What I'm meant to get?
 

Hey guys,

I'm going through a bit of a rough patch lately, depression and suicidal thoughts wise. I phoned the mental health helpline yesterday night and talked to them, one of the things I mentioned was that I feel unsupported by my CPN and CMHS' team. The Helpline person said i'm totally within my rights to ask to change CPN, so I phoned the duty worker at my CMHS and they asked me what I actually wanted from my sessions...

I was stumped. I don't know, nothings ever worked so far, I don't know what I want.

Suggestions on a post card?

I know it's hard question and i've been asked it a lot by my CMHT after i've complained.

I guess only you know what you need from them but a few of the things I suggested to my CMHT were:

• Consistent regular appointments at the same time each week
• Honesty, I would rather know the truth then be lied to
• To be taken seriously when I ring them in crisis and not be fobbed off with hot bathes and knitting!
• To have a say in what therapy im offered
• To be told asap if my appointment has to be cancelled for whatever reason

I know they seem like the basics but it's amazing how often CPN's fail on these simeple things.

If you changed CPN do you know what you would want them to do differently? Quite often they all sing from the same book.

Consistent regular appointments at the same time each week - I do need to ask for more appointments

Honesty, I would rather know the truth then be lied to (I feel like she doesn't listen regardless of what I say)


To be taken seriously when I ring them in crisis and not be fobbed off with hot bathes and knitting!

I've never rang them in crisis :| I don't even have a crisis number

To be told asap if my appointment has to be cancelled for whatever reason

this would be vital for me too, I hate change

I think I also need to discuss medication with them quite seriously. The only one that ever really worked for me was Escitalopram and Buspirone for Anxiety... so maybe if they can mix those...

That's a really good start :)

Ask them for the crisis/out of hours number, always good to have it, never comes in wrong.

Usually you can only discuss medication with the psych but that's something they can arrange for you.

A psych is the person I see every six weeks? Is that wrong...should I be seeing someone else.

thing is, I sort of always assumed that they knew what was best, I never really thought to *ask* for anything else, because I trusted them. I'm beginning to not, and I think thats a dangerous road to go down because once they loose my trust...I don't know where I'll be... if that makes sense?

Thank you, for all your advice and help Poppet :)

How often do you see your CPN?

I used to think they knew everything and they were all excellent at their jobs until I was let down time and time again, then I realised they werent perfect. It's not a case of trust, it's just getting your point across and not being ignored, because they ignore people in need all too often because it makes their jobs easier.

If you don't dont ask you dont get :P

Would my CPN be the Psych that I see? if so, once every 6-8 weeks. If not, I don't have one.

True, if you don't ask, you don't get <3

it sounds like they have a one size fits all approach which makes some sense in the beginning but then it really is up to you to ask for what you think you need. they can't read your mind and having worked on the other side, there is nothing more frustrating than having someone tell me over and over again how unhelpful i am being yet cannot give me any idea of what would be helpful. after a certain point, i end up focusing my energies on people that are getting something from what i am able to give.

A CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse) is the person you should see most regulary, usually anywhere from once a week to once every 6 weeks, depending on your needs, they help with practical things such as housing, socialising, managing your money, they are someone who knows you and keeps in regular contact and are often the person who notices if you get worse.

A psych (psychiatrist) is a doctor who can diagnose and prescribe medication, you usually don't see them very often, maybe once every few months if you are on medication or less if you aren't.

You need to ask them what help and support they have in place for you and find out who's who x