Unrecorded histrionic maltreatment.

older01

My mental health took a turn for the worst years ago following a traumatic event. In 2000 I was diagnosed with depression, and a year later I was also diagnosed with PTSD / severe depression. I moved to Torbay and was referred to the community mental health services that have closed down in 2014. Unfortunately I saw a now retired psychiatrist that I couldn’t relate to. She went on to give me the label of BPD. So many labels, and overprescribing of mental health medication was standard practice back then. I became a ghost of the person I was before. I didn’t just gain weight - I piled weight on. I went from being very slight in weight to obese. I was afraid to challenge anything I was told for many years. During this time I was on a huge amount of diazepam and anything that could mentally paralyse my brain from free thinking. I was told that I would be visiting the outpatient of the mental hospital for a course of treatment. I was not given any information about the treatment. Apparently I was given ECT for 8 sessions minimum. I cannot find anything in my medical records about this treatment. Nothing is recorded and open to me to be able to take legal action. I know that what happened to me was very wrong.

My plea is where do I begin? How can I find the facts about this abuse that happened to me please? Without the whistleblowers this could happen to someone else. I sincerely need help with this one.

MW123

@older01

I am really sorry to hear about your experience. Even though the mental health services in Torbay closed, your records should still be available. You can contact the NHS Trust currently responsible for mental health services in Torbay, which is likely Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, or ask NHS England where your records are now stored. Be sure to ask specifically about any ECT treatment you may have received.

If your records are incomplete or you were not properly informed about your treatment, you can file a complaint with the NHS Trust. If you are unhappy with their response, you have the option to escalate your complaint to the Care Quality Commission or the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for further investigation.

Additionally, organisations like Mind can offer guidance and advocacy to help you through the process. If you believe you were mistreated, a solicitor specialising in medical negligence can also assist you in understanding your options for legal action.