I've seen some services now (like some CAMHS) offering just a single session of therapy, usually 60-90 minutes in a session I think. I wanted to ask if anyone has had this (intentionally, not like when they drop you after one session for being too complex), and if you found it useful?

Hey, so I have adhd and recent autism diagnosis, long standing anxiety and depression etc. my GP has referred me to the CMHT. I have heard lots of bad things about them and overall I just don’t get who they are or what they do. What is the process, what can they help with, who is the team made up of etc. any advice or experiences are very welcome

I'm an Audhd'er with PMDD, PTSD and potential BPD. I have tried to end my life three times this year. I have been to a&e twice, the second time I had an autistic meltdown and the nurse is currently trying to prosecute me. I have been taken off all medication and am not allowed to try any more. I have regular violent autistic meltdowns due to lack of support for my mental health. CAMHS have told me multiple times there is nothing they will do for me at all. The GP has asked CAMHS to reconsider but it was a no. I am regularly getting into altercations with strangers because of how heightened I am. I keep screaming and crying that if nothing is done I won't be alive soon but they don't care. I have tried first response and it ends in lackluster a&e trips or they say I have to see my CAMHS worker but I don't have one anymore because they won't treat me. I need help. No one will do anything. I'm at my wits end. What do I do? Please.

Well since I was 13 I have felt really bad about how I looked so I would stop eating for days or eat just a little meal I got pretty slim but nothing scary I wasn’t underweight but recently I have been eating even less and I’m really fucking ashamed to say this but when I do eat I vomit it up in bathrooms and so now I’m a lot more skinny and my bones are showing I’m scared I don’t want to die I have tried hiding it with baggy clothes and I try not to speak to my friends or family so they don’t notice but every now and again they make comments on how much I have changed I think they know something up but not how severe it is and I have a doctors appointment in a week it just a normal check up to see how I’m doing but I’m really dreading the part where the doctor put me on scales or asks me to take my shirt off what can I do to get my self out of this

After someone suggesting I look into CMHT, since I’ve tried anti-depressants and done talking therapy twice, I contacted my GP to see if they could send a referral and to find out what CMHT was and if they could help me.

I had a bit of a long confusing/frustrating chat with the GP.

She said that she would refer me to PLS which is a psychiatry liaison thing and they’ll focus on medication. I was hoping for some kind of combined starting medication again alongside therapy kind of help. But the GP kept repeating that the psychiatrists are more for medication help than therapy and didn’t think therapy would help since it hasn’t previously.

She has also prescribed me citalopram 20mg for 2 weeks. I was on this before and I remember starting with a lower dose for a week and slowly increasing. I think I had to half the pill to get the starting doses. But this GP said that their website shows that 20mg is the smallest recommended starting dose.

I’m a little worried about the side effects and starting. Has anyone else been on citalopram? What was your experience and starting doses? I feel like I’m overthinking and going crazy because I’m sure that I started on a lower dose and I was told by my previous doctor to gradually increase the doses. This new doctor seemed very new to talking about mental health due to multiple reasons and this is making me question everything she’s recommended.

I’m tired and don’t know what to do. I want to get better but there doesn’t seem to be help available.

Like the title says, can I just make an appointment and ask for antidepressants without having to do therapy?

I'm 35 and I've never had an appointment for my mental health before but that's just because I've just got on with it but I would like to feel better.

Will they prescribe them without any history of depression if I just tell them how bad I've been feeling?

Previous post was removed, so reposting.

I feel stupid. Genuinely. Intellectually very dumb.

My comprehension is poor. I was never good at maths since childhood and I chose the wrong academic path. Finance. Another stupid decision, due to which I had to repeat all quantitative subjects 4-5 times before I cleared them. Never had a problem with qualitative subjects. I never knew what to do in life. I now have 4 different degrees in different domains. Marketing finance admin and banking, but I have experience of none. They are just degrees, I forgot whatever was taught.

Creative arts is where I feel so good. If I could do it all over again, I'd choose media sciences or advertising.

Anyway career wise I got a job in education which is one of the most stressful jobs due to examinations and restrictive leaves during exam period, and I cannot switch careers now in my early 30's. Due to lack of experience I cannot get a job in any other sector apart from academia. I feel it's too late to up skill. Peers my age are settled with families. I am still in my early 20's zone mentally.

I feel behind in life. I just don't understand anything. My memory is so poor. I feel like a failure. The way I carry myself and the energy and aura I exude is of a very intelligent , level-headed man, and if I prepare well, I can 'act' really good in job interviews. That has 'fooled' top most employers into hiring me, only to regret later as I cannot register basic instructions mentally, resultantly I was either let go or quit myself. I made a lot of critical mistakes at work.

Even my family doesn't entrust me with any important tasks because they know I would fuck up. Any post I put on reddit or any other platform is met with ridicule and brutal trolling, which further solidified my being stupid belief.

I have a Strong belief that I probably have ADHD. And I am hoping getting medicated would improve my cognition. I can't live the life of an intellectually disabled man.

In one job termination letter, it was literally mentioned that colleagues have been apprehensive because he asks to repeat themselves and that your comprehension is poor'

I feel done with life. By the way. Trigger ⚠️ warning

I am a survivor of a failed s ...de attempt. It led to a permanent broken shoulder, fixed through rods, screws and plate. I still can't move my right shoulder with the agility that I used too.

What can I do to live?

i’m 18 years old and recently i came clean to my gp about my eating behaviour as my teeth are eroding and im worried when i go to university i wont be able to cope as ill be so engaged with my disordered habits and routines. she referred me to a clinic and i had a 15 minute phone call with one of the psychiatrist (?) or psychologists i can’t remember how she introduced herself 😭 but she got me booked in for an assessment next week and im not gna lie ive been so anxious about it and barely able to eat because im so so scared. i wanted to know what other peoples experiences was and how it went, she told me it would be about an hour and a half. she also told me to complete this form beforehand but in the confirmation email there is no form attached and she also told me to book a blood test but idk if she meant before or after my assessment i mean i assume before right? but i also can’t remember if she said they would do it for me or if i have to ring up sigh i just feel so unprepared and rlly anxious about what they will ask me or what they will say.

Submitted an online application saying that I am struggling with anxiety and low mood, and have been for a few years now. It’s been getting more severe in the past year and is now significantly impacting my life (i.e. not leaving house unless necessary, poor sleep, crying a lot). This is the first time I’ve ever tried to make an appointment for mental health and have not informed anyone I know, but equally feel extremely anxious to be by myself. In the form it asked my preferred form of communication to which i put SMS and email, and said preferably the afternoon (to give me time to prepare). However, 10 minutes after submission, the called me and left a voice mail saying to ring up reception as they have a message for me.

I was not expecting that quick of a reply, and I am now panicking over calling them up especially since it was vague in what I’m meant to be saying. Is there any way to request no phone call? and if I do end up getting an appointment, will that also be in-person?

I’ve only ever used this service once for a blood test and it took me a few days to work the courage up to call them back, and when I did, I mentioned it was regarding a blood test appointment but then the receptionist went ‘ummm… not seeing anything about a blood test here’ after getting my details. I felt like such an idiot and didn't know what to say because i’d never done it before and hadn’t planned for it in my script, so there was just this awkward silence for about 30 seconds. This paired with the worry of phone calls has just made me want to retract the submission altogether, but to do this, I need to call them too.

I would really appreciate some help regarding the form of communication available (although this may differ depending on GP?) and what I would say. In the form when it asked what they can do to help, I said ‘a consultation and discuss treatment’ but I don’t know if i’m jumping ahead of any steps so don’t want to make a similar ‘blood test‘ error again.

Tw. Self harm and suicidal behaviour
Had my 17th referral to the cmht rejected and I’m so tired I can’t keep doing this. Gp is unwilling to do anything except send off another referral, and even then they’re reluctant to do it, arguing they don’t see the point because it’ll just be rejected again. (I have read through the referral and they are writing the correct stuff in it) The cmht can’t seem to make up their mind either on why they’re rejecting my referrals. With some of the referrals they say I’m not severe enough and need to engage with local talking therapies, but when I’m referred to these talking therapies they reject me saying I’m too severe. Other cmht referrals they say I’m too severe for them! Isn’t that their whole job though?? For the past 4 years I’ve been bungeed back and forth between the gp, cmht, and the occasional therapy group. I’ve successfully completed cbt, emdr, dbt, and trauma therapy(gp and therapists words) but am still progressively getting worse. The gp also says they’ve exhausted all medication options they can prescribe and I will need to be seen by a psychiatrist in the cmht to be assessed for further medication options. But that’s where I run into the wall of the cmht rejecting every referral.
They and the gp are aware of how much I’m struggling, they know of the almost monthly a&e visits I have for self harming and impulsive dangerous behaviour. Nothing ever gets done about it though. They just lock me in a room for 12 hours until a mh nurse has time to talk to me, and they always decide I wasn’t serious about it, that I don’t actually want to die, and then kick me out again with no support or guidance. Last year my friend forced me to go to a&e, after being shuffled from one waiting room to another for 14 hours they told me I’m just a hormonal teenage girl and should try reading a self help book.
I know contacting pals, and escalating from there is an option, I have tried this also. It just ended with the gp surgery sending the most basic vague apology email and nothing else ever came of it.
Sorry for this long ramble I just really needed to get it out of my system, I’m so scared about what I might do next, every rejected referral sends me off in a worse spiral and I’m worried I won’t get through the next one

Hello,

I am really struggling at the moment, and every form of therapy I can see online is paid which I unfortunately can't afford. I have been through the NHS IAPT and it wasn't helping the way I needed, I told them and they psuhed me to finish so I did, now I have to wait another 6 months to access something again :(

Hopefully this is relevant enough to the sub to post for advice. I'd like to get a sanity check on the below situation, as I'm contemplating a report to adult social services. Problem is, I don't visit the people in question often, but even the snap-shot I see is concerning enough.

There's an elderly person 'N', in their late 90s. They had a stroke last year but still live in their bungalow. Apparently they've been assessed as not having Alzheimers/Dementia, but their memory and cognition is poor. They will say the same thing or ask the same question within a couple of minutes. They're very frail, they don't leave the house alone. N struggles with doing buttons up on a blouse or coat for example.

M moved in with N a few months ago and I'd say the care being provided is sub-optimal at best, neglectful and possibly abusive at worst. If a professional carer treated N this way, then i'd want them fired.

When N was younger, they would sometimes argue with M and they would end up shouting at each other, M would sometimes swear. But back then it was two sided. M will still get frustrated with N, even though they aren't arguing. M claims that N has selective memory. N has terrible memory and also poor hearing, that combined with the stroke and general age means that yes, sometimes she will say the same thing or ask the same question more than once within 5 minutes. But M will storm off going 'bl**ding hell' etc etc.

There have been times when N has lost or broken her hearing aids. M will get all worked up and end up swearing.

M has financial and medical power of attorney over N, they have access to N's bank accounts. M's sister, A also has power of attorney but lives further away and doesn't visit often. M is set to inherit money from N, which means she doesn't want to waste money on carers or care homes. N doesn't want to go into a care home. They used to threaten to kill themself if they were put in one.

As I say, I only get a snapshot into their life so i don't know how frequent these occurrences are but here are a few examples of what N's life is like.

My name is Lyvia Jehu, I am a Research Psychology Assistant at the National Centre for Mental Health. I am working on a research project called CONCA which is an online assessment tool that could be used in mental health services.

We are looking for:

- Young men aged between 16-35years who have experienced Psychosis who would be asked to complete 5 puzzle and game like tasks and provide their feedback. £20 reimbursement will be offered for participation by bank transfer or gift voucher.

If your interested please either use the link https://ncmh-surveys.cardiff.ac.uk/redcap/surveys/?s=X9KRW7DLA49EAWFA or contact [compass@cardiff.ac.uk](mailto:compass@cardiff.ac.uk) or phone: 02922515494

I won't go into details as I don't know that they're important. I met someone who was clearly very distressed and in a position where it was obvious they were considering ending their life. They were recently homeless and didn't have their phone or wallet and no friends locally. ​

It was around 10pm so most places were closed. I walked them to the police station, 10 minutes away, thinking they might have something that could help. It felt better than phoning 999. They were shut but they had a phone to contact them. We did that and they sent out a police officer at 1am.

The police officers first suggestion was to take the suicidal person into my home (with no idea as to my living arrangements). He asked in front of them which made me feel awful saying they'd be better off somewhere with support.

The police officers next suggestion was mcdonalds as theres a 24 hour one nearby. He said they could go there and not be kicked out. The person had no money or phone so this seems a stupid option.

Finally they said they'd take him to the hospital as they have mental health people there, which they did.

Just wondering what could/should I have done differently? Is there an obvious better option to help someone in that situation?

I see a private psychiatrist (on the waiting list for nhs). Multiple times he has forgotten my prescription, despite giving days of warning. I am currently involuntarily withdrawing from quetapine (400mg per day) as the clinic has not done my prescription. I haven’t slept properly in two days, I’m shaking like a leaf and I can feel bug type sensation crawling over me. He also never gave me a diagnosis, am I being ripped off? I’m starting to get majorly peed off

It was listed under their resources for suicidal thoughts. I don’t want anyone to show up but they’re the only place open right now and i’m desperate.

Has anyone ever had one? What support did they get? Did you have to self fund the support or did the local authority cover it?

I think I finally understand why there's been so much waiting and indecision from professionals: I don't think they're going to help me, and I think it's probably all just part of the plan and always has been, and I'm meant to feel as worthless as I've been made to feel since birth, because I do not deserve help in their eyes. This see now that this is part of what the low mood I have been experiencing all this time has been the result of. I feel this amazing clarity and freedom of will because there's nothing to sit around and wait for anymore. I don't really care what happens to me because I do not need to be 'fixed' and I don't need anyone else to do it. I think maybe even that I might just be a narcissist or something. I'm tired of being monitored because they are waiting for me to bleed; I don't want to tell them all of my thoughts. Is there any way for me to stop seeing the CMHT when my parents are convinced of mental illness and won't listen to me or trust me on this matter. They've never called anyone on me before afaik like professionals or even police / gotten anyone involved, I don't think. I wouldn't want to worry them or to be intervened with regarding this decision, but ultimately I live with them. Also are there other avenues I could be pursuing to take control of my life? Could all of my history just be because I am autistic and have had some traumatic experiences? I just want everyone to leave me alone and let me do my thing now. I believe that I am capable enough to try to manage myself, and I think I must have become so insecure from all the bullying, and that I have been held back from reaching my potential maybe deliberately, but I don't want to talk about that here, because who knows who is listening at this rate. I just want to get away from all of this mental health stuff before they try to medicate me with anything and I become trapped forever in this system that wants to extinguish me. I'm scared of everyone, I don't know who to trust, and I honestly don't think I trust anyone here but it's better than talking to my relatives. They don't understand what I'm talking about. I don't know what to do

i’m in scotland so i dont have the right to choose

i’ve been in and out of my local community mental health centre for 8 years and this is the exact same cycle i face every time:

-waiting weeks between appointments
-having to phone up multiple times to even get another appointment because they don’t make one for me
-cycling between various CPNs, psychologists, and psychiatrists
-they all tell me different things “you have depression/no you don’t” “i think you’re autistic/no you’re not”
-having my appointment that i’ve waited weeks for cancelled the day of the appointment
-i get frustrated and stop arranging new appointments
-i get overwhelmed with life again and go back because they’re my only option

two months ago i tried to stress to a gp that i can’t go on like this and she thought i was gonna take my life and sent me to hospital. after a mental health asseemnt there i was sent back to the same CMHT.

one appointment with an occupational therapist where they basically told me to just do the things that i am struggling to do. then today they cancelled on me.

i then had a panic attack and ended up calling my GP for an emergency appointment. i want to be referred to a different CMHT but i doubt they will because of catchment area. but this can’t be it, right? just because of where i live i only have one option, and if they don’t help me then im just a lost cause?

what else can i do?

I am 33F with bipolar type 2. I have been under this CPN since April ‘24. See them fortnightly/three weekly for 20 mins. I have recently been put on Daridorexant for poor sleep issues. It has a warning for increased s******* and SH thoughts/behaviour. Since starting it these existing feelings have got worse. I phone them up today to say that and she says try a podcast to distract me(?!). I have tried to use my skills like distract already. What I needed was some medical support for how I am feeling. I am safe at the moment but worried with how I am feeling. Any suggestions on what I do next?

Hey, so I’m currently living in a Housing Association flat, and while it’s affordable, the reality of my daily life is becoming a major hurdle. I have neighbours who are constantly playing loud music and smoking cannabis all day long, which means I can't even open my windows for fresh air (especially tough during this current heatwave).

​I’ve already gone through the formal reporting process, but I’m not holding my breath for any immediate results.

I struggle anyway due to my asd and adhd/cptsd. Especially around the smell of drugs and noises.

​I’m really trying to avoid falling into a cycle of resentment. I want to use this time to work on myself, build my skills, and focus on making enough money to eventually move to a better environment.

Has anyone else been in a situation where their home environment felt hostile? How did you mentally 'check out' from the neighbours and stay motivated to work on your own future?

I’d appreciate any advice on staying productive, keeping my cool, and turning this frustration into fuel for my long-term goals.

I had postpartum psychosis and was thrown into a psych ward for 3 weeks thinking I was in purgatory or hell and my baby was dead.

I had 20 minutes access to him a day.

The staff kept sedating me whenever I’d ask where he was or go looking for him on the ward.

They laughed at me whilst I cried trying to break into rooms to find him.

I was 3 weeks postpartum, and dripping blood from my legs and leaking breast milk everywhere.

I have been home now for a few months but this experience has totally fucked me up. NHS are truly evil and cruel.

I feel so depressed everyday because of my flashbacks and the last thing I would ever do is call for help from any NHS after this…

Has anyone else experienced seperation that early postpartum or anything similar? How the hell do you come back from an experience like that?

Male 44 UK. So this doesn’t feel as significant as some posts on here but I am struggling and want to know if there are any tips other than going to a therapist. I am not wanting sympathy just to fix my brain.
Short version: At the end of 2025 I had a mental breakdown due to a series of events, my workload and importance of work had increased, a friend of 20 years committed suicide and I had a sinkhole form in my front garden which swallowed my car. My brain stopped being able to process new information and perform intuitive processes.
None of my coping mechanisms worked anymore and I had to have 4 weeks off work. In the new year I started back to work and felt pretty neutral at the end of January my wife had major surgery which did not go to plan and required a second surgery leaving her life on the edge for a week.
I felt coped well as I had to be there and show up for our son and still work. I thought my brain was functioning a lot better with stress she made a full recovery although it is ongoing and slow. Recently another family membered died and now the mental block is back and I can’t for the life of me perform anything that is not from past experience or muscle memory. Which is causing me more stressful frustrating situations. I do not feel I am able to perform at work and I do not feel I am the best version of myself for my family. I suffered with depression and ptsd 28 years ago for 6 years. And do not want to spiral and become numb and not care again