How Have You Found Community Mental Health Teams In The Uk?

[NowYouSeeMe]

My CBT therapist conducted a review in our last session.
Basically my risk has increased and, as I kind of suspected, the routine 12-16 CBT sessions offered by primary care aren't going to be enough to fix things.
So, the upshot was that i've been referred to the community mental health team as an urgent case and last week was my last CBT session.
I'm so sad I won't see that therapist again. I was just starting to talk - I told him the truth about things finally and he's passed me to another service. The right decision but still... i'm sad i've lost that relationship.
I'm also terrified of meeting the community mental health team. How have others in the UK found their support?

 

[Sandstone]

Varied. There are some brilliant, insightful, caring people. Then there are some others. Do you know what type of service or professional you will see, or how long you might wait as an urgent case?

 

[NowYouSeeMe]

Not really. I think they'll make contact this coming week but the referral went in right before the weekend. The referring T asked for a psychiatrist to see me because he thinks medication might be helpful. But if I don't want to take it, can I decline without the, thinking I have poor insight or am not interested in treatment... Neither are true. I know I'm in trouble, I just don't want some hectic side effects making things worse.

 

[Deleted member 34328]

But if I don't want to take it, can I decline without the, thinking I have poor insight or am not interested in treatment

I would tend to say "of course". I don't know your situation except what you posted, but I can imagine how I would feel if I lost my therapist. I would feel abandoned all over again. I'm sure you're relating.

I was given a prescription for an anti-depression right away, but never did fill it out. I did start taking something small a couple of years later, but that was because I DECIDED I needed it. Until then, I said no. My choice was respected - although my therapist is a psychologist, not a psychiatrist. Maybe the rules are different over there. All I can go on is my experience. I do hope you find some way to share your needs and what you feel you need with this therapist. I realty hope the chemistry works out for you.

 

[NowYouSeeMe]

Thankyou

 

[Sandstone]

How you respond to medication depends on both the symptoms you are struggling with and your body chemistry. It is worth asking as much as you can about what the drugs are aimed at treating and what the side effects might be. In my area the MH Trust offers access to http://www.choiceandmedication.org/cms/?lang=en which gives lots of information about drugs, how to take them and their side effects. It is perfectly reasonable to want to understand the pros and cons of taking any medication. You need to be making an informed decision.

It is probably more important for you to get established with a new T from the Community service. Usually you are assigned to a Community Psych Nurse or a Care Coordinator who would be your main point of contact, to a Psychiatrist who you will see for an initial assessment and then mainly for meds at decreasing frequency and to a T. I've found that CPN's are generally lovely, but terribly overworked. They should be able to explain the set up to you, and usually come to the Psychiatrist appointments, so if you explain any doubts to them, they can help you if you find it difficult in a more formal appointment to put across all you want.

 

[NowYouSeeMe]

Thanks sandstone. They got in touch today, I'm seeing them next week. I think I'll try to write down a few things to take with me.