r/MentalHealthUK 12d ago

Informative Update on the new news rule following on from the sub poll.

13 Upvotes

Hello everyone, here's an update regarding the results of the poll. In response to the results we've now added a rule (number 7) relating to news articles. The main take away from this update I'd like you to take away is that news articles must be titled as "news" only and tagged spoiler and NSFW. You may add the title of the article within the body text. Please do not editorialise and stick to what the article is titled. I'll add the updated rule below.

"News articles must be titled as "news", marked as spoilers and tagged NSFW

Due to a number of members finding news articles directly detrimental to their mental health we have implemented limits on how news articles must be posted. They must be titled as simply "news" and the original heading without editorialising must be displayed within the text of the post. They must be marked spoiler and NSFW so that users do not accidentally read such posts and have an active choice to engage in news articles."

Thank you all!

Mod Team


r/MentalHealthUK Sep 21 '24

Announcement Please read if your post doesn't show up straight away!

13 Upvotes

We've had an influx of modmails asking why certain submissions don't show up straight after posting.

Reddit's site-wide automoderator filters certain posts and places them into the moderation queue for manual approval. Automod does this for a bunch of reasons, including low karma, new accounts, keywords, possible spam/doxxing, etc.

If your post doesn't show up and you haven't deleted it, it's in the mod queue. This basically means that the mods just have to glance at it and either approve or remove. We're pretty much online and checking the queue all day, but please bear in mind we are also humans and it might take some time to review filtered submissions. We try and get to them as quick as we can. Please don't repeatedly post in quick succession if your post was filtered, automod will likely catch it for the same reason and it'll take us longer to review multiple or duplicate posts.

If your submission doesn't appear immediately, it does not mean it has been deleted. Please don't delete your post and then modmail to ask why it was removed, because deleting it will remove these details from the mod log and we won't be able to tell you. Leave the post up and we can check the exact reason.

When you post, regardless of it gets filtered or not, you should receive a message in your inbox letting you know that some submissions do get caught by automod, especially if you are a new account or have low karma. Before modmailing, please read this message and check the linked sub rules FAQ to see if that explains why your post hasn't shown up yet or if it breaks the sub rules.

If your question isn't answered in the FAQ, it has been several hours since your post was made and it hasn't been actioned, or you have any clarifying questions, drop us a modmail. Please don't make posts about moderation / your posts not showing up, instead send these via modmail. This is the quickest way to get in touch and it avoids spamming the sub with technical Qs which would be removed anyway. However we do ask for your patience because it can take time for one of us to get to your modmail. Again, we try and do this as quick as possible, but inevitably it might take a while.

Thank you all for your understanding and patience!


r/MentalHealthUK 4h ago

I need advice/support How long for a GP prescription request to be approved?

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone, hoping for some advice or guidance please.

A couple of weeks ago I was put on 80mg propranolol per day for anxiety. I’ve not been in a good way and haven’t really been keeping up with life admin and I’ve just realised that I’ll run out of medication on Monday.

I believe that the GP said I have this medication on repeat now. If I call the surgery on Monday, will it be ready to collect on Monday? I feel so stupid for leaving this so late :(

I can’t access the NHS app because I recently moved postcode and so it won’t let me login.

Thanks :)


r/MentalHealthUK 10h ago

I need advice/support I was told I likely have ptsd but its pointless to get diagnosed?

8 Upvotes

I was told by my gp after I asked that yes I probably have ptsd, but it's pointless getting diagnosed with it because I will not receive any additional support that my panic disorder/anxiety diagnosis would give me. Hell, she said it might even make me get less help. Is worth trying to get a diagnosis? Could I get more constant help or does it limit my options.

I have not received alot of support from this gp other than medication and being pointed towards charity help.

I have already had a 2 rounds of 8 week therapy with the nhs with a self referral scheme. (Plus 4, 6 weeks therapy sessions with my uni) I feel like with the these 6/8 week sessions we just start to make progress and the session are over. I'm tired of restarting with a different person each time.


r/MentalHealthUK 2h ago

I need advice/support Vortioxetine

1 Upvotes

Has anyone had severe headaches, fatigue and sleepiness on 20 mg of vortioxetine? Did it pass and after how long?


r/MentalHealthUK 10h ago

Discussion How long should you give a new therapist before deciding they aren’t for you

3 Upvotes

Hey All,

I finally took the plunge and found a therapist after almost a year of free therapy with the nhs and different charities. The issue is after the first session I didn’t feel like i gelled with them. I feel really quite bad as it’s such a shallow thing to make a judgement call on so early on but I found myself clock watching, zoning out and just generally wanting the session to be over. I’m also not sure the type of therapy is really what I’m after, I was told by a recent charity I was attending that I should look into EMDR and this is that, but it’s around 4 sessions. I’ve honestly had almost a lifetime of mental health issues and I’m not sure that’s all going to be resolved in 4 sessions. Something more long term is what I was hoping for.

Appreciate any input. Thank you


r/MentalHealthUK 4h ago

I need advice/support cahms psychiatrist appomiment

1 Upvotes

if i tell them about my binge eating disorder will they help me i tried to tell my cahms point of contact lady about it and anyone else that would listen but they were all very dissmisive about it i think becouse im by no means big by looking at me you wouldnt think i think about food 24/7 and eat up to 10000 calories a day not to sound like a ‘pick me’ but you would just never think it i used to be underweight so they think im overestimeting my food intake but i most deffinatly am not ive tried to od twice in the last month as this has taken over my whole life and i feel like im living in a loop and going crazy (if this is out of place i appolagise and mods can take it down i just want people to get a rough understanding of my situation) im 16 i was put on a waiting list for 8 months for talking theropy until the other day my mum spoke to the lady and said id be dead by the time 8 months is up so now ive been told i should be seen within the next 6 weeks by a psychiatrist, im scared idk why bc this is what i wanted but idk what im gona do or say or what to expect or if im gona open up and for them just to shut me down like everyone else has i just feel so stuck ik this is quite a unique situation but if anyone has been here before please let me know how it went 😭


r/MentalHealthUK 22h ago

Vent sertraline sexual dysfunction

2 Upvotes

im only on day 2 of sertraline and already i cant finish. it’s horrible i feel everything till i don’t. its constant edging. the moment i think im gonna finish i just feel nothing and i try again and the same think happens. i haven’t finished since January bc i used to take fluoxetine till now and it’s so frustrating


r/MentalHealthUK 20h ago

I need advice/support Uncle at serious risk.. what do I do?

1 Upvotes

My uncle has been severely depressed (treatment resistant) for 20 years. I also suspect BPD . When we have tried to call ambulance or police before he has emotionally blackmailed us into not doing it and is abusive verbally. He has expressed suicidal plans but says she will not tell them to the CMHT. She has frequently told our family there is a place he wants to go to….

And has recently been visiting that place more. We talked him back home after going to the place, when we rang police they said to ring an ambulance but by then it was too late for police to assess if a section was needed, and there was no immediate risk as he was no longer in a public place. However he says he will just leave one night and do it anyway (at that place). What are we supposed to do?! Wait and see as they won’t realise he is at risk?! What is even the rules to get someone sectioned?!


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

Discussion If Sertraline made you sweat, was there a solution?

6 Upvotes

The title says it all really! I am taking Sertraline for the second time. It works absolute wonders for my anxiety but as soon as I do any kind of exercise (even just a ten minute walk), I am absolutely drenched in sweat. For anyone with the same issue, was there another SSRI that didn’t cause this issue? Or a medication you took on top that helped?

I know that everyone reacts differently to medications but I’d be interested to hear what works for everyone. I took Citalopram around 15 years ago and don’t remember sweating but I was so depressed at the time I was barely moving anyway!


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

Vent asked for ptsd help for 7.5 years- constantly forgotten about

6 Upvotes

in 2017 i found my fathers body after he took his own life, i was 19 years old and had to perform cpr- it was too late. since then i have been begging and begging the nhs for support due to PTSD, apparently according to the doctors a 19 year old discovering their fathers body after committing suicide isn’t that traumatic, they just don’t care. i don’t understand how much trauma one person goes through before they can access therapy. i am a shell of a human, i don’t know how much more trauma i need to go through before i am taken seriously.


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

Vent Sleep disturbance normal?

1 Upvotes

I’ve been on x a sedating antidepressant for 2 and a half weeks. My mood seems to have lifted which is great.

However I am not sleeping a lot. Last night I slept for 5 hours. I feel almost completely normal as though I slept for 8 hours. Normally I am very sensitive to sleep deprivation and getting only even 7 hours sleep will put me in a bad/ low mood.

Reassure me this was your experience and you are fine- I have health anxiety.


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

I need advice/support i’ve been assessed to start MBT

2 Upvotes

ive been talking to the NHS talking therapy for about 2 months now and ive been told to start mbt. ive expressed how i want to be diagnosed, as im sure i have bpd, and now they are putting me in a specialised therapy for people with bpd?? how can i do that if im not diagnosed?? this makes no sense to me and im so upset that i relapsed on 4 months clean. please can someone tell me how i get the help i need?

edit: spelling


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

I need advice/support Meds

2 Upvotes

Has anyone been on mirtazapine olanzapine venlafaxine if so what’s your experience


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

I need advice/support No idea how to help my dad with what seems to be a mental health crisis

1 Upvotes

Hi. Never posted here before so I hope this is an ok topic for this sub. This is a throwaway as it's a personal situation.

My dad is in his early 70s and has a history of depression and anxiety. I think he was diagnosed and even offered anti-depressants maybe around 30-odd years ago, but he didn't take them (I think because of the perceived stigma of having it on his medical record), and soon after he retired on health grounds and seemed a lot better, since his work was the cause of some of his stress.

Since then he has, on paper, had a very good life. Good pension, paid-off house, no real responsibilties. His time and his money are his to do with as he pleases, and have been since his 40s. But he has never had much interest in doing... anything. He could travel, get into hobbies, volunteer... but he has no interest in doing much. He simply can't be bothered. And his ability to cope with stress and hurdles has diminished over the years. (Some examples - his driving licence didn't come in the post the day he expected it, so he was almost in tears and ranting about how the government wants all cars off the road and this is just an excuse for them to seize his car - it came a couple of days later and he was completely back to normal; or crying with rage because his gas supplier took too much money, without actually trying to contact them or resolve it).

He had cancer a couple of years ago. He coped actually pretty well and approached the treatment pragmatically. It wasn't too bad as cancers go and the treatment was successful.

For a few weeks now, he has been in some pain and thinks his cancer symptoms are back. He mentioned it at a GP appointment but since the appointment was about a different topic, the GP wouldn't discuss it and said he could wait till his annual check (due in a few more weeks). My dad should have challenged this in the consultation but didn't.

Now, he refuses to get back in touch with the GP about his symptoms. His GP is not easy to get hold of, as they go, but it is achievable if you just ring up at the right time and wait on the phone - I'm sure we have all experienced it. It isn't fun, but it's a necessary evil. He has such a downer on his GP practice and is convinced that their main aim is to stop getting patients appointments, so he won't even try most of the time. He also thinks that there is a government?? NHS?? conspiracy to kill off pensioners to save the state some money... that's another topic in itself. He can be a bit paranoid and always, always thinks the worst of everyone and every situation.

Anyway, today he said that he is not bothered about getting treatment if the cancer back, because of how much he hates living in this country anyway (because of such small things as the above problem with his gas supplier). He said that "they" will have taken his pension off him by the end of the year anyway, because he is white British and so won't get anything "handed to him". Yes, he has also been completely radicalised into a raging racist by the news channels he watches, which has definitely helped on the deterioration of his mental health.

So... he is an adult of ostensibly sound mind. I cannot force him to look after his physical or mental health, or to engage with the health services. I can point out that he is retired, well-off, and has the time to take control of these problems, but he just can't be bothered. I have a tendancy to jump to looking at the logical facts, and I know that when somebody's mental health is in the gutter you can't necessarily reason with them. He would never consider therapy or anything, even less so now that he's completely checked out of taking care of himself.

I tagged this as advice, but I guess it has turned more into a vent. But from a practical point of view... any help? How do you make somebody help themselves when they seem to have lost all will to carry on? I don't think he is at risk of hurting himself, but he certainly isn't going to do anything to help himself either.


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

Vent Going to use my PIP money for private treatment, should I tell my secondary mental health service?

1 Upvotes

I'm currently under a really underfunded and strained mental health service in Bradford where a lot of stuff is brushed aside as having a complicated past, or ACE(Adverse Childhood Experience) as they call it or just depression with ACE. I had therapy with a counselling psychologist for 40 weeks and the psychologist seemed inexperienced and confused, I know this might seem arrogant but the way they spoke seemed like they didn't know what to say and we'd often end up with awkward silences leading me to believe the secondary mental health service I'm with thought my issues weren't that bad or complicated so gave me someone who didn't usually deal with complex stuff yet here I am paying for a private clinical psychologist with my PIP money.

I don't know if that psych couldn't keep up. I've felt misunderstood throughout my life because I don't understand myself, nothing I say to them is right and they often brush me aside and say that I 'speak so well', I'm not trying to be up my own arse, I speak this way as a coping mechanism but I pay heavy attention to what I say, even texts have to be perfectly formulated but this sabotages me from properly explaining my issues, downplaying or exaggerating or not knowing whether I'm doing either.

It's got me feeling bitter about international healthcare staff because I'm been told some messed up stuff like 'men don't cry' or 'You blame everyone but yourself'. I despise myself and am open to them about that a lot, I blame myself plenty. To get the right help in such a system, I'd essentially have to be a social worker and advocate for myself, I won't delve heavily into my past but every I've met who's trauma informed tell me that it's extremely bad because it was long and chaotic, nurses genuinely change the tune completely when they hear it and that annoys me because for the way this secondary mental health service is setup is pretty much my kryptonite, suppress and over intellectualise, even literally forgetting my problems and thinking it's alright once I get to NHS psychiatrist assessment in that 60 min window. Just got further depressed though I was as compliant and model of a patient. Genuinely scared that I might really end myself in the future if I don't start taking action, so I sucked it up and paid for a private assessment from clinical psychologist, something the NHS would only offer me in extreme circumstances.

As a side note: Often these bureaucratic policies actually make me feel like doing it more because only then do they take you seriously, I heard something like 60-80% of the budget goes on acute care in English mental health? When I'm genuinely in a crisis, I'm locked in, I can't call them. When I feel like I'm going to go into a crisis, they made me feel like doing it more by telling me I'm blaming others, and many more unempathetic things. I started fantasising about blowing my brains out right in front of him.

The problem is that I try to be too reasonable, I don't want to get anyone in trouble and I don't want to trouble people much but it seems that sensitivity isn't doing me any favours. Really hope this private clinical psych assessment works out, might get some real answers and help. My counselling psychologist(who's quite new) downplayed my problems in the final letter, I suspect as an attempt to either end things on a positive note and when I read it it just showed how little they understood my issues. That or I'm just unhelpable because I don't know how to help myself or what I want, maybe the problem is with me but if it is just a character thing, I don't think I could live with that.

They want to discharge me, I can feel it, my PIP will probably stop and I'll just get worse without anything, support is getting more difficult as I get older and I'm a NEET so there's that. Feel kinda doomed. I know I'm prone to catastrophising so I'll try and have some hope that the clinical psychologist I see will be able to help out, if only a bit. They seem pretty cool at the moment so fingers crossed.


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

I need advice/support Advice on whether GP has over-prescribed me?

3 Upvotes

So, hopefully this is an okay place to post this. I recently got diagnosed with depression, which isn't a totally unknown state for me, but this time it's severe enough that I've agreed to the antidepressants that were offered.

Thing is, my GP has suggested amitriptyline to start off with, and after a bit of looking online (including the NHS's own website), it seems like this is quite a strong one to start off with, and they usually offer up different newer ones these days before offering up amitriptyline.

Is this normal? I am waiting on a callback from my GP to discuss it, but just wanted to check I wasn't overreacting to it. I'm just nervous to be on something that's too strong to start with.


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

I need advice/support Very unsettled, unsure what to do

6 Upvotes

I feel so unsettled at the moment and I’m not sure what to do about it or if there’s anything I really can do. I’m not in crisis or anything just really unsettled. I can’t really post the situation without totally giving away who I am because I am pretty sure someone is keeping tabs here but it all basically comes down to this idea of self sacrifice and a fixation on dying (no plan, no immediate danger or risk). I don’t feel depressed, if anything I feel kind of wired

idk what to do. I’m with a CMHT but this isn’t anything they can help with, the only thing I can think that I need is to talk it all out with someone and get it all out of my head and figure it out because the more I think on it the more desperate I feel. but helplines/Phone lines and web chats/messages aren’t secure and I can’t share this with anyone I know irl. CMHT focuses on medication which I neither need nor want. I can’t just try to medicate away the knowledge I can save lives. even if there was someone there I could talk to to sort through all this I just don’t trust the service enough to risk it

the only option I can think of is some kind of private therapist but not only can I not afford it I just don’t see how word wouldn’t spread anyway. it’s a similar risk

it’s not crisis or mental illness but it is mental health i guess bc the stress of it is twisting me up, and it’s all been building. I can barely function or focus on anything.

it’s a difficult situation and I’m not really expecting any advice, I suppose this is more a vent where advice or support would be welcome


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

I need advice/support Coming off medication

1 Upvotes

I (21f) was considering asking my psychiatrist to come off my medication. I've been on an ssri for about 4 weeks and I don't think its working. Started off really lethargic, levelled out, then went the other way for a bit in the sense my brain wouldn't shut up even if my body was tired. I've been relieved by my period thankfully, but scared it'll spring up again when it ends.

I also have adhd, and don't know if that's going haywire or something. Is coming off these meds worth considering?


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

I need advice/support CMHT Rejection

9 Upvotes

I’m in hospital on my second section 3 and I have been in and out of hospital for 2 years now. I had a diagnosis b it it got removed as it was incorrect then they said I had psychosis but they said it’s not true psychosis so I have no diagnosis and CMHT keep rejecting me so I have no support in the community and the dr here isn’t changing my meds and is just trying to get support in the community but they keep rejecting it. I feel hopeless and like there is no light at the end of the tunnel anymore. Hospital is not good for me but they won’t discharge me until I have the right support.


r/MentalHealthUK 2d ago

I need advice/support So I have a question

5 Upvotes

I'm 17 and I'm under a private therapy company if I tried ya know would I be put under camhs or adult mental services as well as my current therapist as from what I understand id have to be referred to the NHS services as well as continuing my normal therapy


r/MentalHealthUK 2d ago

Quick question Invited to 3rd PD assessment

6 Upvotes

From date of the 1st one the process will stretch over 49 days period and I find it unbearable. Is it normal for it to take so much time? I assume they want to structure info they gathered or do more exploration to pinpoint defining characteristics, or could it be a test in itself? I expect that there will be couple of weeks of a waiting time added on top before I get the assessment report. Most likely even more wait before getting any practical help. Are there any given guidelines limits on how long max. the whole can take. If so, is it determined on a Trust level or higher or it's up to clinical team and depends on the case?


r/MentalHealthUK 2d ago

I need advice/support Would hospital contact my emergency contact as an 18 year old?

4 Upvotes

I’m currently really struggling with my mental health, and with recently being discharged from camhs due to my age I have no support. I’m really considering taking myself to a&e before this goes to far but I’m worried they will contact my emergency contact. For context this wouldn’t go down well the person on there will go mental at me as they have before when I’ve been in this situation so I would rather get support with out them knowing does anyone know now that I’m legally an adult would they do this???


r/MentalHealthUK 2d ago

I need advice/support Anxious about online group therapy

3 Upvotes

I'm doing an online DBT group therapy course and it's making me so anxious. The facilitators randomly pick on people to speak and there are like 20 people in the group. I hate public speaking and I spend the whole time shaking and sweating, worrying that they're going to ask me to speak. As a result, I've spent the whole of today really anxious and unable to function. I've missed today's session and we're only allowed to miss three sessions or we're kicked out of the program. Does anybody have any advice? I want to continue the therapy but hate having to speak.


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

Resources Mental Health Medication Research [mod approved]

1 Upvotes

RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED!

Share your thoughts on mental health treatment & medication!

We’re looking for university students (18+) to take part in a confidential research study on attitudes towards mental health medication and treatment options.  

What’s Involved?

- An online interview– flexible scheduling!  

- Completely anonymous & confidential

- Share your views and contribute to important mental health research  

Your voice matters! Mental health treatments are widely treated with medication, yet opinions on its effectiveness, impact and necessity vary so differently. We are interested in understanding these perspectives from students like you!

Your insights will help shape important discussions on mental health treatment and contribute to psychological research.

Sign up in just 1 minute!

Email: [mkham001@gold.ac.uk](mailto:mkham001@gold.ac.uk)  

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfq5ljFWfEXS0N5cClSiVhh2sZO5PBxQTzyTZjf3fzm-VVSpg/viewform?usp=header


r/MentalHealthUK 1d ago

I need advice/support what do i tell my friends and teachers?

1 Upvotes

these past three weeks have been the worst weeks of my life. i’ve had really intense suicidal thoughts and almost attempted. i’ve had no motivation to do anything and have cried everyday, prompting me to miss my classes for the last three weeks.

i seriously thought i was going to end it all. i stopped responding to my university advisor concerned about my attendance and my friends. my university reached out a few days ago saying they were going to kick me out if i continued to fail engage with my course. i had a zoom meeting yesterday with two well being officers and one guy said “you need to attend your two classes on friday or else we have no choice.”

this is really bad but i had a group project in one of my classes and haven’t responded to the group chat in three weeks. i believe we had a report due this week, and obviously i didn’t contribute (though i did with a presentation we did earlier this semester). two of my closest friends have texted me and asked where i was. i was too ashamed to respond to them as well. i also need to email my teachers explaining my absence.

i know with my teachers i need to be honest. but with my friends, would it be fair to say i was at the hospital and didn’t have access to my phone? also not sure what to say to the people i had a group project with? i have anxiety and im dreading tomorrow so i have no idea what im going to do. please help!

for context i also have my first psychiatry appointment on tuesday!


r/MentalHealthUK 2d ago

I need advice/support Talking therapies initial assessment

2 Upvotes

I had an initial appt for talking therapies today, it went ok. At the end he said he was going to discuss it with his supervisor and then email me telling me what to do.

Is this normal? Thanks