Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust - Trust HQ

I was seeing a Dr at Longbridge, he was a very good doctor. I phoned and asked for a letter for a PIP assessment and was told he had left, and more doctors were coming soon. In that time, I really went downhill but there is no point calling duty for help, they can't help you, and if you aren't actively suicidal there's nothing they can do anyway. I stopped leaving the house as much, not going out to food shop, I don't have the energy to make food and watching tv brings no enjoyment, just background noise. I am waiting for talking therapy too, that has been 8 months so far. I phoned the service to ask when I would get a doctors appointment as I know I should get a physical health check with the medication too. She just said 'you aren't down for an appointment'. So I am supposed to see a psychiatrist every 3 months and haven't been seen for what is coming up to a year. I could be dead and no-one would know

They are looking into getting me some face to face appointments as I see a psychiatrist regularly.

They very clearly do not care to actually work with the people needing help, no flexibility or accountability, when I asked why a complex mental health service has no accommodations for people with complex mental health I was told "maybe you aren't ready for help from us" and to go private as if that's even a viable option.

Every call I've had has ended in tears due to their attitudes and their seeming commitment to ignorance and misunderstanding you, places like this make me understand why people don't try to get help anymore, just years on a waiting list to finally get an appointment and be treated like you're wasting their time. Horrible place, horrible staff, crazy they even work with vulnerable people in need considering the way they treat people, I wouldn't be surprised if they caused more harm than they've stopped honestly.

Furthermore, just as I thought they couldn't get any worse, they absolutely did. Not even halfway through my sessions and the doctor has up and vanished? I've now been left high and dry for the last 6+ weeks with absolutely no support, no one has so much as reached out to check in after abruptly stopping my sessions and no explanation! They just cancelled my appointment last minute with no notification until I'd already arrived for my app, 6+ weeks ago and I haven't heard from them since. For a mental health service, they really couldn't give less of a s**t about people's mental health.

At this point I will be putting in a formal complaint as this is just beyond horrific, place needs shutting down.

I called duty and told them I was ill and they told me to go to A&E. I didn't think it was the right thing to do at the time but I wasn't in the right place to make that judgement.

I have been let down by their secondary care mental health services since 2016. I asked for a clinical psychologist for my complex trauma. I have time and time again been sent to different practitioners and had to repeat my trauma over again. Last year I did 6 treatments of CBT and she then made a referral for EDMR therapy which has been proven to be useful for complex trauma. I have since seen 3 people with no proper assessments. I was then to be told that EDMR is not suitable as I am too on edge. I asked for alternatives and they said nothing was available. I have tried talking therapy and CBT and I left feeling a lost cause with no support given by anyone ever.

They're disgusting. My son struggles and they are just shocking.

I first became ill 27 years ago and have basically been given pills and told to go away Thanks to this lot I have the settled expectation of dying in the MH system. Had they done their job properly, I would still be in work instead of being early retired due to mental ill- health. All that they bother with is asking when I am going to do voluntary work- which is code for asking me when I am going to get a job. Precisely just how much extra tax do they want me to pay? Then the occupational therapist said that going somewhere and making gift bags would help me " give back" to society. He could not answer when I told him that I have a clean criminal record and as I pay tax on my occupational pension, I do not welcome being made " busy" and that I will do what I want to do, all perfectly legal, when I want to do it.
Even going to the local MHT results in a complaint on every visit. On one occasion, I was told to use the men's toilet as the ladies was filthy and the cleaner, who apparently is paid to clean the toilet, refused to do. However, when I pointed out that the NHS is legally bound to provide single- sex spaces, nobody could answer me.
The only reason that I attend my appointments is for authorisation of my meds. In other words, to get my drugs. And I really hope that this Trust is proud of what they have turned me into.

I was told by a counselling service at work that my needs were too great and I had complex ptsd in November 23. They referred me back to my GP. I spoke to a superb doctor who took me seriously and referred me to the Community Mental Health Team. I had an assessment on 23rd December and given details of a local organisation for Psychotherapy. They contacted me within 2 weeks and I started therapy in February. All very fast. I was so pleased. I expected to wait a year or more. The only downside is I can have 6 sessions then have to have a 12 week wait before next batch of 6. My therapist said I need many sessions and what NHS cover is simply just not enough.

Nightmare. They're not helping. They have appointments but use medication as opposed to therapy. They add tablets on all the time. I could do with being referred on for CBT or a psychiatrist for someone to talk to her and get down to the problem.

I contacted the crisis team, it is very expensive to contact reception. If you are in crisis they should come out to you. They spoke to me in the most condescending, patronising and ill manner. They are not helpful and they left me with a psychotic husband. They wouldn't access home treatment and the community team didn't respond for 3-4 days. They didn't come out to assess him. They need proper action plans need to be put in place. I wish they would get rid of the crisis team and get physical help for people in crisis. A&E is not the option. A&E in Seacole or High Croft to develop.