No help for those in need (From Oxford Mail)

No help for those in need

10:00am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Letters

Events that happened over Christmas and the New Year have shown me that, if you are suffering from a severe mental illness (in which case you may not know that you are so ill and be extremely frightened by the symptoms, putting you physically at risk and in danger of committing suicide) it is very, very difficult to get in to hospital or the homeless hostel from lack of beds.

People slept on the pavement outside O’Hanlon House over Christmas with staff ‘keeping an eye’ on them, because there were no beds.

Being well enough to know that you are ill and need treatment still may not enable you to be admitted to hospital, but your chances are better.

If you have a severe mental illness, are very nervous and not causing any trouble, it is all too easy to get fobbed off, discharged from support services by inappropriate interviewing and be left to a lonely, empty existence and a huge waste of your talents.

The cuts to services are horrendous.

The impact on families and carers is disturbing, not to mention how demoralising it is for highly trained and experienced staff, who are invaluable in the lives of people whom most of the population don’t understand.

PAT ROSS Mind Carers Bowness Avenue Headington