"Dudhope taught me there is always someone I can trust"

About: Dudhope Young People's Unit / Adolescent Psychiatry New Stobhill Hospital / Skye Unit (Glasgow Adolescent Inpatient Unit)

(as a service user),

I was initially admitted to Skye House after numerous suicide attempts, the one which lead to me being hospitalised. I stayed in Skye House for 4 days, which was very difficult for me. I had been in a children’s care home for nearly 7 months and I had come from a pretty rough background, and had self harmed for several years. Moving placement to placement had been hard enough especially with my mental health difficulties. I was angry that I had had yet another failed placement. In skye house I was a bit of a nightmare. I was non compliant and I kept trying to push people away, I didn’t want to speak to anyone about my dark thoughts. Some of the staff were lovely, and listened to me rant out my anger at 3am when I couldn’t sleep, but others weren’t so nice, I can’t really blame them.

When I was transferred to Dudhope YPU 4 days later, I was so much happier. It seemed that all of the staff understood and they ALL wanted to help me. I was still on constant observations but on the Wednesday that week, I got off them. I was a very disruptive patient whilst there, but I was shocked when nobody made fun of me, argued with me, judged me or anything like that, I had other patients come over after I had wrecked the entire place, hug me and ask “are you better now?”. The staff were amazing at deescalating my extreme violence which was very prominent, and fulled by my equally extreme anger at the world in general. I shouted and swore at staff, refused they’re support after self harming  episodes and became violent with anyone who angered me. 

But despite all of this, the staff stuck by me and sat and listened to me, and tried to help me (even after I’d assaulted them or worse). This is the first time in my life where someone has stuck by me after seeing all of my issues, and because of this, I learned to trust again. Trust that people do actually care, and trust that they could keep you safe whether it be from yourself or others. I started to engage with the staff team, but then my previous placement, broke down and they refused to have me back. I was effectively homeless. I went back to my violent, aggressive ways and pushed everyone away again, but still, both the staff and the young people were there for me, and not once was I “punished” for feeling angry and not being unable to control it. 

Dudhope YPU has taught me that even when other people let you down, there will be someone else you can trust. I had major attachment and trust issues, and because of my inpatient experience, I became a better person, much better able to cope with my difficulties and also able to fight for what I need, which is a stable environment. I have a diagnosis of complex trauma with depressive and anxiety features and my CAMHS team are currently looking at emerging borderline personality disorder. BPD is thought to be caused by a traumatic event(s) in childhood and is not how the media portrays it. We are not “cold”, “heartless”, or “over emotional” people, we feel emotions intensely and cannot help it. Read into it, you’ll be amazed at how different it really is compared to how it is made out to be in the media, 

My past and my mental illness does not define me, that is what Dudhope YPU has taught me, and they are a truly amazing service,

Thank you so so much for everything you done for me, right up until my detention was lifted, you were all there for me.

To any other person who can relate to this, please just let people in, trust them, because you can’t heal that inner turmoil without speaking to people, I learned the hard way.

Time does not “heal” pain. Time teaches those who are pained, how to deal with it in a more effective way, pain changes people and their personality, do not EVER judge someone based on your own prejudices,

Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 6 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Submitted on 26/02/2018 at 14:51
Published on Care Opinion at 18:56


picture of Nicole McInally

Dear phoenixqg99

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story on Care Opinion and I am sorry to read what you have been through.

It is clear from your post that the care and support you received from Dudhope YPU has made a significant and positive impact on you.

However, I am sorry that some of the staff in Skye House ‘were not so nice’, please be assured that I have shared your post with the Head of Specialist Children's Services who is responsible for the Skye Unit.

Take care

Nicole

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Update posted by phoenixqg99 (a service user)

Thanks for your reply, and also for passing onto skye house that some of the nurses weren’t so great with me. It was a rough start when I was made to go inpatient, however I am now doing so so much better, I’m back in the community and managing my thoughts much better too.

I am so grateful that I was made inpatient when I was, otherwise I might not be here today,

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 6 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Submitted on 27/02/2018 at 09:26
Published on Care Opinion at 11:23


picture of Nicole McInally

Dear phoenixqg99

I am glad to hear that you are back in the community and that you are doing much better.

Kind Regards

Nicole

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Response from Jennifer Halliday, Clinical Advisor, CAMHS, Healthcare Improvement Scotland 6 years ago
Jennifer Halliday
Clinical Advisor, CAMHS,
Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Submitted on 01/03/2018 at 16:02
Published on Care Opinion at 16:03


Thank you for sharing, reflecting and encouraging others to do so. Its the only way we learn as people. Staff will really appreciate the time you have taken and I hope you are finding the stable environment you need.

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Response from Alison Moss, Feedback Manager, NHS Tayside 6 years ago
Alison Moss
Feedback Manager,
NHS Tayside
Submitted on 02/03/2018 at 12:23
Published on Care Opinion at 12:46


Dear phoenixqg99

I would like to offer my sincere thanks for the time you have taken to write and share your experiences, particularly for your comments regarding staff, patients and environment at our Young People’s Inpatient Unit. At a time where you were vulnerable and unwell, I am pleased that the team were able to help you and make you feel safe.

Your words have been shared with our staff and they are very grateful for your acknowledgement of the dedicated, patient centred care they provide. We are very proud of our staff and the way they work alongside our young people to help them.

I am pleased to read that you are coping better now and wish you all the very best in the future.

Susan Bean

Clinical Services Manager, Women & Child Health

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