I was about to send my views on my area's MH consultation document thingy. I then saw I was too late..
But, it had boxes to tick as whether you were a 'service user' or 'local resident'.
The thing is, I see myself as a local resident, who has a MH diagnosis, is in treatment - private psychotherapy and NHS GP/meds, but I am not under the care of my CMHT. I saw the consultant psych briefly to sort out my squiffy meds. But I am not, technically, a service user. Though I have a MH diagnosis. Complicated, much.
If I filled in the form I would have ticked both, with half a tick on service user. Maybe.
Thoughts? Opinions? How do you classify people 'like me'?
According to my local Mind, I am a service user, but not in CMHT terms. Grey area? I don't think I'm in denial. Plus, I am getting much more able to manage my MH.
If you're not under a CMHT or specialist service (eg, ED, PD, EIT) I don't think it'd be service user. You use private therapy which isn't covered by the same feedback stuff.
Yeah I wouldn't classify you as a service user as you don't use services
That said its a very thin line
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
I agree that it is a very fine line, Cam. I mean, I am on meds, have a diagnosis, am in therapy... so what exactly am I?! I mean, I know I'm me, but the System likes to classify... Bleh! It's just confusing, and I don't like confusing!
You are a private therapy user. Which means you don't get input from CMHT or specialist services but you pay and receive help through your choice, rather than allocation from MH services on the NHS.
I knoooow that Jodie...!
It's just, to Mind I am a service user, but I guess that's a SU of Mind?
It's just, well, are they like categorising non MI and those with MI? Or just.. uh, does that make sense?
It's been a headspin kind of day, sorry!
Mm, but it's kind of like, going to Tesco's and being asked about Sainsbury's. Yeah, you've seen and used Supermarkets, but there are key differences, that you might not know about.
I agree with the others, you're not a service user as you don't use their services.
It doesn't matter where you come from; it matters where you go.
No-one gets remembered for the things they didn't do.
We won't all be here this time next year,
so while you can take a picture of us.
We're definitely going to hell,
but we'll have all the best stories to tell.
I did however have 3 appointments with the consultant psych. I am still on the meds he prescribed.
It's not that I want to be a SU...! It's just I want to know what exactly I am, as clearly I have lots of understanding and awareness of MH from personal experience. I'm not a 'I've never taken meds or suchlike' kind of person.
I guess it's up to you. I would suggest you might not have the same level of insight that most service users would have, but I guess it doesn't make a huge amount of difference, and the box is probably used for monitoring purposes.
I would say, you seem to have a lot of issues with labels, when really, labels mean very little, half the time they're inaccurate or wrong and don't really sum you up properly.
It doesn't matter where you come from; it matters where you go.
No-one gets remembered for the things they didn't do.
We won't all be here this time next year,
so while you can take a picture of us.
We're definitely going to hell,
but we'll have all the best stories to tell.
Actually, my experiences give me a heck of a lot of insight. But such as it is. I guess it depends on how you define insight.
It's not about labels, really it isn't. I see how you might get that. But. It's about placing myself and being honest and not in denial either way.
It would have been better if they had a box for 'personal experience of MH issues' or suchlike. Would have been more inclusive and given a better perspective on their research.
Mm, but it's kind of like, going to Tesco's and being asked about Sainsbury's. Yeah, you've seen and used Supermarkets, but there are key differences, that you might not know about.
I agree with the others, you're not a service user as you don't use their services.
Oh it's always awkward when i agree with Sophia :'(
That supermarket analogy was excellent!
You pay for a service and you get it. If you think it's good keep paying for it. if you're not happy tell them so and if nothing changes, leave and find someone else.
Perks of being private: you can change your therapist at the click of your fingers you don't get that so easy on the NHS.
Agree with sophia about the supermarket thing. You can report back on the successes of private service user stuff, not but NHS.
Either way, it really doesn't matter. You get the help you want and that's fines it is. You get to decide how much and such so I suppose you're in a better position because you can go as often as you want to.
I'd agree that it is different. I'm a service user as I access CMHT. I also have received private healthcare for a physical condition. There is no way the service I received is the same as the nhs and therefore of no use to them as information. It doesn't mean that I didn't need the service just because I paid for it.
It used to matter to me whether or not my private councellor saw me as a patient or a client. She said that I was both, but at the beginning more of a patient, and at the end, a client. I agreed with her on that.
I ask because if it matters, maybe you're uncomfortable with some aspect of being either a service user, or not a service user. I'd say you're as you described in your first post; however you see yourself in relation to that organisation is the most accurate portrayal.
A service user is someone who uses services. Who is doing the MH consultation? If you use their services, then you are a service user, if you don't, you are not.
I am not sure why it matters, you could tick either box, both or neither. I don't think it would be a problem. But it does depend who is doing the consultation and what it is about.
It matters to me because it's not so black and white, and if I just put 'local resident' they might assume I don't have MH problems, and I would feel like I was lying or covering them up or something.
I'm a bit paranoid at the moment [PMDD stuff]. Sorry.
