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BlondeBipolar
New Contributor

Strugging to access consistent treatment

First time posting, I live in regional W.A. (like 2000kms from Perth, seeing a specialist is not a quick or cheap trip), have had a bipolar diagnosis for 7 years, was a problematic kid and numerous bouts of depression so i'm no stranger to mental health providers. I have been well managed the past 6 years or so and my only interaction with treatment has been seeing a GP to get scripts filled every 6 months. Due to the high turnover of young locums I usually see a different GP each time. Usual thing, they ask me if i'm going to hurt myself, yada yada, presume i'm functioning fine because i'm good at looking as if I have my shit together then they send me on my merry way with my pills and I never see them again. New GP next time. 

This has worked for the last 6 years. Lately i've sunk into worse depression and despite my own attempts to make lifestyle changes to cope i'm really struggling, at least once a week I find myself in an apathetic heap on my bed avoiding the world. 
So I ventured to a yet again, new doctor to set up a new treatment plan. That was 4 weeks ago, I made contact with a remote therapist (not many local psychologists in town, 2 out of 3 are clients so they're no go zones) and have had 2 phone sessions. So far haven't got anything out of it really she's just been listening to me rabble on and i'm now $300 lighter. She hasn't sort of mentioned what form of treatment is best-CBT or whatever.

Psychiatrist also is remote and takes a 2 weeks to get into (phone consult).  
Are these normal wait times?

Doctors up here in the past have failed to forward referrals, follow up. The local mental health clinic claims they lost my files (including psych notes from childhood/NZ practitioners, I can't get these back). I have found it impossible to get a psych evaluation locally. Referrals don't get sent, files are lost and no one follows up anything. I feel at my most vulnerable and when I finally reach for help you just get shoved aside.

 

So yeah, I don't have much faith in our local mental health providers or my doctors practice.

 

Has anyone else encountered these issues? Or just felt like the system has entirely let you down and doesn't give a shit?

 

I honestly feel like the only way I will be able to get immediate psych evaluation, or just taken seriously is if I do something stupid or threaten to.

 

I even tried help lines but they generally just say to contact my GP. And going down that route isn't working. 

 

2 REPLIES 2

Re: Strugging to access consistent treatment

Welcome to the forum @BlondeBipolar 

The situation on the ground re local mental health providers and GPs sounds very difficult. Losing someone's medical files/history is just terrible, almost negligible. 

Yes I have absolutely felt let down and like the system doesn't give a shit. The distance issue sounds like it is really compounding that - not something I've had to contend with.

A 2 week wait for a psychiatrist appointment sounds typical. As for psych, it is really hard to find one that clicks/fits and that could be even harder by phone. Still, from what you've described, it sounds like that is a better option than going local.

I'm really sorry to hear how difficult it is. I hope you find the forum worthwhile in terms of finding people who understand. I came looking for solidarity and I have found it in spades. Take care.

Re: Strugging to access consistent treatment

Hi @BlondeBipolar . Welcome to the forum. I don’t have much experience through rural or regional mental health, just enough to know it’s tricky. I did have a teleconference with a psychiatrist when I was in a regional area but moved to the city not long after. When I moved here I saw a psych registrar for two times and then they moved on every 6 months mths so I understand that feeling of being a number and explaining yourself every time.

 

Two weeks is pretty much a good time frame in the city as well. I have my appointments booked in advance and every time I’ve tried to get an earlier one there has been a wait of min of two weeks, usually more. I’ve been lucky to find a psychiatrist who I’ve now seen for 2 years. 

 

Im not sure how your system works in WA. I think from memory there is a bit more consistency with the teleconference system. There are also psychologists are the country who will do Skype sessions. Not sure if it’s worth looking in to. 

 

Good luck with finding consistency. It would be really hard having to explain everything from the beginning every time you needed mh support. 

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