Disappointed in mental healthy service

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

If there's any way you can stretch to it, going private will be worth every penny - your local branch of MIND may have details - and it's a perfectly reasonable household expense if he is that unhappy - it's an investment in his health and your future.

It may mean a few plates of beans on toast for dinner, but that's nothing compared to how hard things will get if he can't work - or worse.

meritaten

Shambles is not the word for mental health services. Disgraceful is more like it. and its a postcode lottery.
I was impressed that you actually saw a Psychologist within a month. my son waited over a year and didn't actually see his 'consultant'. not for the two years he was under him. he saw a 'Nurse' instead.
it took another year to refer to a specialist psychiatrist who diagnosed him there and then. and then another year for the follow up which SHOULD have been within six weeks.
if your OH works in NHS he has been fast-tracked. use that to get the services he needs. I hope he gets the help he requires.

Jacko_amz

Thanks everyone, I thought MIND was only for 11-24yr olds? X

Gingernutty

Jacko_amz wrote: »

Thanks everyone, I thought MIND was only for 11-24yr olds? X

MIND is for everybody, but you'll find they're overwhelmed.

This thread shows how bad it is round my way.....

I'm still looking for help almost five years on......

Guest101

Speak to your local CCG, they can help. These services are commissioned for a lot of money, they'll want to know.

BigAunty

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

If there's any way you can stretch to it, going private will be worth every penny - your local branch of MIND may have details - and it's a perfectly reasonable household expense if he is that unhappy - it's an investment in his health and your future.

It may mean a few plates of beans on toast for dinner, but that's nothing compared to how hard things will get if he can't work - or worse.

I second that, to see it as an investment and a health expense akin to spending on glasses, contact lenses, chiropody or the dentist.

I expect it varies from area to area, and certain branches will be more expensive than others (i imagine psychotherapists/psychologists dearer than counsellors) but round my way, it's around £30-50 an hour.

One of my friends is a trained counsellor who does free counselling for a charity so though it's a postcode lottery and perhaps aimed at those on benefits/low waged (not sure of the criteria for her organisation), there are some free services.

You have indicated that it is anxiety/anger based. I think I've seen some other posters recommend online courses but can't quite remember the type - is it Mindful Based Stress Reduction or CBT - they are different things, right? Hopefully someone can recommend some free resources with a good reputation which help people retrain their thoughts and become a bit more mentally resilient.

[Deleted User]

I have had problems with suicide and depression.., I saw a MIND counsellor for free through my GP's surgery and then she referred me to the pay for service. It costs me £7.50 an hour (payable whether you attend or not) - although I think the rates have gone up. I am on income support so this is their lowest rate.

I don't know how long I waited.., but it wasn't too long - two or three months? In my area they even do Saturday and evening appts but I know this isn't offered everywhere.

Much better than the NHS.., was actively suicidal and was passed from pillar to post because the counsellors wouldn't risk seeing me because I was suicidal lol. So I got no help at all when I was far worse than I am now.

Now maybe I can finally sort my head out. Hope so. MIND will accept self referrals as well, phone up the main number in London and they will be able to give you the correct contact for your local area. Then you can tell them what the problem is and they'll fill in the referral form for you.

I hope your partner is able to get the help he needs.

Netwizard

Where I live, there is a mental health hospital only down the road.


When my friend and his GF split up, he wasn't feeling too good, punching walls, crying, most out of character.


He rung the mental health hospital down the road to see if they could offer help, but they said not without a GP referral.


After that phone call, I picked him up and we took him down there. He saw the duty doctor and crisis team, they sat him down, had a chat, and arranged follow up calls and counselling for him.


Thankfully that saw him right. I'm not sure if you have a hospital anywhere near you, but if you just turn up explaining the situation and that you want to speak to someone, they have a duty of care to sort you out, usually sitting you down with a duty doctor, hospital co-ordinator in charge, and the crisis team, talking things through, and arranging support and follow up calls as necessary

determined_new_ms

A lot of towns now have set up counselling services that are a lesser cost than private. My town has 2 services one is a religious chairty - however the counselling is not religious based iyswim. The service is free but asks for a donation. These are trained and experienced counsellors.

The other one is where 4th year trainee counseller get their hours counselling needed to qualify. They ask a donation of £10 *if you can afford it* people on a low income can use the service for free.

Both of these services are not time bound like via the nhs. It might be worth seeing if your area does something similar. If they do ask to see a counseller who has experience of helping people with similar difficulties

Lack of resources in the nhs has meant MH services have really suffered over recent years.

dandelionclock30

What about also looking into self help groups and also anger management programmes?. In my city these are free and some groups take place after work.Lots of people find them to be very helpful, ask Mind whats available.He could always go to something like this in addition to counselling or whilst hes waiting for it.