When you are feeling depressed and or suicidal one of the main ways to get help is to see your doctor. I have a big concern however on just how much knowledge doctors have on serious depression, nervous breakdowns and suicide.
From my last breakdown I went to my local doctors about 3 or 4 times, each time seeing a different doctor as it was a large practice. Each time I explained I was at my wits end, I was desperate, that I really needed help. On a couple of occasions I broke down in tears while they just sat there not sure what to do. One of the times they asked me to fill in a questionnaire where I did have to put that i had suicidal thoughts but was hoping I wouldn’t act on them. It worried me that they asked me what would I like them to do. I wanted them to know what to do and act on it. I’m not sure if they even have a plan for if you say to them I am very suicidal right now.
The main result from the doctor was writing to the mental health team and my old psychiatrist who I had been signed off from a couple of years before. I’m pretty sure I had had to prompt them to do this. They also put me on a waiting list for cognitive behaviour therapy. None of the doctors wanted to review my antidepressants which later on I found out had stopped working for me. I kept going back getting more and more desperate but they didn’t seem to understand I had had a nervous breakdown and each time they had no news of communication with the mental health team. I was told it’s just anxiety it’s no big deal, it will just subside soon and they gave me some valium while they continued to sign me off work.
In the end I rang up the community mental health team myself instead of waiting for the doctor to contact them. Even then they told me the meeting to discuss my case would be in a couple of weeks. I couldn’t wait and I clearly said I didn’t think I would be alive in a couple of weeks . The lady on the phone just said I’m sorry and that was it.
My girlfriend rang up the next day in tears and the same lady eventually opened an appointment to see the psychiatrist. At last I got to see the professional who knew what to do to help with my medication and what was happening to me.
It took weeks to get the help I needed and the doctors had a serious lack of knowledge on how to help. Doctors really need to be Trained in these matters before many others suffer without the correct help. I also know of someone recently who sadly took their own life and was failed by their doctor to potentially prevent it. They had even mentioned they had felt suicidal.
I still think it is important to see your doctor but be aware about the services you can access such as directly referring yourself to the community mental health team. Charities such as mind that offer support. Admittance to hospital if needed. Online support forums and helplines like the Samaritans to call.