Specialist Self-harm Unit? *safe*

ems · 05-06-2008, 01:25 PM

Hi all.. just wondering if anyone knows of or has been to a specialist self harm unit in the UK? My doctors are stuck and looking for places but are quite frankly slow and dumb! the only one they've found is in London.. called crisis recovery unit or something. There was this place in Birmingham, but that was only for personality disorders.. and only 1 out of 8 psychiatrists i've seen thinks this might be the problem. (i've just turned 18)
I'm currently in an acute mental health hospital due to severe and persistant self harm which then escalated to me trying to kill myself. Again. But failed obviously!
Just wondering if anyone has any ideas?
Thanks.. Emma

siren_whisper · 05-06-2008, 03:08 PM

I recommend the Crisis Recovery Unit. I spent some time there a few years ago and although it wasn't a miracle cure it did help me quite a lot

ems · 05-06-2008, 06:51 PM

eh.. my nhs trust won't pay for it. They've sent me home!! my mum doesnt want me back, i'm still often suicidal.. and.. they chucked me out. Ugh that was one hell of a day.

ems · 06-06-2008, 01:25 PM

Main house in Birmingham is the only thing they will fund. But that's for personality disorders.. which i'm sure i dont have. And they said that will take months, so in the mean time, no. THey won't fund anything.

whirlpools · 06-06-2008, 01:42 PM

Not everyone at Main House is formally diagnosed with a Personality Disorder (as far as I'm aware). It's part of the Personality Disorder Service, but it describes itself a little more as a service for people with longstanding behavioural and emotional problems. It's not directly focussed around self harm, though everyone there has some form of self harming behaviour - whether that be alcohol misuse, overdoses, cutting, eating disorders (etc). It's a good place. Bloody hard work, but before I went in there I was cutting deeply every week - and since the day I was admitted I have not cut since! It takes a lot of will-power and you kind of need to want to stop, really. But I think it's pretty exciting that your Trust are agreeing to funding it - funding's really hard to get for Main House. I say - think about it, anyway :)

Take care

xx

fadesthesun · 06-06-2008, 02:00 PM

In agreement with Whirpools, if people have suggested this might be the best option for you then please do think about it anyway.
I hope things work out for the best whatever happens.
x

fragile as glass · 06-06-2008, 05:00 PM

When I was 19 I went to a specialist self harm unit in Gloucester. It was brand newly opened and there were only two of us there! It is still about and it was called Rudford self harm unit then. Its part of a chain of inpatient facilities belonging to one company serving the Stroud, Gloucester part of the UK (im from Norwich and went so...) including a eating disorder unit for young people. Its a good place but I wasnt ready to get better and I was on 'two to one' and still cutting really bad so I was sectioned to a psychiatric hospital, but if youre ready to face things maybe its worth lokking it up? Hope that helps :)

ems · 06-06-2008, 05:24 PM

i'm guessing that would be newcombe house? yeh i live 3 miles away. They said i'm too old to go there. ( i'm 18)

fragile as glass · 06-06-2008, 07:47 PM

It was 6 years ago so the names and places may have changed by now.

I went to Althea Park - the eating disorders unit - as well as the self harm unit.

The problem I have with mental health services in England is that once you hit 18 or 26 then you are no longer applicable for most of the services out there - youre too old for most of it and get thrown on the scrapheap.

fragile as glass · 06-06-2008, 08:14 PM

Yes its true. I turned 26 in April and have since lost acess to most of the services in my area.

My dad was asked to be patron of a national self harm organisation which works with young people up to 25. I got really angry with him and asked him how he could work for an organisation which would turn his daughter away for being too old.

When you hit 26 you are no longer classes as a young person

Even my dietician said that its downhill from 26 as to how much there is to offer people

and yes it frightens me too

carla1983 · 06-06-2008, 08:27 PM

im waiting for funding to go to a specalist unit to i went to the hernderson hosptial last year which is the sister of main house i wasnt ready at time to complete of the henderson and left four months in to my stay by od they are very boundried any rules break they take serouis but it is wroth goin if u really ready to get ur life on track xxx

ems · 13-06-2008, 09:54 AM

i don't think they'd take me anymore.. cos i'm sectioned .. again. Grr. I ran away and refused to come back (feelin very suicidal, had enough). then the police got me and arrested me and shoved me in a police cell for 5 hours. Ugh. And now i'm back where I started. just if i go anywhere near the door they follow!
They've changed their minds about Maudsley though, and might start me on lithium :/
Thanks for your replies guys x

fragile as glass · 13-06-2008, 12:12 PM

I would just like to say that I have been on Lithium for 7 years and it has helped me so much. I get no side effects although I know this differs for everyone. I just have to make sure I drink plenty of fluids and dont get dehydrated especially in the summer.

Personally I dont think its a bad thing being put on Lithium especially if theres a chance it could turn your life around for the better. Id just like to note that its not a miracle drug though.

What have you got to lose? Im aware I dont know you but from what you say it doesent sound like you have anything to lose.

Hope things get better for you and I hope what I have said may help you in some way.

Take care,

Lids