Hi, this is my first post on here. Is or has anyone has any issues with their community mental health team not listening to you, or even worse, challenging you when they say they don't believe that you'll commit suicide? I've asked for help off of them sooooo many times and I keep getting rejected. Makes me feel that my life isn't worth it
blivogade
Member
- Nov 7, 2019
- 88
When i first joined CMHT, i had the same experience, it seemed like they didn't care when i said i had plans and never did anything to help.
I came from CAMHS where if you said anything indicating risk, something was done but CMHT just doesn't work like that.
You should talk to them clearly about what you want from them, i didn't understand this at first, so they didn't seem to do anything but once i communicated what i actually wanted done then they were able to work with me.
If you feel you have communicated clearly to them and they haven't listened you can always request a change in worker.
I came from CAMHS where if you said anything indicating risk, something was done but CMHT just doesn't work like that.
You should talk to them clearly about what you want from them, i didn't understand this at first, so they didn't seem to do anything but once i communicated what i actually wanted done then they were able to work with me.
If you feel you have communicated clearly to them and they haven't listened you can always request a change in worker.
GoodPersonEffed
Brevity is my middle name, but my name was TL
- Jan 11, 2020
- 6,727
What kind of help are you asking them to give you?
I worked several years at a CMHC in an administrative front line capacity, and later used CMHC services, so I've seen both sides. I've seen how clients are devalued, and I've seen how limiting the system is. They're funded by Medicaid and Medicare, and sometimes grants, so they offer services based on funding, not on individual client needs. Clinicians often start their careers there to get experience and steady pay, and usually the good ones get out as soon as they can because burnout happens fast. Private clinicians are much more empathetic and helpful imo, but folks who use CMHC don't have that option, because they can't afford it and/or the clinician doesn't take their coverage. CMHC services are a kind of constant dangling carrot -- the help is supposed to be there, but it's not.
I agree with the suggestion to request a change in workers. It is rare, but there are occasionally really good clinicians who are there for the right reasons, that is, to be truly supportive, and can stay balanced in spite of the volatility of CMHC infrastructures.
I worked several years at a CMHC in an administrative front line capacity, and later used CMHC services, so I've seen both sides. I've seen how clients are devalued, and I've seen how limiting the system is. They're funded by Medicaid and Medicare, and sometimes grants, so they offer services based on funding, not on individual client needs. Clinicians often start their careers there to get experience and steady pay, and usually the good ones get out as soon as they can because burnout happens fast. Private clinicians are much more empathetic and helpful imo, but folks who use CMHC don't have that option, because they can't afford it and/or the clinician doesn't take their coverage. CMHC services are a kind of constant dangling carrot -- the help is supposed to be there, but it's not.
I agree with the suggestion to request a change in workers. It is rare, but there are occasionally really good clinicians who are there for the right reasons, that is, to be truly supportive, and can stay balanced in spite of the volatility of CMHC infrastructures.
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sufferingalways
Avoiding flashing images, epilepsy.
- Apr 26, 2020
- 550
Hi, the CMHT that I tried to get help from, in my opinion and experience are best described as lazy, ignorant, and I had the misfortune to be libeled by the so called care coordinator, so you're definitely NOT alone in the despair you feel from yours. I would describe the CMHT I tried to get help from .. as another 4 letter word starting with C ....
(I was going to change my text colour but users on a white page might not see deep yellow ..)
The first time I was involved with a CMHT I had a lovely social worker who really tried to help me, unfortunately she left and her predecessor was useless - didn't care at all. I moved and the last CMHT I was involved with wrote me off before I'd even sat down because of the report from the useless woman. Unfortunately it seems that it's the luck of the draw which is so wrong.
People constantly say that mental health is as important as physical but if you broke your leg (always the analogy they go for( and the surgeon operated and you woke up and your leg was still dangling at an odd angle would they really get away with 'well, I tried'?
People constantly say that mental health is as important as physical but if you broke your leg (always the analogy they go for( and the surgeon operated and you woke up and your leg was still dangling at an odd angle would they really get away with 'well, I tried'?
I have communicated and told them what I need, but they aren't willing to help. My actual care coordinator is good but no one really listens to her so her hands are tied. It's frustrating because I've got a good relationship with her, but the people above her don't seem to care
Uu
its so sad! It's their actual job to help! I don't get how they work out which patient is worth help and which isn't...
I just think it takes a lot of courage to ask for help and start opening up about all your trauma for them to just invalidate everything you say. All my life the people who are supposed to care and look after me have made it hell. It's just hard because it feels as though my life isn't worth saving
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Blackpoolbootz
If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.
- Apr 19, 2020
- 97
Saw the cmht years ago doctor referred me absolutely useless. Made me feel unimportant devalued and not listered too. Alot of people I seem to speak too had same experance :-(
sufferingalways
Avoiding flashing images, epilepsy.
- Apr 26, 2020
- 550
hi I hear you, and I feel so much the same! Rotten pieces of poop can kiss my a$$
I opened up a huge amount of trauma not just to her, but another piece of lazy turd as I wanted a fresh assessment. I admitted to it when she asked "have you any plans to end your life?" Yet on the "report" I received as follow up it said "not at risk of suicide.." Where the f** do they get these people?! This girl was practically a child compared to me and I often wondered what she rather do than "help people"
Utter tripe for all the "help" I received over the three months, and to lie about the care plan .. I will be going to court for some recompense when I figure out what I am entitled to, and get this plumbing fault fixed that keeps me from sleeping (and any coherent thought).
Sorry to hear that things are not good for you. I send you a warm **hug**
Do you know what alternatives you have? Could you enquire at other services away from CMHT? If I was coherent and able to function fully I would be sending letters /emails for this route too but no able yet. Adds so much stress .. I can't focus on this right now, but I hope you can find a way to get support, it sounds urgent for you too. Blessings ;)
hi, sorry to hear yours was not good either. This not caring seems an epidemic all over.
I wish we could change this! But I'm afraid we are fighting a losing battle with them
Soulless_Angel
existence is futile
- Jul 10, 2019
- 2,225
the mental health system sucks, had a nurse in once, I was tail end of a panic attack, my arms a mess, I couldn't speak, I was anxious and a fucking mess, she took one look said she would be back another day, the other day was the day she discharged me as she didn't see me as in need of help,
Next time I encountered them, Id been held for a few hours on a 136, when I was home I didn't see anyone, called a nurse up in tears, she was soo cold and heartless I put the phone down, yet again not long after, fully discharged from the system.
Fucking bunch of piss takers they really are.
Next time I encountered them, Id been held for a few hours on a 136, when I was home I didn't see anyone, called a nurse up in tears, she was soo cold and heartless I put the phone down, yet again not long after, fully discharged from the system.
Fucking bunch of piss takers they really are.
sufferingalways
Avoiding flashing images, epilepsy.
- Apr 26, 2020
- 550
@Blackpoolbootz
hello there, I use an advocacy charity - used to be called SeAp now called The Advocacy People. This would be a good place to reach out to, I have a lady (she's paused my case due to my sleep deprivation, as i'm going through a hard time with council landlord too .. ) anyways try them they are very helpful. link in a second ..
About them;
About us | The Advocacy People
The Advocacy People believe in a society where; people feel in control of their lives and are confident to speak up.
www.theadvocacypeople.org.uk
Under the Services tab;
NHS advocacy
Complaints about the NHS | The Advocacy People
Supporting you if you have not had the service you expected from a service provided or paid for by the NHS.
www.theadvocacypeople.org.uk
contact;
Get in touch | The Advocacy People
Get in touch with us to see if we can provide support to you.
www.theadvocacypeople.org.uk
That's disgusting. Try the advocacy people links. I have a very helpful lady helping me, and my so called "care coordinator" commited libel. Mine's all in writing and she even tried to pin a false diagnosis on me of EUPD just because I have a mind of my own and disagreed with her. If this needs to go to court I swear even if i need a wheelchair to get there I will sue her for every penny. It's abuse. When i finally get well myself, I aim to train as an advocate to help others in this scary powerless position, and help the victims assert their needs, all the way to court if need be. Let the so called staff feel powerless when it all blows up in their face, what they've put people through who needed their help.
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dietsodamnsad
Choosing a title is a lot of pressure :/
- Apr 8, 2020
- 36
Hi friend I completely get where you're coming from. I've been with them since I turned 18 (before I was with CAMHS) and they just don't take people seriously unless they are batshit crazy. I tried so hard to get them to take me seriously about how I was feeling but nothing changed until I attempted again. I'm with the home treatment team and it's like pulling teeth to get them to realise I'm serious about this.
I'm sorry you've had the same experience. It's awful. Have you tried private? It's obviously going to cost money but it might be better, I'm not sure. I'm stuck too.
I'm sorry you've had the same experience. It's awful. Have you tried private? It's obviously going to cost money but it might be better, I'm not sure. I'm stuck too.
Yeah, home based treatment are not really any better either. It's like you ask for help, but they say you don't need it because you asked for it. You attempt suicide but they said you don't mean it because you would be dead already. You die, and then they say she should have asked for help..... I've looked into private but it's so expensive! And then if you get a shit therapist, you're fucked! I'm sorry you're having a shit time of it too :(
dietsodamnsad
Choosing a title is a lot of pressure :/
- Apr 8, 2020
- 36
You're so right. I've attempted 4 times in the last 3 months and only now am I getting an appointment to see the psychologist. They have said to me that people who really want to die would have done it already. It feels like they're daring me to do it again.
Asking for help and being honest about the fact that I have plans to end my life goes against everything I have, but I do it anyway and I'm met with the advice that I should read my safety plan and reach out. It's useless. They're taking things a bit more seriously now because they're seeing me every day but it's too little too late. I don't think there's anything anyone can do for me anymore, and I'm not sure I want their 'help'.
I'm as stuck as you are. I can only offer my sympathy and support. Have you tried being deadass honest with them? I've straight up said I am going to end my life, this is not an 'if' situation, it's a 'when'. At least if something happens they can't accuse you of not opening up.
i had a similar convo with a crisis clinician last week, he said because I talked about suicide it meant I wouldn't do it... it was almost like he was challenging me!
It's good that they are seeing you every day though, is that not just a bit of hope? I get the premise about safety plans but once you're in a crisis it kinda goes out the window...
So you've been honest with them, what have they said to that? I'm really honest with my therapist, who is down right worried but the crisis team aren't so.... not that they could do anything I suppose, I'm set on doing it so
dietsodamnsad
Choosing a title is a lot of pressure :/
- Apr 8, 2020
- 36
I feel the same way, there's a fucked up part of me that wants to prove them wrong. It's really frustrating when people don't take you seriously, you want to do anything you can sometimes so they'll listen. For me safety plans are useless, if I want to end my life I'm not going to be 'cured' by reading a shitty leaflet.
About being honest, it's kind of hitting them now but it's too little too late. I essentially told them I am going to end my life at some point, probably soon and I don't think there's much that you can do to help me but I'm willing to hear you guys out. They only decided to see me in person after the police found me on a bridge one night and they decided to up that to seeing me everyday after I took an od last week. I'm being honest because when I'm gone I don't want them to say that I didn't take advantage of the service, or that I didn't tell anyone how I was feeling. I did everything I could to tell them I'm at risk, as far as discussing my plans to od, jump, and sever an artery (trying this tomorrow, I told them this a few days ago but whatever I guess). When they put me in 2 separate hospitals and discharged me after 2 weeks I told them I still want to end my life and I had intentions to do so. I was honest, and it wasn't enough.
Still I encourage everyone to be honest with the services, even if it's to tell yourself that you really did try everything.
FriendofDeath
Elementalist
- May 22, 2020
- 833
I don't know that any of that advice or "help" would be effective for me. That's the kind of stuff that makes me want to do the opposite! Wise to be honest. In the states, I don't really have a team. I have a psychiatrist who was at first very effective for me, and a therapist that I can talk to about anything. Had group therapy, in and outpatient, but for the most part others weren't in the same place I was, so it did little good. I'd become the cheerleader.
i hope you can find what you need. Keep pushing. If you believe your life is worth it, it is. Don't let a group of uncaring professionals make a decision for you.
i hope you can find what you need. Keep pushing. If you believe your life is worth it, it is. Don't let a group of uncaring professionals make a decision for you.
The fact they are seeing you everyday though, does it not give you a slight bit of hope? I'm in no way trying to undermine how you feel in the slightest! What do they say to you when you tell
Them how you're really feeling?
I think for someone like me, when being honest has called people saying I'm lying, attention seeking, callous, vindictive (maybe that's the stupid EUPD diagnosis ) then I don't want to be honest anymore. Because its hard! I've tried to be honest to get the help but I haven't got the help so
dietsodamnsad
Choosing a title is a lot of pressure :/
- Apr 8, 2020
- 36
Hey I recently got stuck with that diagnosis too, I hate it so much because of the same reasons. I feel like people think I'm attention seeking and over dramatic too. I try to push those feelings away which isn't easy, it goes against everything you know to be honest, but in the end I think this is literally a matter of life or death and when I'm gone I don't want them to say I didn't reach out or be honest.
They react calmly when I tell them these things, again reading off the stupid safety plan. They acknowledge thats how I'm feeling but that's about it. I go home after my appointment feeling just as suicidal and devastated as before. That's why them seeing me everyday isn't giving me hope, I still feel the same way as before. Maybe if this kind of support was offered before I got this bad would have helped. It's too little too late now.
There isn't much they can do tbh other than chuck me back into hospital and they don't want me to go because I have attempted a couple of times in there too.
Do you think being in hospital will help? I'm sorry you're going through this, I wish they could be more help! I had something similar with the home based treatment team the first time I was with them, think I've been with them once more after that, but now they don't think I'm "high risk" enough. Not sure what they use to measure this.....
I deffo think having the EUPD diagnosis stops people from getting the right help because people just dismiss you.
I deffo think having the EUPD diagnosis stops people from getting the right help because people just dismiss you.
I am going to be working in that field soon. As in a few months to a year. I honestly can't count the amount of times (as a student) I've had to advocate for a person myself because staff aren't listening to them. Like they do all the tick box questions etc but then just go ahead and do what they like anyway. Sadly, advocating for people has damaged my relationships with colleagues even though I'm the one that's doing the job properly. This thread is a timely reminder for me to continue as I'm doing, I'm not there to be best mates with colleagues (although it seems a lot of them are), and frankly as a person who has experienced CMHT And CAMHS from a user perspective, I have the sound morals to put people/service users etc before staff.
Yes, services are seriously underfunded which makes the job harder, however professionals are autonomous and accountable individuals and should be doing the best they can for their people.
Yes, services are seriously underfunded which makes the job harder, however professionals are autonomous and accountable individuals and should be doing the best they can for their people.
I think this sector needs more people with experience working in it so they know how it feels to suffer from mental illness as well as knowing what it's like to be a patient in a CMHT that don't really care tbh, it's all about ticking boxes and making money. Very few actually care about helping their patients get better. So I'm glad you're going into this sector, I wish you all the luck because you're gonna need it! Can I ask, what brings you to this group?
thank you! You're right about me needing the luck lol as you will see from the rest of my post.
I had a breakdown because of all the stress involved in a situation where I addressed poor practice. Wasn't resolved at all and the care area turned it around and made up stuff about me which could have potentially been really harmful for my future. It didn't though because they'd already stated and documented how amazing I'd been right before I raised the issue, and then the day after I'd raised the issue, that's when all the nonsense came up about apparent issues with my practice. I've also since been treated appallingly by college in response to my breakdown which in turn caused me to have another breakdown. Now they are avoiding accountability for their part and blaming it solely on my apparent psychological inability to cope. So basically they are using my mental health as an excuse to get away with the harm they've caused me which has come from my tutor being quite possessive over me. I'd recently been sexually assaulted and preferred talking to a female lecturer who I got on with, who advocates for people like me who have been traumatised in various ways, and in general her and I have very similar values. My Tutor obviously went in the huff about it and took it to higher up in the college who then decided it was inappropriate for me to be talking with this female staff member, despite my valid reasons for doing so, and she was more than happy to support me. They even made her block me on facebook even though I'd never contacted her on that. I think it's funny though how they said it was inappropriate when she's been professional and my tutor has been the one to contact me at 11pm on Facebook, send me personal poems, dm me on twitter and talk about me to the whole of the class like we are close friends. I now feel really oppressed because now I cant speak to her and I get paranoid at times that she hates me. The whole thing has been a complete freak show and traumatised me further, hence my breakdown. Then I had to go through all the emotionally intrusive health investigations to clear me for practice. Which I have been cleared, because thankfully the person clearing me for practice could actually appreciate the stress caused by this stupid issue based around someone's ego. Now I'm not in contact with any staff from the university, not one of them have contacted me to check up on me and I'm supposed to be graduating after four more months of work which is on hold due to the coronavirus. So basically, people aren't mature enough to admit when they've made mistakes and they'll cover their behinds at the potential expense of others lives. I'm sad that my college created such a pathetic rule about the appropriateness of which students should be talking to which staff. It's like on a general level, some people just click with others, and on a CMHT level, certain people will click more with certain staff. In my opinion, this should be respected rather than oppressed as it could help a person with treatment.
So That's what brought me here haha.
And what makes it worse is they are all during this pandemic posting over twitter about the importance of compassion and kindness.
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oh wow! I'm so sorry to hear that happened to you! It's disgusting how people can get away with treating people like shit and blame "mental health" for it, and it's even worse when it's people who are supposed to be in the "care" sector! I'm glad you stuck up for yourself and continued to raise it higher! That's the only way to minimise things like this, for people to have the courage and support to go against the "norm" shall I say.
Oh trust me, I know what you mean! The CMHT im
Involved with, which has been under special measures several times, are all about the care and kindness all over Facebook when I know for a very fact, that couldn't be further from
The truth! Suicide rates are on the up because the care and support just isn't there. The crisis team for example, people say "it depends who you get" but that shouldn't be the case! Everyone should give the same care, compassion no matter who they are
sufferingalways
Avoiding flashing images, epilepsy.
- Apr 26, 2020
- 550
Hi, I tried a private woman locally, and she had a nasty attitude regarding what triggers me. I never saw her again, though I had to walk past her office a few times on the way to somewhere else, so I made sure if anyone was around to say to my friend "there's that nasty therapist who blames the patients." Just to make sure people didn't trust her like I did, foolishly.
Sorry to hear your experiences are crap as well.
Blooming hell what a fiasco! Sorry to hear that all this happened. I suspect that "mental health professional" can often be a (something that means fake description .. the word's just gone out of my head .. like a wrong description ..ugh I've forgotten it.)
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thank you. And exactly. Your case just shows that so called professionals are all about the virtue signalling talk online but won't bring it into practice. Cause they know that their ego will be fed online whereas with patients it's literally doing their job, and even then they can't do that. Like I said, healthcare professionals are accountable for their actions or non actions whether they like it or not. Policies looks great on paper but even directions from the mental welfare commission (in my area) sometimes make no difference. Resources for therapy available or not, CMHT staff and other mental health professionals can make a persons recovery, but it's about the staff members motivation, unconditional positive regard and compassion that makes it. That doesn't take resources, that is just about having a trusting relationship with people.
ive also have word placements in hospital where the staff are even worse. In my area the CMHT are decent compared to the hospital mental health staff. The whole thing is disgusting. They are getting paid to be compassionate human beings. I've seen the horror of how they treat people with BPD like they can't understand that those folk didn't get the support and care when they were a child. I get their symptoms are "difficult" to "manage" (manage - another term I hate used among professionals) but we need to stop forcing so called therapy on people (therapy - classic western construction) and to accept we are all one and just have helpful relationships with one another. I'll be sacked before I know it haha, but I've applied to do a masters programme which will help me implement policies. I would love to (I won't though so don't worry) anonymously take perspectives from this forum because at the end of the day, folk like us know ourselves better than professionals. And to be honest I'm sick of the hierarchy of patient and professional like the professionals know us better. deeming us as lacking in insight because we don't agree with them haha it's such a joke. Anyway, despite it all, I strive to succeed and show my college what I'm made of lol
sufferingalways
Avoiding flashing images, epilepsy.
- Apr 26, 2020
- 550
Hi you sound as determined as me. I can't believe the mental health "staff" get away with treating people like shit either. Tell more about your masters programme? I'm interested in psychology, study it to some degree and trying to find a way to help people who are struggling. One day it wont just be a talk / or a dream, I will make it real with the resources I can find.
so the masters programme is Global Mental Health and Society. Basically puts you in a position to influence policies by taking perspectives from other societies, eg ones that treat folk as equals haha.
It's amazing what staff get away with. It's amazing what people get away with if they are considered even one step above you in status. The masters programme I want to do studies cross cultural psychology. I personally believe though that social issues are more the problem in mental illness. I'll even be studying anti psychiatry which is a perspective I also love. I get that medication works for some folk, but a lot of folk it doesn't and they end up stuck on the medication with x y and z side effects which shorten their life by like 15 years with no real improvement to their mental state. So yeah, this masters programme is as stated a global level and will likely even talk about the pro choice perspective. Which I'll be glad to talk about.
and I'm glad you're determined. Keep going, we need more psychologists, particular clinical ones, in my area we have a two year waiting list to have 1 to 1 therapy with psychologists. I have one year left haha woop. Thanks for the reply
sufferingalways
Avoiding flashing images, epilepsy.
- Apr 26, 2020
- 550
so the masters programme is Global Mental Health and Society. Basically puts you in a position to influence policies by taking perspectives from other societies, eg ones that treat folk as equals haha.
It's amazing what staff get away with. It's amazing what people get away with if they are considered even one step above you in status. The masters programme I want to do studies cross cultural psychology. I personally believe though that social issues are more the problem in mental illness. I'll even be studying anti psychiatry which is a perspective I also love. I get that medication works for some folk, but a lot of folk it doesn't and they end up stuck on the medication with x y and z side effects which shorten their life by like 15 years with no real improvement to their mental state. So yeah, this masters programme is as stated a global level and will likely even talk about the pro choice perspective. Which I'll be glad to talk about.
and I'm glad you're determined. Keep going, we need more psychologists, particular clinical ones, in my area we have a two year waiting list to have 1 to 1 therapy with psychologists. I have one year left haha woop. Thanks for the reply
Wow I will look into that kind of study for myself in (hopefully one day) new area away from here.
Thank you for sharing such details, i like the anti psychiatry angle too, very passionate about that.
For anyone needing advocacy regarding NHS complaints, here's an organisation I'm using, formerly SeAp, very helpful.
The Advocacy People - East Sussex 1Space
Getting help in East Sussex - Find local groups and services to support you, your family and friends.
1space.eastsussex.gov.uk
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