"No mental health Emergencies in A&E"

A few months ago I became very suicidal and I was found in a dark forest. This was around 9pm therefore there was NO mental health services open and there was no Crisis team either. Therefore I was taken to A&E by my parents. As I was waiting to see a receptionist it Said on the board 'Mental Health Emergancies are not for A&E'  I think this is disgusting! There is nowhere for people with mental health problems to stay when they feel as if though they wish to commit suicide and going to a safe place was the best thing for me.

I think this is absolutely poor! I am a teenager and I have had previous history of severe overdoses in which I attended A&E for and had multiple of your staff be very rude to me. I believe all the staff should have mental health training. In my experience, mental health is so stigmatised by certain members of your team. I felt as if though your staff punished me for having an illness that I can not help. I have a diagnosis from one of the top leading consultant psychiatrists whilst I was Impatient at a psychiatric unit due to an overdose that nearly took my life.

I would re think your 'A&E is not for mental health emergencies' you never know going to a&e could save somebodies life like it did mine. I believe the statement of 'A&E is not for mental health emergencies, go and see your GP' is not good enough, this actually made me feel so much more vulnerable as I felt that I was a hindrance for going to A&E to stay safe.

Just re-think that sign as A&E could save somebodies life.

Re-think the sign because trust me if I went home that night I would have ended up in the back of an ambulance and may have not made it through to your hospital.

I understand that medical hospitals are for medical patients but if that's the case find somewhere for mental health patients when their in an emergency situation that like medical patients could be life or death and when going to 'a gp' wont solve the problem or keep the individual safe You never know how many peoples lives that could save that's all I am saying.