"Poor experience of Wigan mental health team"

Last year I was referred to the Wigan Mental Health Home Treatment Team, it was a horrible experience. I felt that they really belittled me, and seemed to doubt what I was relating to them, suggested I ‘just needed to move on’ and made me feel awful. So I started to self-harm.

CBT was arranged for me even though I did not feel this was the right treatment for me. I thought that I needed counselling not therapy but they weren't interested in what I thought.

After the first session with the therapist, leaving me feeling very uncomfortable I was triaged and told I either go ahead with the CBT or accept no other treatment or help would be given. To add to this the therapist I was given was a man, because of my past history I do not trust men and this was in my notes but they ignored it. I felt so uncomfortable talking to him there was no way the therapy would work.

They had also arranged to see me at home, my mum came on the date they had given and we waited all day – they turned up the following day without any apology or explanation. It’s stressful enough when you have a mental health issue without being treated as if you don’t matter.

I've since been referred to a psychiatrist by my GP and feel this will be a better way forward for me.