GPs and Mental Health Issues

bluefox

Hello,

Has anyone else noticed that GPs are generally not as supportive with mental health issues as they are physical ones?

I’m finding a lot of the time they judge you on how you sound but because you’re passed from GP to GP you don’t build the kind of relationship you would have done in the past in pandemic times. 

I obtained my medical records and quite frankly I’m shocked at the lack of reporting in them. 

leeCal

My GP hasn’t got a clue about my mental health. As you say the GPS change anyway so I’m not sure who my doctor is from one moment to the next. They defer to the mental health teams anyway who are also, in my humble opinion, about as much help as the proverbial chocolate teapot.

bluefox

leeCal said:

My GP hasn’t got a clue about my mental health. As you say the GPS change anyway so I’m not sure who my doctor is from one moment to the next. They defer to the mental health teams anyway who are also, in my humble opinion, about as much help as the proverbial chocolate teapot.

Yeah, it’s so disappointing the MH services. I appreciate all the hard work they do but they don’t understand how those issues are affecting someone. 

Ross_Alumni

Sorry to hear about your experiences @bluefox, and @leeCal. It's clear that mental health services need to improve, I'm sure that in certain parts of the country they are better than others but I think across the board it is an area that needs to be better.

leeCal

My experience has been pretty awful I must say. There seems to be a great deal of lethargy amongst workers who deal with an ever mounting list of service users who never seem to truly get better. There are also some people who I have met who exaggerate their conditions in order to receive benefits of various kinds, sorry to say it but I have met them. It’s very difficult for mental health workers who I’m sure start out with very good intentions, having said that there are some who enjoy their work despite having to deal with the public, some of whom lack empathy entirely.  Underfunding is another issue. 

These are my experiences and Im sorry if they are unpalatable but frankly I’ve not told the half of it, nor will I.

bluefox

I think the trouble with mental health is that it is such a sliding factor. I know my own personal troubles and how I’m affected.

I think my biggest regret this past year is not letting my friends and family talk on behalf of me with the mental health professionals. 

Sometimes you have to hear it from people closest to you for it to resonate with the professionals. 

That said, I wish more GP’s cared about mental health. But ultimately sometimes they say on the phone, what is it you want me to do for you?

I mean, that question is hard to answer 

poppy123456

It’s no different to those with physical conditions either. I’ve seen some terrible doctors in the past.

sarah36

I have always had the same problem with my GP, however, I recently moved into my new GP is wonderful I think sometimes you just need to find the right GP for you . I hope you find one soon. 

Tori_Scope

That's great to hear @sarah36 I do think it varies between GPs, and it sounds like you've found a good one. 

hass

Hi all 
I agree my Surgery  I've been with since 2006  present. 
I had a fantastic  shrink  
He even came to see me at the hospital.
After being with the MH team since 2014.

A new shrink came he kept ringing  me making comments abouts my  religion   etc.

He didn't know what to do .
Anyway they put me in the care of GP  but they keep giving g me meds and telling me to do training courses.  rather than 
Dealing with issues.
I've been referred  to primary care but they have no emphay 

I'm dead in my tracks. 

hass

 I have no family to speak for me  my friends are not well.

Things are a mess no where getting  forward