What support exists?
 

I'm struggling to get the support I need. I want to know what to ask for. I'm a mum to a young baby and have complex mental health problems.

What things exist that I could ask for? What do social workers do? What support can I ask from a CPN? What do mother and baby units do?

Maybe ring your local MIND as different areas have different things and also there are local voluntary groups that they may know of.

Your first move should be seeing your GP and telling him what problems you are experiencing and that you feel you need to be under the care of a community mental health team (CMHT).

He may refer you, or he may want you to have some counselling first or refer you to another organisation.

If you are referred to the CMHT you will have an assessment first to see what support they will offer you. What usually happens is you get a care co-ordinator or key worker who oversees your care. A care co-ordinator can be a CPN, social worker, occupational therapist etc and you usually meet with this person regularly. You usually talk about what things are troubling you or what things you would like to start doing and they can support you in that. My care co-ordinator used to take me out for coffee or to the high street, or just for a drive, as I was finding it hard to leave the house and wanted to go out and be supported in that.

You may also see a psychiatrist at the CMHT who will assess you also and see if you would benefit from medication or a specific type of therapy or if you need to be inpatient in hospital.

Some CMHTs offer occupational therapy groups during the day you can attend, like relaxation, art and crafts, photography, pottery and in addition some offer therapy groups like managing depression, dealing with stress etc.

CPNs can also assist you with medication as they are proper nurses also.

They would probably also help you in finding local mother and baby groups if you wanted, or other support.

Have you tried going to a sure start centre (if in the UK)? I have heard they are very good.

Thanks for the replies.

I'm under the care of a CMHT, have been on and off for the past 4 years. I have no care-coordinator, no therapist (17 months on the waiting list currently), no CPN, no social worker. No support what so ever, just GP every 2 months and Pyschiatrist every 3 months. I'm on my 10th type of medication. I'm diagnosed with so many things - yet nothing happens.

I have assessment after assessment, but nothing ever happens.

I've emailed MIND, they refered me to a service that is about 20 miles away. I'm waiting for my Sure Start centre to call me back.

I just want them to listen to me, and see that I need help. Even my OH doesn't get it.