mental health: what do you think?
what do you think about mental health? what's your opinion on the current mental health system we have in the NHS? what do you think should be done to improve the system, ie, care and support etc.
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Less stigma, more support in the community and better social care rather than crisis management which becomes a revolving door with people going from crisis to crisis without help to improve their day to day life. More activities for people with mental health problems them allow them to assimilate with society rather than stay isolated at the margins which exacerbated these conditions anyway.
Awful! I have been refused help (other than medication) despite SH and suicidal thoughts because apparently the fact that I have a job means I'm not ill enough!
Money. Lack Of money is the reason we have massive waiting lists. It's the reason that mental health triage is needed on all services not just crisis care - meanings that you have to meet strict criteria to enter help. It's the reason that there aren't more services which link recovery with socialisation and other factors.
Often people working in the field want these treatments for you but they can't offer it. Real long term support is hard to find because there is no money.
If there were less of a stigma there might be a better distribution of funds between physical and mental health problems - but there might also be more donations and funds available for charities. But it's still a recovering economy, services have been cut everywhere. The private sector isn't necessarily advertised that well - especially as many offer reduced fee schemes once established
Often people working in the field want these treatments for you but they can't offer it. Real long term support is hard to find because there is no money.
If there were less of a stigma there might be a better distribution of funds between physical and mental health problems - but there might also be more donations and funds available for charities. But it's still a recovering economy, services have been cut everywhere. The private sector isn't necessarily advertised that well - especially as many offer reduced fee schemes once established
As for the which is better argument..which is a tired one at that. Evidence has suggested that medication and therapy have the same effect on an individual when they work. Therapeutic change can be just as temporary as change made via drugs and both make a change on a neurological level.
Sometimes people need to be on medication in order to access therapy in a safe way. It's not an either or.
Sometimes people need to be on medication in order to access therapy in a safe way. It's not an either or.
My opinion on mental health services provided by the NHS is that it's a joke and needs a serious overhaul. Part of it is definitely due to under funding and another part is to do with wrong people being in that profession. The amount of docs, therapists and other mental health workers I've personally dealt with who have been the most callous and unemphatic people I've ever met is unbelievable and they are the last people who should be working with potentially vulnerable people.
I also agree that there has to be more done in regards to offering other help than meds. Sure, meds work great for some people and it's brilliant that they do but they aren't an one size fits all deal and they get prescribed willy nilly and I personally find it worrying that they prescribe tablets that can worsen your symptoms and even cause suicidal tendencies without checking up on you other than once a month. To me, there should be more supervision in a lot of cases when it comes to someone taking meds, especially if it's the first time they have taken them, took a bad reaction in the past or have felt suicidal before. Docs knew they made me suicidal and that's a big reason why I won't take them again plus I have my OCD contamination fears related to anything I eat, drink, touch etc and yet they still offer me meds like they were bloody candy! Its like they don't know what else to do other than prescribe meds and that cab really make the patient believe they are never going to get better unless they take them which is the wrong approach when it comes to taking meds. Meds can help but they don't cure. I was even told that not taking meds was a form of self harm even though they knew a big reason why I couldn't take them was just due to a symptom of a condition I have, not because I wanted to punish myself
Personally, I can't thank the NHS for any improvements regarding my MH. I can only thank myself, my family and friends and self help books, videos and things like that. The NHS has been good for my physical health most of the time but they have a long way to go to when it comes to MH and I know I'm not the only one who feels like that.
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I also agree that there has to be more done in regards to offering other help than meds. Sure, meds work great for some people and it's brilliant that they do but they aren't an one size fits all deal and they get prescribed willy nilly and I personally find it worrying that they prescribe tablets that can worsen your symptoms and even cause suicidal tendencies without checking up on you other than once a month. To me, there should be more supervision in a lot of cases when it comes to someone taking meds, especially if it's the first time they have taken them, took a bad reaction in the past or have felt suicidal before. Docs knew they made me suicidal and that's a big reason why I won't take them again plus I have my OCD contamination fears related to anything I eat, drink, touch etc and yet they still offer me meds like they were bloody candy! Its like they don't know what else to do other than prescribe meds and that cab really make the patient believe they are never going to get better unless they take them which is the wrong approach when it comes to taking meds. Meds can help but they don't cure. I was even told that not taking meds was a form of self harm even though they knew a big reason why I couldn't take them was just due to a symptom of a condition I have, not because I wanted to punish myself
Personally, I can't thank the NHS for any improvements regarding my MH. I can only thank myself, my family and friends and self help books, videos and things like that. The NHS has been good for my physical health most of the time but they have a long way to go to when it comes to MH and I know I'm not the only one who feels like that.
Posted from TSR Mobile
(edited 7 years ago)
The NHS Mental Health is crap!!!!
They don't know what they're doing!
I've had two therapists who've been with the NHS, neither of whom helped me at all! And if anything they actually made me worse than I already was! Was not impressed!
Now they've told me they don't have any psychologists. I asked when would one be available, they said we don't have any at all in the NHS!
Which is a bit dissapointing really seeing as their main job is to make people feel better!
So now I'm having to pay a lot for a private psychotherapist (although he is brilliant and has helped massively already)!
The therapists used need to be trained on mental illnesses and how to deal with them.
Mine kept using ERP which clearly didn't work for me, yet they kept using it because it's the only method available!
Which is why my new therapist is a lot better as he's got lots of methods which actually work!!
The NHS is a joke!
They made my OCD worse somehow!!! Surely that's not what they're supposed to do!?
Awful!
They don't know what they're doing!
I've had two therapists who've been with the NHS, neither of whom helped me at all! And if anything they actually made me worse than I already was! Was not impressed!
Now they've told me they don't have any psychologists. I asked when would one be available, they said we don't have any at all in the NHS!
Which is a bit dissapointing really seeing as their main job is to make people feel better!
So now I'm having to pay a lot for a private psychotherapist (although he is brilliant and has helped massively already)!
The therapists used need to be trained on mental illnesses and how to deal with them.
Mine kept using ERP which clearly didn't work for me, yet they kept using it because it's the only method available!
Which is why my new therapist is a lot better as he's got lots of methods which actually work!!
The NHS is a joke!
They made my OCD worse somehow!!! Surely that's not what they're supposed to do!?
Awful!
I've had reasonably good experiences. Like anything in the NHS, it varies depending on the team you are being treated by and the resources and pressure on it at that particular time. My mum has bipolar affective disorder, and the NHS has saved her life and by helping her, given me a normal and healthy childhood. She sees a psychiatrist regularly, has a lovely CPN who engages with the whole family and is involved in an occupational therapy run gardening group. When she has been more unwell, the local CPNs come 3-4 times per day to keep her safe. Her medication has meant she has not been unwell in 7 years now. My experiences have been more mixed. I have recurrent unipolar depression and most of my care has been by my wonderful GP. There were times where she saw me every week or twice a week when I was really unwell and gave me that shred of hope that kept me going. However, I did have to wait a while once she persuaded me I needed to see a psychiatrist. Probably 3-4 months, and the psychiatrist now sees me every 6 weeks or so. She is thorough and very straightforward and I feel she knows what she is doing. My psychotherapy referral from the psychiatrist to another team has taken 4-5 months and i'm just starting that now. In general, the people i've seen have been very good, and I felt like I've had good care, but there is a bit of waiting time which can feel frustrating.
Original post by Derickjones016
Hey
I think the whole thing about not being able to post links is because you're a new user to TSR and you've posted in the MH forum - which means your posts have to be approve by a member of the Support Team here.I've removed your link because they could be potentially harmful to others reading this thread but if you'd be up for making a thread about what you wanted to ask (without the link), we'd be more than happy to approve it
Hey thanks for the reply. Actually, there's nothing harmful in that link, it's a link to an article of an online magazine. I can start a thread without posting any links but then again I will have to copy the entire article, if that's ok
thanks for the reply. Actually, there's nothing harmful in that link, it's a link to an article of an online magazine. I can start a thread without posting any links but then again I will have to copy the entire article, if that's ok Original post by Derickjones016
Hey thanks for the reply. Actually, there's nothing harmful in that link, it's a link to an article of an online magazine. I can start a thread without posting any links but then again I will have to copy the entire article, if that's ok
thanks for the reply. Actually, there's nothing harmful in that link, it's a link to an article of an online magazine. I can start a thread without posting any links but then again I will have to copy the entire article, if that's ok Put it in a spoiler
Spoiler 
Actually, if you read that story, it's about a personal issue that he has gone through and then he has written an article to let others know about his own experience and then he has tried to spread an awareness of the issue. So why TSR doesn't like to post it? One of the links on his article says 50% of them are having college degrees and 12% of them are having post graduate degrees. Therefore, it is good to be aware of these issues somehow, besides my friend is also going through a similar case. Can I get an approval for posting that.
Much appreciated,
Derick
Actually, if you read that story, it's about a personal issue that he has gone through and then he has written an article to let others know about his own experience and then he has tried to spread an awareness of the issue. So why TSR doesn't like to post it? One of the links on his article says 50% of them are having college degrees and 12% of them are having post graduate degrees. Therefore, it is good to be aware of these issues somehow, besides my friend is also going through a similar case. Can I get an approval for posting that.Much appreciated,
Derick
My thread is being approved to go the recycle bin haha
Original post by Derickjones016
My thread is being approved to go the recycle bin haha
What do you mean sorry?
Original post by Anonymous
I've had reasonably good experiences. Like anything in the NHS, it varies depending on the team you are being treated by and the resources and pressure on it at that particular time. My mum has bipolar affective disorder, and the NHS has saved her life and by helping her, given me a normal and healthy childhood. She sees a psychiatrist regularly, has a lovely CPN who engages with the whole family and is involved in an occupational therapy run gardening group. When she has been more unwell, the local CPNs come 3-4 times per day to keep her safe. Her medication has meant she has not been unwell in 7 years now. My experiences have been more mixed. I have recurrent unipolar depression and most of my care has been by my wonderful GP. There were times where she saw me every week or twice a week when I was really unwell and gave me that shred of hope that kept me going. However, I did have to wait a while once she persuaded me I needed to see a psychiatrist. Probably 3-4 months, and the psychiatrist now sees me every 6 weeks or so. She is thorough and very straightforward and I feel she knows what she is doing. My psychotherapy referral from the psychiatrist to another team has taken 4-5 months and i'm just starting that now. In general, the people i've seen have been very good, and I felt like I've had good care, but there is a bit of waiting time which can feel frustrating.
You and your mum sound very lucky. It's really heartwarming to read a mostly positive story.
The waiting lists!
Original post by TheonlyMrsHolmes
The waiting lists!
Agreed, they are so bad.
I think the current system, from what I have experienced, is awful.
I am presenting this from a young person's perspective.
SH and suicide discussion
Personally, I think one of the big steps that needs to be taken in helping the issue of mental health is education and more support.
Education is really key in areas such as this.
I am presenting this from a young person's perspective.
SH and suicide discussion
Spoiler
Personally, I think one of the big steps that needs to be taken in helping the issue of mental health is education and more support.
Education is really key in areas such as this.
(edited 7 years ago)
