try calling someone else like a suicide hotline or ER.

Thanks, If I did go to a&e then they would just send me home, I went a couple of years ago and all they said was go home and try sleep and gave me some diazepam they think this is the answer to everything. I sat in a&e for over four hours and it did make me feel worse.

Secretwhisper don't let my experience put you off calling them, Hope that you're ok.

I had the same experirnce at A&E a few times. They just send you on your way with something to 'take the edge off it.' The whole thing is a mess!

You're experience hasn't specifically put me off, just a whole heap of bad experiences myself! Might actually ring the mental health team today though....

How are you Krazy Cat? secretwhisper? I had a bad appointment with my CC yesterday, still feeling triggered by it but as I couldn't get hold of him afterwards I tried calling today - again no one can even find out if he's about, his team never answer the phone/respond to messages and a duty worker at the CMHT told me to go speak to my GP!?!?! A&E is not an option and I don't fancy a visit from the police either. The system works :/ I was thinking of maybe setting up a social group for those in the UK who are struggling with MH services? It could be a good place to listen, support and cheerlead each other. Thoughts? Anyway I hope the pair of you are safe and feeling a bit better

I finally got some sleep, was up all night pretty much.

That group sounds like a good idea. So many people get let down by the services, I'm sure quite a lot would have something to say!

I kind of wonder what they could actually do that could help?

We know what doesn't work....but the real question is what could they do that would help in times like that? Maybe if we could give them some input as the what help would work for us when we are in desperate need, then they might be more able to provide.

I remember being in a place like that many times....& looking back, I don't think there was anything that anyone could have done to help me. Now after taking the DBT for several years....I realize there are just things that I need to do that are a list of skills that I need to use when I get to feeling like that.......& if I were to call a place for help, it would be to remind me of those skills that I might have forgotten.

In reality there is NOTHING they really can do to make us feel better other than to validate our feelings & remind us of the skills we need to use to get us through the crisis times.

It a mess, I think that the NHS need a good kicking especially for those going to a&e and feeling suicidal.


ifst5 very good idea about setting up a support group, Please let me know if you do, My CPN did visit me earlier and she could tell I am not doing good, I told her that the Crisis team are a disaster and what they said to me, She agreed that it was wrong of them, I told her that I will not phone them again, Today I feel worse, My CPN said is to call her if I need but what happens in the evening? She said go to a&e, She is working on my extended care plan, Has anyone heard of this or do they have one? She said not many people have these.

Maybe there is nothing that can make us feel better but I get told to call crisis team if I need and when I do they just say "Go to bed" Twice I have called them in two years and they make me feel worse, Never again will I phone them.

It a mess, I think that the NHS need a good kicking especially for those going to a&e and feeling suicidal.

It's beyond appalling. For me, i don't want to sit in some filthy ill organized hovel for hours on end only to have some rude poorly trained 'professional' do a worse jobs of dressing wounds than i can. The response to suicide attempts can be equally alarming but is usually quicker. What really gets me are those who are turned away without even being considered for psychiatric assessment - a brief discussion with someone in the know can make all the difference.

ifst5 very good idea about setting up a support group, Please let me know if you do, My CPN did visit me earlier and she could tell I am not doing good, I told her that the Crisis team are a disaster and what they said to me, She agreed that it was wrong of them, I told her that I will not phone them again, Today I feel worse, My CPN said is to call her if I need but what happens in the evening? She said go to a&e, She is working on my extended care plan, Has anyone heard of this or do they have one? She said not many people have these.

**EDITED** this is the link to the social group should any UK members wish to join:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/group...britannia.html

Did she not give you the mental health helpline number? I'm not sure if it's national or local but i can give it to you if you'd like and you can see whether or not it works. I would ask her for the best out of hours helpline anyway as apparently they can add to your notes certain details of your phone call and then at least the CPN will be in the know for when they next make contact (that's the theory anyway).

Maybe there is nothing that can make us feel better but I get told to call crisis team if I need and when I do they just say "Go to bed" Twice I have called them in two years and they make me feel worse, Never again will I phone them.

Here ruddy here it's not about wanting people to swoop in and save us it's about wanting to be heard at times when we desperately need it.

Hi again if...When I phone my CPN it does put me through to the MHT but they are all mostly CPN's and support workers. Only numbers I have are for my CPN and Crisis team.

I actually feel worse just now and CPN's have gone home and there is no way I am going to call crisis team Lol.

Have you ever tried You matter - Suicide - Suicidal Sanctuary - MayTree?

It's a charity that offers a respite from suicidal thoughts. It's a one of stay. But they also have a number that you can call and they talk through it. They've been really helpful to me.

Yes i have! I've never actually tried them but that would be a fantastic thing to link on the group and i fully encourage you to do so. I'm so glad they were of use to you