What is it like in other parts of the world for mental health services?
Where I live in the U.K you get referred for help by your family doctor when your mental health gets worse, then the mental health team help you through a crisis and then discharge you and don’t monitor your medication or anything. You never see a psychiatrist or have any other contact with anyone to do with sz unless you’re actively psychotic.
It seems like they only deal with people when they become disruptive or are a danger to themselves or other people and outside of that there is no support at all.
I just wondered if this is an experience shared by others?
I’ve had a very different experience, living in the U.S. I see a psychiatrist regularly, even though I’m pretty much stable. I’m down to seeing her just once every three months now. I see a nurse once a month for my injection; she also checks up on how I’m doing, and relays info to my dr as needed. I can’t imagine a family doctor being responsible for treating my sza; that’s something that requires specialized training. It’s unfortunate that you only get a psychiatrist when your symptoms get out of control.
Actually, I should note that there have been times in the past when I have been stable enough that I was switched to seeing a psych nurse practitioner instead of a psychiatrist, but still that’s a person with specialized training in treating MI.
Wow, that really sucks. I’m sorry that this is the kind of treatment you receive. Where I live in the U.S. (South Carolina), we have a community mental health center. I am able to see a pdoc and a therapist on a monthly basis. They also have a sliding-scale payment plan for low-income people like me.
I go to a community mental health center, as well. Since I have no insurance, and based on my income, I pay nothing. I don’t get therapy, though, just dr and nurse appts.
So they only see you when psychotic? Do you at least get your medication that you need?
The dems keep touting european healthcare as the go to model. But if they only see you when you are psychotic sounds kinda bad. At least you don’t pay for it. But then again I have a sweet gig where I currently don’t pay for my doctor visits because I don’t have a job.
You do get meds thankfully. I am just sick of being left to keep having relapses. It has happened four times now in the last two years and nothing gets done until I am so bad I have to go to hospital.
It’s illogical because preventative care long term is far cheaper than the other option. Hospitalization is extremely expensive and it’s going to happen a lot more often if a person doesn’t have regular access to the care they need.
The real issue is that there’s just not a lot of organization and structure when it comes to the mental health field, especially in government. The US right now is a friggin nightmare with Trump, who knows nothing about mental health and probably couldn’t care less…
straight out of hospital I was with the assertive outreach service… I had family therapy between me and my mother for about a year and still see a CPN it once a week 11 years of. Stability.
Find out from the GP if they can give you a referral to Mental Health Team they will help you I hope
They are throwing money away at hospital… And are finding the great investment to be in care in the community in the UK.
Fewer and fewer beds all the time
I found the opposite of your statements
Beds in hospital are extremely rare and you’re lucky if you get one because they save a life
But care in there community helps you stay out of hospital for real X
Yeah, it is really bad. When in crisis I referred myself to CMHT and was seen by a social worker. He discharged me with a letter listing some Fb community groups on it and local abused women group which was totally not relevant. I could not believe my eyes when I got it. When I find a proper work I am going to find a private therapist. NHS with regard to mental health is bull…
You are lucky then. I have not seen any professional mental health worker for the last 6 years. I went back to my country to be hospitalised in 2011 as in UK they wanted to treat me in the community and I was acutely psychotic back then, sleeping with a razor under the pillow having wanted to commit a suicide. Only thanks to my friends who called my mum who lives back in my country I received the treatment I needed. With no disrespect NHS mental health very often does not have any idea what they are doing. Even just recently having been in crisis again, my GP called the consultant himself saying I will not get a needed appointment for a long time so it’s quicker if he talk to him.
Forgot
I have to say I had extreme minimal contact fir the first 12 years and did not accept home treatment when offered it
I was psychotic for 9 months twice in a row and my sister had died on leave from that ward
My mum bought in my sisters urn in and let them know to take ne seriously
Your sister died on leave from the ward? Did she also have mental health problems? I am so sorry to hear that. I will think twice next time before I call lucky sb else… my sympathy.
She had treatment resistant schizophrenia and was not lucid for about 12 years,
Don’t worry n thanks x
If you want help maybe asking would be best
Tell them you need more support… I’m sure you can get on board with an outpatient treatment team - essencely a care coordinator / CPN and possibly a social worker ( they are like a cross between friends and psychologists)
I’m pretty sure that if you ask for it and tell them your needs then there will be something there for you
Thank you @Thanna the thing is I have already referred myself to CMHT and spoke to one of the member of staff (later I found out he was a social worker from the discharge letter he sent me). I told him my needs, I requested therapy saying I need some additional support as meds not working well recently and am afraid I may not finish my uni course due to that. He sent me a discharge letter with different online communities on line from my own country and the address to local sexually abused women centre. None of them were relevant at all to my situation… But just recently my GP started to take me more seriously, it seems he read my medical history and is very helpful. He called the consultant himself and changed my meds and insisted on control app in two weeks. So then it is not bad:blush: just mental health team let me down but I don’t mind who looks after me… I am glad you finally got the support you needed. And thank God we have mums… Have a great day!
Have a great day! 
