• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Waiting time for mental health services?

markpj31

markpj31

Well-Known Member
Messages
177
Location
England
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes.
Hi,

Just wondering how long you have been waiting for a particular service(such as CBT) on the NHS? (IAPT). My niece has been waiting over a year and I'm at 6 months now and this is for intensive CBT.
 
Even before the waiting lists got longer and services cuts happened pre-covid the wait time was over 7 mths here (in 2005/6). Now children's services in spite of adding an early triage stage are over two years for a diagnosis, and wait times for any mental health treatment are well over a year. Adult service wait times are also over a year after waiting first for months for the initial assessment.
I was lucky that I was referred for intensive EMDR (a type of CBT) before the major cuts in my area - which included closing the site and cramming us into another site (my therapist often had to walk up and down the corridor asking people to move out of offices if they were just using the computer or phone to find us a space). When he took early retirement after being forced to do more 'group therapy instead of 1-1 they didn't replace him. The person who took over EMDR was much less experienced.
Not much you can do except look for other sources, eg some charities do treatments (we have Rothacs here so I completed treatment with them) and get some support from charities in the meantime.

good luck
 
TriciaWs said:
Even before the waiting lists got longer and services cuts happened pre-covid the wait time was over 7 mths here (in 2005/6). Now children's services in spite of adding an early triage stage are over two years for a diagnosis, and wait times for any mental health treatment are well over a year. Adult service wait times are also over a year after waiting first for months for the initial assessment.
I was lucky that I was referred for intensive EMDR (a type of CBT) before the major cuts in my area - which included closing the site and cramming us into another site (my therapist often had to walk up and down the corridor asking people to move out of offices if they were just using the computer or phone to find us a space). When he took early retirement after being forced to do more 'group therapy instead of 1-1 they didn't replace him. The person who took over EMDR was much less experienced.
Not much you can do except look for other sources, eg some charities do treatments (we have Rothacs here so I completed treatment with them) and get some support from charities in the meantime.

good luck
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply.

I did try a few services but didn't find them all that good to be honest (CRUISE, Mind etc.)

Looks like we are on our own..
 

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

BACP is the professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK. We exist for one simple reason - counselling changes lives
www.bacp.co.uk www.bacp.co.uk
This site holds details of all trained counsellors in UK. OK its paying, but many offer reasonable rates and has benefits of seeing same person and picking where you go. You can chose who suits you best.
Sometimes just a session or 2 is enough depending on the therapy and the situation.
Sometimes selfcare means not waiting
 
markpj31 said:
Hi,

Just wondering how long you have been waiting for a particular service(such as CBT) on the NHS? (IAPT). My niece has been waiting over a year and I'm at 6 months now and this is for intensive CBT.
Click to expand...
I had intensive CBT and waited for about 18 months. I had to get a diagnosis from a psychiatrist, but even then for me it did not move me up the list any quicker. I remember sitting in a car bawling my eyes out through the frustration, things have not got any better since to be honest.
 
Can you self refer? can you access through work? Can you afford to go private? Have you tried PALS? Make a nuisance of yourself with the department, those who shout loudest get seen first unfortunately,
 
Lainie71 said:
I had intensive CBT and waited for about 18 months. I had to get a diagnosis from a psychiatrist, but even then for me it did not move me up the list any quicker. I remember sitting in a car bawling my eyes out through the frustration, things have not got any better since to be honest.
Click to expand...

I hope things have gotten better for you?
 
markpj31 said:
I hope things have gotten better for you?
Click to expand...
Well life is still a struggle everyday, constant reminders of a life full of bad memories that I would love to erase but unable to. Counselling is the only way I think for me. I have had previously 6 years of therapy and just got on my feet then my world collapsed again. I am looking to go private again as the waiting list is just too long for me. Its no wonder I have continuous ocd and other problems, I just cant seem to help myself some days :banghead:
 
markpj31 said:
Hi,

Just wondering how long you have been waiting for a particular service(such as CBT) on the NHS? (IAPT). My niece has been waiting over a year and I'm at 6 months now and this is for intensive CBT.
Click to expand...

If I recall I waited close on 6 months for previous bout of CBT (2019) .
Found it more useful to me personally, after using company scheme to see counsellor one on one

Many of the items & advice used is freely available online for those curious about what it entails

Recently needed counselling one on one, after being diagnosed with PTSD .

That took just under 3 months from first asking until first session.

It was a long road, but a tremendous help in the end

I did however find it enormously distressing, reliving certain moments, so brace yourself if anyone else is in the same boat.

But at the same time it was a great relief to relate all the demons haunting me, to someone so removed from my circle.

Try as they might, loved just can't understand, so we end up protecting them & ourselves by not telling them too much, and perhaps increasing the anguish for both all the more.

Good luck moving forward in the line to both of you .

And best wishes it provides as full a recovery as possible.
 
Last edited:
For anyone struggling, may I suggest yoga as a another tool that can be useful as well?
I'm just doing a course that explains why certain moves and stretches release emotions, stress, "held memories" etc. One of the reasons why it's seen as calming.
And, over time, it brings flexibility, strength and in my case, some very good friends!
Something perhaps to start while waiting on counselling?
 
MrsA2 said:
For anyone struggling, may I suggest yoga as a another tool that can be useful as well?
I'm just doing a course that explains why certain moves and stretches release emotions, stress, "held memories" etc. One of the reasons why it's seen as calming.
And, over time, it brings flexibility, strength and in my case, some very good friends!
Something perhaps to start while waiting on counselling?
Click to expand...
I do yoga, I read, and I meditate its the only time my mind has that switch and switches off to be honest. Opens up all my chakras I think. The only thing is I cannot do all the time as life gets in the way, I do agree though about the flexibility and strength - I look at some of my friends and most of them cannot touch their toes without wincing :hilarious:
 
Our bodies, while pretty generic, just like cars I suppose, come from the factory in a few specific forms and with the basic economy pack, mainly.

It's that lifetime of modification, adding all those little accessories that make the journey easier or more enjoyable, depending what roads we take ...that makes ours SO unique compared to everyone else's.

And like any vehicle the bodywork & engine needs attention or it just looks battered and parts seize up.

Yoga, seems to be one that's for the body & the mind.

Good for you having that to help you.

Wife is a keen Advocate, and I notice she's got more 'Go' and is more supple & mobile compared to her friends.

Look after the engine,
& the engine looks after you.

Hears to all you yogi's
Long may hers & yours last
 
Last edited:
MrsA2 said:
It's not just for women you know!
My regular class has about 50 50 men to women
Click to expand...
Oh Indeed.
Sorry if I gave the impression it's just for women

I've seen the videos of males doing yoga too

She often suggests I go as well.
But I feel it's a bit of the resistance when someone raves about a book or a film and you read it or go see it, and it's a bit 'meh'.

Besides I'm settling back into the gym routine now & the rehab is really making a difference for me .

And to be honest with the various injuries still being an issue & the knee in particular, I'd certainly be in no shape to place myself on the floor let alone stretch myself into an awful lot of the poses she shows me... :hilarious:

So I'll leave my lady to her favourite thing without me spoiling it for her .

And wish all, male & female, Namaste.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top