Very rude mental health professionals

Hey all!

So I've been in touch with the crisis team a lot at the moment since i've been quite poorly. The other day they phoned me, and I guess the lady phoning me didn't realise i'd picked the phone up, because I overheard her say "oh well we'd better do something otherwise we'll never get rid of her". Then she realised I was on the line and shut up, I think she didn't realise that I'd overheard. I guess it might not have been about me but it probably was- I was so upset. All I wanted was some help. I was so distressed my dad rang them up to complain and she put the phone down on him!!

Why do people like this go into these jobs? I work with people with severe mental health problems and I wouldn't dream of talking about them like this!!

Anyone else with similar experiences?

Best, Keenie

I too work in the mental health field. The burnout rate is very high. While yes, some people are just looking for actual help, there are others who are looking for attention, or a warm bed to stay for the night, or something else that really doesn't require the crisis team, and it is sometimes hard to distinguish between them. The crisis team has it the worst because they are required to see everyone who says that their having difficulty with their mental health. It's that one person's job to try to distinguish the person's "ulterior motives" so to say. So that they're not putting homeless people into psych hospitals just for a warm bed to stay for the night clogging up much needed space for people who actually may need it for example. It's no excuse for the bad behavior. If I were you I would go to their supervisor and file a complaint. You definitely don't deserve to get treated that way. This happened recently at my work. We would call the crisis team for a client of mine and they just sent him home 4 times in one week, just sent him home. After they finally did hospitalize him we had a meeting with the crisis team who basically said that they thought he was just looking for attention and didn't realize that the was actually in crisis. It's sad, but there's just not enough money, or hospital beds available for everyone looking to get into one. The ER is clogged with mental health patients. I don't say all of this to excuse the behavior of the staff person who said that to you, because it is definitely unacceptable. I just want to give you the other side of the story.

That is inexcusable of her. I think that it might be worth contacting PALS and telling them about what happened and seeing what they suggest. They should not have said that and I am so sorry they did. Really, do try PALS they can be good - even if I used to call them Pain in the Arse Liaison Service when I was working

Huge hugs

Cracked

Hey guys, thanks.

I realise that they are probably very under-resourced and burnt out with too many demands on them. The worst thing though is that I never ask for help unless I'm desperate. One of my old psychiatrists once said I would die unless I learnt to ask for help as soon as I needed it. This year, for the first time ever I tried to get help as soon as things started going downhill. I even spent several hours standing on top of a cliff hundreds of miles away in Scotland just a week ago deciding whether to jump off it. That's how low I feel. So when I ask for help and get labelled as 'an attention seeker' or whatever, it really hurts.

My dad has got her details and is putting a complaint in- these people are dangerous. Will have a look at PALS- don't really know much about it!

Cheers, Keenie

Hi hon

PALS is an agency that represents patients and tries to deal with complaints and problems before going down the route of an official complaint. They are on the patient's side and make sure they are treated appropriately. They might be able to help tho they might also recommend making a formal complaint in this case

HUgs

Cracked

There is this uber hot secretary at my psych docs office who gives me dirty looks and attitude all the time. I dread having to tell her to charge my visits to my rehab program. She looks at me like I am lame for not having insurance or something. She is hot though, so deep down I kind of like that she is mean to me.