[firemonkey]

One in five people with mental illnesses do not get the right therapy from doctors – despite good evidence of its effectiveness, the mental health charity Mind says today. The charity said that its research showed that early access to "talking therapies" such as counselling was essential in treating people with mental illnesses and depression. Those waiting fewer than three months from assessment to treatment were almost five times more likely to report that it helped them get back to work than those waiting between one and two years.

Yet more than two-thirds of patients were given no choice, Mind said, left with little more than the offer of drugs. Mental distress costs the economy in England an estimated £105bn each year – equal to the entire NHS budget.

"The Government has made a commitment to choice in its health white paper, and a promise to improve access to talking therapies," said Mind's chief executive Paul Farmer. "The forthcoming comprehensive spending review is their opportunity to demonstrate that they are serious about both."

http://www.guardian....-access-therapy

[polarbear]

I agree.I was told the waiting list for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy was 2 years and that was that! I have only been given drugs and everytime I have asked for therapy I have been discouraged. It's really disappointing.

[alienpresence]

I don't understand why they don't use a computer programme to teach CBT? There is already one available I recall reading sometime ago. This isn't a technique that requires the presence of a 'master' to pass down eclectic sacred knowledge. It is a mental practice which could even be put in a little book and work quite well just like that.

[CaptSpaceBat]

My experience has been similar; all dribs and drabs, attempting to cure a divided self through piecemeal therapies and other diversionary tactics. I had an assessment this week with an organisatrion I first encountered about 6 years ago, at the behest of my PCT as a last gasp before admitting they had not the money to fund treatment.
Fortunately, I felt i got on well with me assessor and so should be starting weekly sessions soon.
AP's idea about CBT rings true - another version of the abbreviation is "Computer-Based Training" - I'll scout around to see if this or DBT is available electronically ... something I'd never previously considered; my fear is that we'll probably end up with ELIZA ...

[alienpresence]

Here's a link I found.

http://www.beatingtheblues.co.uk/

[firemonkey]

http://www.moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome

[alienpresence]

Seems the only people who profit from this artifical delay are the therapists themselves who can charge excessive fees in the private sector for something which can be learnt from a book, cd or simple computer program. The mental health charities appear to be trying to ensure therapists employment, at the highest going rate, rather than pushing this technique at the least cost. So why are MIND and Rethink not advocating these alternative routes to what are quite useful techniques if the need is so critical? Thinking techniques which must be self-taught whether the grounding comes via therapist or plastic disc? Albeit a disc may cost 50p and a therapist somewhat more!

[alienpresence]

I mean in a time of coming austerity surely a way of maximising limited resources is to have a computer driven therapy that can either directly help or be used to identify those minority of service users requiring human one-to-one therapy? A well thought out computer based therapy/questionaire will almost certainly pick up aspects indicating further help is required; and can be designed to flag such people for further help? Expert systems using the latest AI software could easily pick up repeated uses of negative phrases or out of context responses, response lags and so forth . Which in turn could be analysed to pick up anti-social traits or pro-social traits, distress and confusion. There are a number of pyschological experiments on the web using these techniques and although any initial 'artifical therapist' will be quite unsophisticated yet the potential is enormous. This is the way to go but whose gonna listen to me?

[alienpresence]

I'm sure even now a great deal of money could be saved by halving the number of NHS therapists and keeping those most competant. Whilst using computer based CBT to pick up the shortfall in care! combined with well drafted questionaires to seperate those patients requiring a human input from the vast majority who no doubt can learn these techniques using a computer.

[mld]

I was advised by my CPN to do the moodgym stuff from Australia. I worked through it every Monday morning! I used to ut a note in my diary to get up and work through this mood gym stuff. I think it may have worked, but there is one thing for sure, at least I didn't waste my time with my CPN doing the CBT thing. we had much better things to talk about!

[CaptSpaceBat]

I came across the moodgym site in a sessions this afternoon, along with www.livinglifetothefull.com - neither of which I have yet explored; will have a look over the weekend and report back next week ...

[Livvy]

I would like to know why once a diagnosis of mental illness has been made - wouldn't it be a good idea for all mentally ill people to have a FREE bus pass! I know of many mentally ill people who are not declaring their illness to the DVLA - they are basically 'an accident waiting to happen.' They probably fail to disclose their illness to their insurance companies and thus make any insurance null and void. If clients had a free bus pass, then it would encourage them more to use that, when they have a period when they are medicated during the day or feeling unwell enough to drive. In Bromsgrove as it stands at the moment, on the bus pass application form, one can apply for a Disabled Bus Pass if one declares oneself to have a learning difficulty.
I did leave a copy of the Bus Pass form with Mrs Steph Dean and she did not seem to think it was right that there was no appropriate category for the mentally ill.
If all mentally ill clients were given this pass for free - that would be such a big step - their lives would be turned around by not having to worry if they had enough money to have a small outing! It is hard enough to get the motivation to go out - but as someone who drives, there are many days when I know I am just 'not right to drive' and my bus pass saves my life - especially in Birmingham when visiting my parents.
So Please please please can someone do something about this inequality and injustice?
Also, how long does one have to wait for CBT? I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder over 8 years ago and have ballooned to twice the weight I was. I would STILL like CBT please!! What do I have to do?

[firemonkey]

I got my bus pass via sub section G of the Transport act 2000 section 146

Quote

People who if they applied for a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, would have their application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the grounds of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.
Under Section 92 of the Traffic Act 1988 the Secretary of State may refuse to issue a driving licence on the grounds of the applicant’s medical fitness. Those barred from holding a licence are people with:
(i) uncontrolled epilepsy (ii) a severe mental disorder (iii) liability to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting (whether as a result of cardiac disorder or otherwise) (iv) inability to read a registration plate in good light at 20.5 metres (v) other disabilities likely to cause the driving of vehicles by them to be a source of danger to the public.
It is not a condition of entitlement under this category that the disabled person should apply for and be refused a driving licence (which would be unduly burdensome for everyone involved). For people with any of the disabilities (ii) - (iv) listed above, the local authority can be confident a licence would be refused and should therefore be able to issue the travel pass automatically. For (i) epilepsy, the bar is not automatic and depends on the circumstances. The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 specify the conditions under which a person with epilepsy may be granted a driving licence.

http://www.stalbans...._tcm15-1768.pdf
http://www.parliamen.../snbt-01499.pdf


First time i just needed a letter from my GP but when it was up for renewal proof of eligibility needed to come from a specialist ie consultant as opposed to merely a GP. Since then my bus pass has automatically been renewed every year.

My consultant said i was unable to drive and that i had been a psychiatric patient for a long time with psychotic symptoms for which i take psychotropic medications.

[mld]

When the psychiatrist stopped my driving licence I was told to apply for a bus pass, and the final part of the form said something like unable to drive due to physical or mental disability, so I ticked that part and had to send in the letter from the DVLA saying that I couldn't drive.

Now I have my licnence back I don't drive very much as I am aware that I don't think quick enough due to the meds. The council have said to keep my pass until it runs out. I have to have another licence in August. They are renewable annually.

M.

[Lisa]

I waited 3 years for a CPN, and have now been told I will have to wait at least a year to be assessed by a psychologist. In the time since I stopped going out and have been on meds my weight has doubled and now I can hardly walk - I had to wait 6 months to see a dietician (which was a complete waste of time - I'm fat, not stupid), and I have been told I have to wait at least four months to see a physiotherapist. I feel like I spend my entire life metaphorically standing in a queue.

[mias]

Lisa, on 01 February 2011 - 10:28 PM, said:

I waited 3 years for a CPN, and have now been told I will have to wait at least a year to be assessed by a psychologist. In the time since I stopped going out and have been on meds my weight has doubled and now I can hardly walk - I had to wait 6 months to see a dietician (which was a complete waste of time - I'm fat, not stupid), and I have been told I have to wait at least four months to see a physiotherapist. I feel like I spend my entire life metaphorically standing in a queue.

THREE YEARS!! Good God.

I don't think the average Joe on the street would even believe that.


"Those waiting fewer than three months from assessment to treatment were almost five times more likely to report that it helped them get back to work than those waiting between one and two years."


I am sorry to read of what you are going through.


Three months would be bad enough and that is obviously thought of as good.

[Lisa]

Thanks Mias - that made me laugh. Those waiting 3 years should obviously give up all hope
I went to my GP in Feb 2008 to ask about a CPN/more support for my agoraphobia before my daughter went to uni in the september - we thought 7 months would be enough time to get something in place. I had my first appointment on 5th January (she is now in her 3rd year!). At that time I could walk ok.
BUT
this afternoon I had a phonecall from the physio department! They have had a cancellation! I can go tomorrow!
I am absolutely overjoyed, and practically prepared to take back anything I ever said/thought about the NHS (but I reserve the right to kick David Cameron if I see him in the street).

[mias]

"this afternoon I had a phonecall from the physio department! They have had a cancellation! I can go tomorrow"!







WOW ! that is really good news. I am pleased for you and I hope it is of some help. Do let us know

[Arj Subanandan]

firemonkey, on 14 October 2010 - 06:29 PM, said:

One in five people with mental illnesses do not get the right therapy from doctors – despite good evidence of its effectiveness, the mental health charity Mind says today. The charity said that its research showed that early access to "talking therapies" such as counselling was essential in treating people with mental illnesses and depression. Those waiting fewer than three months from assessment to treatment were almost five times more likely to report that it helped them get back to work than those waiting between one and two years.

Yet more than two-thirds of patients were given no choice, Mind said, left with little more than the offer of drugs. Mental distress costs the economy in England an estimated £105bn each year – equal to the entire NHS budget.

"The Government has made a commitment to choice in its health white paper, and a promise to improve access to talking therapies," said Mind's chief executive Paul Farmer. "The forthcoming comprehensive spending review is their opportunity to demonstrate that they are serious about both."

http://www.guardian....-access-therapy

Mind, Rethink and the rest of the coalition which got IAPT started failed to include people with severe mental illnesses in. Thankfully I hear this oversight has been rectified.

[butterflylion]

[quote name='alienpresence' date='14 October 2010 - 07:37 PM' timestamp='1287085067' post='6764']
I don't understand why they don't use a computer programme to teach CBT?

There is a website called Moodgym and it is a free online CBT Woorkbook, i have found it quite useful, I will say however its effectiveness might be determined by the state of mind at the time - at times i find it really easy to work through however if i am extremly low in mood and lack in concentration and motivation i find it very difficult to focus enough for it to be helpful. Try it though it might work for some. =]