[pachyderm]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/24/h...t-therapy.html

LONDON — England is in the midst of a unique national experiment, the world’s most ambitious effort to treat depression, anxiety and other common mental illnesses.

The rapidly growing initiative, which has gotten little publicity outside the country, offers virtually open-ended talk therapy free of charge at clinics throughout the country: in remote farming villages, industrial suburbs, isolated immigrant communities and high-end enclaves. The goal is to eventually create a system of primary care for mental health not just for England but for all of Britain.

[Sunflower123]

That's a good plan. I hope it's quality therapy. Some of the things that have been posted on here lead me to believe the mental health care system over there is quirky and sometimes less than adequate.

[East17]

Well if it's true, it got little publicity inside the Country, never mind outside of it!
Open-ended free of charge talk therapy simply does not exist in the UK. There is an IAPT initiatve (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy); but my experience was the waiting list for initial phone call from them took 3 months. The phone call lasted just under an hour, then I was told their service wasn't suitable for me (was considered too sui high risk) and bounced back to my GP.
After being referred to MH primary care services 3 subsequent times and discharged from them, it is only now, some 5 years later, that I finally got referred to and accepted by CMHT. For anyone who can afford private MH care you might get some help. If unfortunate enough to have to go via NHS, you are screwed.

Originally Posted by East17

Well if it's true, it got little publicity inside the Country, never mind outside of it!
Open-ended free of charge talk therapy simply does not exist in the UK. There is an IAPT initiatve (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy); but my experience was the waiting list for initial phone call from them took 3 months. The phone call lasted just under an hour, then I was told their service wasn't suitable for me (was considered too sui high risk) and bounced back to my GP.
After being referred to MH primary care services 3 subsequent times and discharged from them, it is only now, some 5 years later, that I finally got referred to and accepted by CMHT. For anyone who can afford private MH care you might get some help. If unfortunate enough to have to go via NHS, you are screwed.

Yep, that's about it!! I have to pay for my therapy. I'm on the waiting list for EMDR & have been for the last 9 months. In the mean time I'm not allowed to work, have recently lost my job because my sickness time off had exceeded their trigger statistics. So yeah, relying on the NHS mental health system does mean your screwed!!!

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

That's a good plan. I hope it's quality therapy. Some of the things that have been posted on here lead me to believe the mental health care system over there is quirky and sometimes less than adequate.

yes I can agree with this.

I think the mental health system here is a joke, and the only way anyone is seen is if they meet certain criteria (that is,

Possible trigger:

about to give up, and kill themselves.

and even then it's a joke to be taken seriously.

my friend bethany was proof of that

[systemfailure]

Wow they might want to start offering some of that to inner city areas, where people are affected by major crime, violence, increased Road Traffic Accidents, drugs and all the other stuff that does massive harm to peoples mental well being

Think it really depends on what area you live in. Year long waiting lists where I am

That said I'm not complaining, I am not the critical end of the spectrum - my observation is that those with more urgent needs do get instant referrals and higher level response. Sadly from what I've seen though someone can go from less critical need to critical in the time it takes to get proper attention. Reading the article it seems it is happening in some areas, can only deduce it's a postcode lottery.

I will believe it when I see it.

[Fuzzybear]

....

[Onward2wards]

I find it very strange that private insurers and government run healthcare alike are quite ready to subsidize medications or inpatient emergency stays (to varying degrees), but not so willing to help people with sustained outpatient counseling that might well reduce the need for costly emergency interventions. This seems "penny wise but pound foolish" to say the least.

[Sunflower123]

Originally Posted by East17

Well if it's true, it got little publicity inside the Country, never mind outside of it!
Open-ended free of charge talk therapy simply does not exist in the UK. There is an IAPT initiatve (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy); but my experience was the waiting list for initial phone call from them took 3 months. The phone call lasted just under an hour, then I was told their service wasn't suitable for me (was considered too sui high risk) and bounced back to my GP.
After being referred to MH primary care services 3 subsequent times and discharged from them, it is only now, some 5 years later, that I finally got referred to and accepted by CMHT. For anyone who can afford private MH care you might get some help. If unfortunate enough to have to go via NHS, you are screwed.

I'm sorry you've experienced this. It's unacceptable.

[Sunflower123]

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

yes I can agree with this.

I think the mental health system here is a joke, and the only way anyone is seen is if they meet certain criteria (that is,

Possible trigger:

about to give up, and kill themselves.

and even then it's a joke to be taken seriously.

my friend bethany was proof of that

I'm sorry as well that you've experienced this. It is unacceptable.

[Sunflower123]

Originally Posted by Onward2wards

I find it very strange that private insurers and government run healthcare alike are quite ready to subsidize medications or inpatient emergency stays (to varying degrees), but not so willing to help people with sustained outpatient counseling that might well reduce the need for costly emergency interventions. This seems "penny wise but pound foolish" to say the least.

I agree wholeheartedly.