"Community Mental Health Services"

I have accessed Community Mental Health teams on and off since I turned 18, for the last number of years.

My most recent time accessing mental health services within the Belfast Trust was in late 2023, when I did CBT. I waited 2 years for the appointment. This was an awful experience.

The CBT therapist was dismissive of the issues I was talking about and they were cold and not empathetic at all. They made me feel like my feelings are an overreaction. I withdrew from the service after they broke my trust and reported historic abuse without asking for my consent on this, but I still needed support, I wasn't getting it from the therapist/service.

This has raised a lot of issues with me to do with what happened and things have been bad for me since but I don't feel able to ask for help again as it had made me feel so much worse. I don't know how many times I should try speaking to someone and expect a different outcome. 

I wanted to put a complaint in, however I work in the Belfast Trust and do not feel able to complain as I might know the staff in the team. Even accessing Belfast Trust services feels worrying in case someone could know me. 

I feel like I am out of options and staff never really care about how much I am struggling. CMHT have not been great for me in the past too. I have a partner and a job so I am not really struggling, they have said to me before. One said they thought I have EUPD, I was worried and asked if I have been diagnosed, they said no and that they wouldn't be referring me to speak to a physiatrist to be assessed. I don't know why they would mention this then 

I need help when I feel like I am rock bottom before I truly get there, it feels like I have to get there before someone will help me which is a scary thought.