U.K NHS mental health services

[Jen0804]

How do you find the UK's Mental Health services?

 

[CaptainT]

It's just overloaded. They try but mental health is such an unknown for medics. Go to your GP, they offer SSRIs within seconds (no discussion of background, side effects etc) and online CBT.

How many on here felt anti-depressants helped? My experiences (and people I've known on SSRIs too) have been negative. More damage than before.

 

[WhiteDespair]

It's just overloaded. They try but mental health is such an unknown for medics. Go to your GP, they offer SSRIs within seconds (no discussion of background, side effects etc) and online CBT.

How many on here felt anti-depressants helped? My experiences (and people I've known on SSRIs too) have been negative. More damage than before.

SSRIs had an atagonistic effect with nicotine and I stopped vaping. Also helps when I realized I was doing it to pass out and I would get the same effect with a fistfull of melatonin.

SSRIs and Adderall did have a positive effect on my rage (being angry and ready to explode for 1.5-3 day at a time, having a hair trigger [no McDonald's sauce packets made me freak out], eating less than 500 calories a day, getting < 2-4 hours of sleep and still having incredible energy with no fatigue), sadness (punching a chair because I was still alive, collapsing to the ground in either tears or emotional contractions for 15 minutes at a time, and cranking my anhedonia, etc. up to 11), and improved my performance at work. These are easily moderately high to high doses. It's annoying that 20mg can make the difference.

 

[Jen0804]

I agree

SSRI's seem to be first line and they really never helped me either. Fluoxetine is essentially fluoride and I gave it a good shot but I'd never take it again

You're right they are overloaded, psych wards are like a cattle market , wards being forced to push people out even if the nurses and managers know they are not ready to go. One in one out, seven waiting, etc

 

[SinisterKid]

ADS were brilliant after my first attempt, sadly, funding withdrawn. Crisis team, well meaning but pretty useless otherwise. Ward time, forget it, never going back. CMHT, not much use, case worker was helpful, saw a different head doc every time I went. Ongoing support, not very good at all. Got so tired of repeating myself, I started to tell them I was doing better so that they would discharge me. In all honesty, this place has been more beneficial that the rest put together.

Overall, not the best of experiences. There are many faults within a system that is under funded and under staffed and its getting worse from what I read.

 

[Jen0804]

ADS were brilliant after my first attempt, sadly, funding withdrawn. Crisis team, well meaning but pretty useless otherwise. Ward time, forget it, never going back. CMHT, not much use, case worker was helpful, saw a different head doc every time I went. Ongoing support, not very good at all. Got so tired of repeating myself, I started to tell them I was doing better so that they would discharge me. In all honesty, this place has been more beneficial that the rest put together.

Overall, not the best of experiences. There are many faults within a system that is under funded and under staffed and its getting worse from what I read.

Amen

This site has been far more helpful than any CRHT or ward stay
Agreed 100%

 

[CaptainT]

ADS were brilliant after my first attempt, sadly, funding withdrawn. Crisis team, well meaning but pretty useless otherwise. Ward time, forget it, never going back. CMHT, not much use, case worker was helpful, saw a different head doc every time I went. Ongoing support, not very good at all. Got so tired of repeating myself, I started to tell them I was doing better so that they would discharge me. In all honesty, this place has been more beneficial that the rest put together.

Overall, not the best of experiences. There are many faults within a system that is under funded and under staffed and its getting worse from what I read.

Can I be nosy and ask what AD helped you @SinisterKid. I was on Seroxat from 1998-2001 and it made me fat, sweaty and apathetic with no sex drive. But might have gotten me out of the hole I was in, hard to say. I've not touched SSRIs since, but was prescribed Lexapro by my GP last month (haven't taken it)

 

[SinisterKid]

ADS was a day service for all kinds of people with mental health issues, sorry if you thought I meant anti depressants. I do take Sertraline, Metazapine and propranolol, but cant say how effective they are. The placebo effect cannot be discounted.

 

[CaptainT]

ADS was a day service for all kinds of people with mental health issues, sorry if you thought I meant anti depressants. I do take Sertraline, Metazapine and propranolol, but cant say how effective they are. The placebo effect cannot be discounted.

Ah, no worries, glad the day services worked for a time.

My GP even said "whether you take the SSRI or not, we see people get over a breakdown within a year, same results." My gut feeling is that that's true....time solving many people's slumps, but then again I'm happy for you if your combo of meds lifts you up.

 

[Amz_Falls]

I think I'm in the minority when I say they have been brilliant. Both CAMHS and adult services have all gone above and beyond to help me.

 

[CaptainT]

Would anyone on here recommend I give SSRIs (or similar) a go before CTB? I've avoided them as rough life circumstances won't be changing for me but if there are people on here who've had lightbulb moments from them with recovery then I'm all ears.

 

[Amz_Falls]

Would anyone on here recommend I give SSRIs (or similar) a go before CTB? I've avoided them as rough life circumstances won't be changing for me but if there are people on here who've had lightbulb moments from them with recovery then I'm all ears.

I've never ever believed in them and think they're a load of shit. Thought it's my situation making me depressed so what fucking good will they do. Tried loads. Now I've been put on Venlafaxine and I swear to god it really is making a big difference. I've been genuinely happy recently.

 

[CaptainT]

I've never ever believed in them and think they're a load of shit. Thought it's my situation making me depressed so what fucking good will they do. Tried loads. Now I've been put on Venlafaxine and I swear to god it really is making a big difference. I've been genuinely happy recently.

Cheers @Amz_Falls that sounds encouraging. Any big side effects or a rocky few weeks when you started?

 

[SinisterKid]

I have been taking 200mg of Sertraline for over 3 years now. About 5 months ago I had my worst depressive episode since my attempt in 2016. Nothing I can really pinpoint caused that episode. I cant say taking them has had a major or even minor positive influence on my mindset.

Previous to 2016, I knew nothing of mental health and depression and anxiety. From the reports I have read, a SSRI has no more significant effect than placebo. So that to me indicates either, SSRI do very little, or placebo is a phenomenon that we dont understand.

 

[Amz_Falls]

Cheers @Amz_Falls that sounds encouraging. Any big side effects or a rocky few weeks when you started?

Weird thing is, I tried them a couple of years ago and was really poorly immediately from the. Throwing up etc. So stopped them. Restarted them in a last desperate attempt in September because nothing else had worked and I honestly swear they work. No idea why I didn't have any side effects this time but so glad I tried them again. I've heard the withdrawals are horrific but tbh I don't care because they are helping me and if I ever NEED to stop them it will be worth it. Let me know if have any more questions :-) I'm on 175mg XR. I went up to 225mg but felt my mood go down a bit so I'm back on 175 :-)

 

[howard]

Tameside crisis team were terrible
I got admitted for 2 weeks, attempted ctb twice while in and was discharged as not showing any signs of mental illness! 3 years later housebound with agoraphobia and other problems I have SN and a plan
It's got to work as I'm not going near that lot again

 

[Deleted member 1465]

Would anyone on here recommend I give SSRIs (or similar) a go before CTB? I've avoided them as rough life circumstances won't be changing for me but if there are people on here who've had lightbulb moments from them with recovery then I'm all ears.

Prozac worked wonders for me the first time. It made everything easy. But it wore off over around eight month's. Tried a higher dose and it disassociated me.
If it's your last chance saloon then it may be worth a shot. I wouldn't see it as a long term solution though.

 

[Soulless_Angel]

UK NHS IS SHITE..... END OF!!!!!
I can do a break down of my total failure of care if you would like

 

[Pony]

Cahms made me feel even more shame and disgust about myself than I had before I went to them

 

[Soulless_Angel]

feck it..... Discharged from hospital at 1am, No Money, no phone, no offer of anything, in my PJs, covered in blood, I walked 9/10 miles until a lady stopped and refused to go further until she gave me a lift,
HTT, saw me in middle of a major panic attack, saw blood pouring from my arms, said they would come see me another day, another day, agiitated and struggling, couldn't speak... nurse discharged me, informed me I was engaging and better then last time
3 day's later I over dosed, taken to hospital, they didn't care, discharged me
2 weeks later I landed on a bridge, taken back to a hospital, discharged, despite panic attack after panic attack, police threatening to arrest me if I didn't stop lashing out at myself... it was a fucking panic attack
Sent home hours later
fast forward 8/10 weeks NO help NO support, nothing, professionals from other organisations pushing the mental health services yet nothing.
Finally a letter informing as I had missed an appointment I was being discharged fully, with no further help... fuck that, what appointment!!!
14th oct I attempted again, 8 hours in police got me off the bridge, I sit here today, seen twice by someone, told today my next appointment end of November as it's not deemed urgent or important, despite being in tears on the phone, admitting I was struggling, End of November, but itmay change depending on how busy they are and if a urgent referral comes in, I have to wait,
its a waiting game, I told her I am feeling suicidal, she didn't listen, I hung up on her mid talk whilst the tears flowed,

Mental Health Services in Cornwall fucking suck.....

feck it..... Discharged from hospital at 1am, No Money, no phone, no offer of anything, in my PJs, covered in blood, I walked 9/10 miles until a lady stopped and refused to go further until she gave me a life,
HTT, saw me in middle of a major panic attack, saw blood pouring from my arms, said they would come see me another day, another day, agiitated and struggling, couldn't speak... nurse discharged me, informed me I was engaging and better then last time
3 day's later I over dosed, taken to hospital, they didn't care, discharged me
2 weeks later I landed on a bridge, taken back to a hospital, discharged, despite panic attack after panic attack, police threatening to arrest me if I didn't stop lashing out at myself... it was a fucking panic attack
Sent home hours later
fast forward 8/10 weeks NO help NO support, nothing, professionals from other organisations pushing the mental health services yet nothing.
Finally a letter informing as I had missed an appointment I was being discharged fully, with no further help... fuck that, what appointment!!!
14th oct I attempted again, 8 hours in police got me off the bridge, I sit here today, seen twice by someone, told today my next appointment end of November as it's not deemed urgent or important, despite being in tears on the phone, admitting I was struggling, End of November, but itmay change depending on how busy they are and if a urgent referral comes in, I have to wait,
its a waiting game, I told her I am feeling suicidal, she didn't listen, I hung up on her mid talk whilst the tears flowed,

Mental Health Services in Cornwall fucking suck.....

PS this is a long story cut short, do I add in the missing persons report moment, do I add in the self harm moments they wittnessed and ignored? and so on? seriously it fucking sucks

 

[CaptainT]

feck it..... Discharged from hospital at 1am, No Money, no phone, no offer of anything, in my PJs, covered in blood, I walked 9/10 miles until a lady stopped and refused to go further until she gave me a life,
HTT, saw me in middle of a major panic attack, saw blood pouring from my arms, said they would come see me another day, another day, agiitated and struggling, couldn't speak... nurse discharged me, informed me I was engaging and better then last time
3 day's later I over dosed, taken to hospital, they didn't care, discharged me
2 weeks later I landed on a bridge, taken back to a hospital, discharged, despite panic attack after panic attack, police threatening to arrest me if I didn't stop lashing out at myself... it was a fucking panic attack
Sent home hours later
fast forward 8/10 weeks NO help NO support, nothing, professionals from other organisations pushing the mental health services yet nothing.
Finally a letter informing as I had missed an appointment I was being discharged fully, with no further help... fuck that, what appointment!!!
14th oct I attempted again, 8 hours in police got me off the bridge, I sit here today, seen twice by someone, told today my next appointment end of November as it's not deemed urgent or important, despite being in tears on the phone, admitting I was struggling, End of November, but itmay change depending on how busy they are and if a urgent referral comes in, I have to wait,
its a waiting game, I told her I am feeling suicidal, she didn't listen, I hung up on her mid talk whilst the tears flowed,

Mental Health Services in Cornwall fucking suck.....



PS this is a long story cut short, do I add in the missing persons report moment, do I add in the self harm moments they wittnessed and ignored? and so on? seriously it fucking sucks

Holy fuck that's horrifying, you've got my utmost respect and sympathy.

 

[arelia]

Apologies for the digression but I ask all of you who live in the UK and want a chance to improve the funding for NHS mental Health services to consider registering to vote in the upcoming elections. You have until midnight on 26 November to do it and if you don't want to actually go to a polling both you can apply for a postal vote, you don't have to give a reason and you'll get postal voting papers in all future elections until you move house - or shuffle off this mortal coil.
Even if you don't think that the NHS could ever help you, there are people they do help and this current government is set to continue to defund it and ultimately move it to private insurance (and our US cousins know how terrible that option is).

So if you can, please register to vote and hopefully you'll vote for a change of government that will ultimately improve NHS services and keep them free at the point of use.


https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

/end begging

 

[SoupSnakes]

I've been dealing with mental health services since I was about 15 (albeit it was only my GP for the first few years). I've managed to get by with just my GP for a while until the last few years when my depressive episodes have come thick and fast and been much worse.

Being in healthcare (nurse) I can fully appreciate that the funding is terrible, the budget cuts over even just the last 5 years have meant that mental health has taken a massive back seat and it's such a shame. I used to work in A&E and saw first hand people waiting 20+ hours to even be assessed by a psych team so can understand that they're underfunded, understaffed and overstretched.

However, then being on the other side of it and trying to remember that when then needing them myself, it's been tough. It took my first attempt to CTB to be referred to the crisis team, who in their favour, were actually really quite good with me for the first few weeks. However, it's become more and more disappointing the longer I've spent under them (treatment resistant, yay me!) and it's almost like they get sick of you; which takes away any of the sympathy for them being over worked etc.

It's a very tough line and I think sometimes depending on your situation, it's hard to see the positives of mental health services if you feel you aren't being properly treated or aren't moving forward.

To @CaptainT, in regards to the SSRI's, as people have briefly touched on, unfortunately they basically are a placebo. GP's can do very little in the way of medication because of procedure so they have to first line you SSRI's and CBT as a baseline for treatment. Having seen that you've been prescribed Escitalopram (also what I've been prescribed), it's just an SSRI dressed up without the side effects of the other SSRI's.
I've seen your post regarding re-attempting CO method at the end of this week, but if you decided to rethink it for whatever reason, I'd recommend going straight in with asking for either Venlafaxine or Mirtazapine which are pretty gold standard, high percentage of improving your situation. Unfortunately come with many side effects as most drugs (weight gain, etc) but worth looking into if you can tolerate them. Ask for a mood stabiliser alongside (something like Lamotrogine; carries the least side effects of the chosen MS's but a slow process, unfortunately). I wouldn't recommend going back to SSRI's though. I recall discussing some research about them with my nurse prescriber from the Crisis team and it basically said once you've tried 2+ SSRI's your body is less likely to respond because they're so ineffective.

 

[CaptainT]

I've been dealing with mental health services since I was about 15 (albeit it was only my GP for the first few years). I've managed to get by with just my GP for a while until the last few years when my depressive episodes have come thick and fast and been much worse.

Being in healthcare (nurse) I can fully appreciate that the funding is terrible, the budget cuts over even just the last 5 years have meant that mental health has taken a massive back seat and it's such a shame. I used to work in A&E and saw first hand people waiting 20+ hours to even be assessed by a psych team so can understand that they're underfunded, understaffed and overstretched.

However, then being on the other side of it and trying to remember that when then needing them myself, it's been tough. It took my first attempt to CTB to be referred to the crisis team, who in their favour, were actually really quite good with me for the first few weeks. However, it's become more and more disappointing the longer I've spent under them (treatment resistant, yay me!) and it's almost like they get sick of you; which takes away any of the sympathy for them being over worked etc.

It's a very tough line and I think sometimes depending on your situation, it's hard to see the positives of mental health services if you feel you aren't being properly treated or aren't moving forward.

To @CaptainT, in regards to the SSRI's, as people have briefly touched on, unfortunately they basically are a placebo. GP's can do very little in the way of medication because of procedure so they have to first line you SSRI's and CBT as a baseline for treatment. Having seen that you've been prescribed Escitalopram (also what I've been prescribed), it's just an SSRI dressed up without the side effects of the other SSRI's.
I've seen your post regarding re-attempting CO method at the end of this week, but if you decided to rethink it for whatever reason, I'd recommend going straight in with asking for either Venlafaxine or Mirtazapine which are pretty gold standard, high percentage of improving your situation. Unfortunately come with many side effects as most drugs (weight gain, etc) but worth looking into if you can tolerate them. Ask for a mood stabiliser alongside (something like Lamotrogine; carries the least side effects of the chosen MS's but a slow process, unfortunately). I wouldn't recommend going back to SSRI's though. I recall discussing some research about them with my nurse prescriber from the Crisis team and it basically said once you've tried 2+ SSRI's your body is less likely to respond because they're so ineffective.

@SoupSnakes Much much appreciated advice, very clear and honest. I've decided to not go down the GP drugs route - either a miracle happens in my life circumstances or it's CTB pretty soon with CO or SN. Not out of bitterness, just a rational decision that I'm done with the struggle. But many thanks again for your input, it's obvious you're qualified and speak from experience.

 

[LittleJem]

Would anyone on here recommend I give SSRIs (or similar) a go before CTB? I've avoided them as rough life circumstances won't be changing for me but if there are people on here who've had lightbulb moments from them with recovery then I'm all ears.

Try maybe 3 or 4 meds before ctb, at least. The next life could be worse! Try for happiness in this one. I am on my 3rd or 5th med try, depending on how you count it...
I'm giving myself a 2 or 5 year deadline on trying meds/remedies and suffering
There are people who say meds change their life. You could be one of them...

 

[Letmego. Please]

Well as you asked. And i did lie my arse off to get out of my 'local' loony bin last week.

Lets start with the positive's..
My shrink at CMHT threw my brain a curve ball during my most recent 'down the plug hole phase' by scribing me Clomipramine a good old 1960 Tricyclic Anti D which has at least kick started my brain back out of it's virtual catatonic state (My brain was busy being stuck on i need to hang myself to the point that i'd forget to eat, drink apart from taking meds & much to their dismay i stopped even being able to talk)
I also have a very good (But overworked) Cpn.
They got me a nice comfy bed (Will make sense if i remember to put it in later in the Negatives)

The Bad/Negative bits.
Twice i was assessed to be placed on a section but could not be as there were no local beds available, one of the shrinks admitted the second time that if he sectioned me the nearest bed was in Birmingham & i am right down on the south coast & need an even rarer thing in the mental health system, a disabled/adapted room with an electric hospital type bed (I know it's killed off any hope i ever had of a 'future' relationship!!) Also not quite sure what it's doing in the negatives as i didn't want to be sectioned.
The second time they came to section me they made it clear that i had no choice about being placed in hospital, it just came down to how & when. If i agreed to go in i could wait till a bed was free locally & give them the time to find a bed that wouldn't leave me stuck like a upturned turtle unable to roll over or get up. So i agreed & had 3 extra days at home.
The 'Adapted' room was noting of the sort, apart from the bed they rented, i had one rail by the toilet that was oddly sized for the 'larger' person as when i sat on it my backside hit the water & you had to kinda perch on an edge to avoid falling in. I was unable to have a shower for the 2/3wks i was there as the shower is just a large room with nowhere to leave my chair or a towel to stay dry.
There was never enough staff which is normal sadly, nothing to do all day while in there, no groups or activities & no one to talk to (I'm guessing the usual routine was to knock on the office door, wait till someone answers, then ask for some time with a random member of staff at a later date) I'm not able to do that, but even the people who could were still being told yes only for no-one to appear before the next shift came on.
Of the people i spoke to while in there, apart from quacks i spoke to no one bar the usual "how you doing?" Ok, crap. I did get to have two real conversations (But still withholding certain incriminating info) But they happened when my 'Community' Nurse came in to visit me.
They couldn't dispense the correct meds, at the correct time, or even find them half the time & they even managed to get themselves reported at one point by dispensing a controlled drug at the wrong dose & the wrong time, which is a big no no & the person who did it had to report themselves to the (I imagine) evil hospital managers for a summery whooping.

I could go on but even I'm getting bored now. Needless to say when asked if i still had plans to top myself i said no & got the hell out of there as quick as i could. I am now safely back at home & as I've been in hospital everyone seems to think I'm now fine so they have left me alone at last.

I have watched the change in MH services since the early 90's to now with a certain level of depression that what used to be there for the likes of me when i was younger is no longer there to protect & help those that need it the most & would benefit from the help the most. If i wasn't so depressed I'd be angry about the loss of any kind of safety net for the young & vulnerable people of this shitty country.

 

[Xaphous]

Useless by design, given the run-around always, refused diagnosis, sectioned against will, uneducated about anything beyond mild depression, unsympathetic. 0/10

 

[Mikan3]

Bristol Wellbeing Therapies got defunded recently and replaced with some private company called Vita Health? Anyone had any experience with them? I'm wondering whether I should bother referring myself.

 

[SoupSnakes]

(I know it's killed off any hope i ever had of a 'future' relationship!!)

Despite your long post about what sounds like a terrible yet common experience (sorry for you that you had to endure that!), this is all I took from it. No need to be negative about yourself, plenty of people wouldn't care about a disability!

 

[freemefrompain]

They are bad. If I had the money I would get private mental health care. Unless you have physical injury (deep cut, attempt etc) they will not rush to see you. After my attempted od a while ago I was sent home with no after care, no follow up. Doctors are not reliable