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Secondary Mental Health Care?

[Deleted User]

Can someone explain what secondary mental health care is please?

I'm asking because I've been struggling a lot recently with my mental health and I got in touch with an help place who thinks I need to be referred for secondary mental health care after I explained that I'd already tried different meds, therapy and counselling.

I just want to get something out of the way before I agree to be referred.

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thespiceman

Hello @WF2k Thank you for sharing. Please can I suggest ask who is the Mental Health Provider.

Ask them what is secondary Mental Health .?

I do know they should explain to you, anything about your treatment.

Contact RETHINK if having problems. If they can help or explain to you as an advocate service.

Some organisations should tell you others do not. Which is wrong in my opinion.

Speak to RETHINK.

https://www.rethink.org.

Just find them great to talk to simply a lot easier for you as that is another voice in the treatment you are have to cope with any worrying questions.

Wish you all the best.

Please if I can help with anything get in touch.

Please take care.

@thespiceman

Adrian_Scope

Hi @WF2k, as far as I know, Secondary Mental Health Care tends to be care delivered by a specialist in the field, usually involving services that would require a referral such as CMHTs. I would definitely get them to clarify though!

[Deleted User]

Thanks for your responses @thespiceman & @Adrian_Scope

I contacted Wellness in Mind for my area and someone got back to me, I spoke to them and asked how they could help me because I had already tried counselling, CBT and different meds, part of what he said was "it may be that a referral to secondary mental health care might be the next best step. They provide more specialised and in-depth support, but the referral needs to come from your GP."

He has also offered to help me but I'm going to get back to him about it when I'm less stressed, anxious etc.

That's why I was asking what it meant.

thespiceman

Hello @WF2k Thank you for reply glad you found out.

I know this is a big step for you. As some one been through similar you going to be OK.

Small steps can be achieved. You will succeed and so proud of what you have done so far.

You must remember that. I know may sound some things not a failure in my opinion a learning experience.

I have done a lot my self and every time a little by little you acquire more knowledge, education to know how to cope.

Yes had a lot of therapy and lots of other things. This is some thing you will find what you need to deal with and cope.

Never easy to express feelings emotions to strangers or those who treat us.

Please can I add you will gain confidence and self esteem. You find your path.

Understand your not alone with this.

Any questions please ask.

One other point have a look on line if never sure about anything. I do this write it down. A suggestion an idea.

Please take care.

@thespiceman .

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the kind words @thespiceman I appreciate it. I do tend to look things up if I'm not sure but I found the explanation a bit confusing which is why I asked here

shadow66

WF2k said:

Can someone explain what secondary mental health care is please?

I'm asking because I've been struggling a lot recently with my mental health and I got in touch with an help place who thinks I need to be referred for secondary mental health care after I explained that I'd already tried different meds, therapy and counselling.

I just want to get something out of the way before I agree to be referred.

Hi @WF2k
You need to get your GP to refer you to a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) which is secondary mental health care. They will eventually contact you and invite you for an assessment which may take about an hour or more. They will make lots of notes/fill in forms, ask you about the issues you are having difficulties with, what sort of help you think you might need etc.
The assessment will then be discussed at a multidisciplinary team meeting where a decision will be made as to whether you qualify for secondary MH support or not. There is a primary level of MH support which is also offered by CMHT's where you may be allocated a care worker (may be social worker, CPN) but this will be time limited. If after X period of time, you will either be discharged back to your GP or referred on to secondary MH care within the same CMHT. This provides longer term support and there may also be offer of appointment with Psychiatrist, Psychological therapies, group work etc, depending on what they (and you) feel would best meet your needs.

Be advised though, this whole process can be long and painful! Be prepared to have endless patience and a need to stand up for what you need, get a mental health advocate involved if necessary.

The above is borne from personal experience!

Chloe_Alumni

How are you getting on @WF2k?

[Deleted User]

@shadow66 thank you very much for that, I've tried different things which is why I think the person at Wellness in Mind has suggested I may need secondary mental health care. Ugh.. an assessment that takes an hour or more? I had an assessment before which is when I was diagnosed with significant anxiety which is bad enough to manifest itself as agoraphobia (pretty much the psychiatrists wording) and mild to moderate depression, I then did the CBT which only made me worse because the therapist was bad, I then referred myself for CBT because I wanted help with my noise anxiety, however this therapist was also pretty bad and tried to re diagnose me with social anxiety, I'm not saying she's wrong, I'm saying she didn't help one little bit and wasted both mine and her own time, I ended up asking to be discharged after 3 sessions because she wasn't helping. I also did counselling, the woman was lovely for that but she said my anxiety had gotten worse through the sessions, at that point in time I'd had around 26 sessions, this was when we were given more sessions.

@Chloe_Scope I've not been great in all honesty which is why I'm only just responding, I'm struggling to cope mentally with things, I'm becoming agitated easily and everything just feels like a massive chore or effort. I always try and be honest about how I'm feeling but most of the time it's very hard to explain.

I'm sorry if I've not made sense, I had a response from Capita about my complaint which has really annoyed me and made me anxious because they have unknowingly admitted to messing up with something else in regards to my PIP claim and I now know it wasn't the DWP's or my GP's fault, it was Capita's fault. This has just given me something else to complain about which they cannot deny as it's written in a letter from them.