A man from Wales who tried to take his life earlier this month has claimed mental health care in Wales is "non-existent" after he was discharged from hospital with a mental health support plan which left questions unanswered. Mitchell Bock, 30, has struggled with his mental health for the past 10 years and over the past six months says he has tried to seek support from his GP for his suicidal thoughts.
Mitchell, a musician who works in finance and lives in Caerphilly, claimed in the past decade doctors in Wales have done nothing other than prescribe him stronger anti-depressants. On Sunday, December 4, Mitchell took an overdose and was admitted to Grange University Hospital. Mitchell said he was there for about 13 hours and sat on a chair with "nobody really doing anything" until he saw the crisis team who he claims were with him for around two minutes.
Read more: The man of starkly beautiful words who has endured so much pain
Mitchell claimed: "It was very tick box and they did not seem very interested. They gave me that support plan and sent me on my way really." The support plan gave five prompts which included some questions on how Mitchell could seek help if he feels suicidal.
The form states that Mitchell was unsure how he can manage his suicidal feelings himself and was unsure when he feels safer. The form was signed by a clinician on Monday, December 5. Mitchell claims there was no additional support or advice offered to him when he answered those questions, despite him not knowing the answer to them, and he was discharged from hospital.
Since he was discharged from hospital, the crisis team have called Mitchell multiple times to check in with him but he said he was unable to answer as he was still struggling with his mental health. When he did answer, he claims he was asked if he still felt suicidal which he responded yes to, and was asked whether he had immediate plans to attempt suicide, which he did not.
He claimed: "They pretty much come out and ask you a couple of questions to make sure you're still alive basically to say they've done it. They don't offer you any forward help. I've asked my GP so many times 'can I be referred' but I don't really get anywhere. I've had more help from charities than I've had from the NHS."
With friends who work in mental health services, Mitchell said he knows it is not an issue with individuals not caring but a problem with the wider system. "The staff are underpaid and overworked," he added.
Before his suicide attempt, Mitchell said he had reached out to his local doctors, Aber Medical Centre in Abertridwr, in hopes of getting support for his worsening symptoms. Using the online service eConsult, Mitchell wrote to the surgery and explained his desperate feelings, saying that his depression was at an all time worst and he felt suicidal.
He stated that he would like to be referred or receive some help. The response from Aber Medical Centre read: "Thank you for your recent eConsult request. Please telephone to book an appointment. Econsult is only for admin."
Mitchell did not call the surgery and explained that he finds it very difficult to speak on the phone or in person when he is feeling depressed, which is why he wanted to use the online service. He claimed he did not hear anything further from the surgery regarding this online request.
On the eConsult website, the "how it works" section explains that the service can be used to ask your GP surgery about your health symptoms, conditions or treatments and the practice will respond with advice, a prescription or an appointment. Mitchell said he has used the platform previously and received a phone call as a result, leading to his prescription being changed.
On the type of support Mitchell wants to receive, he said: "I want to see an actual mental health doctor, my medication isn't working but I have to take it because it makes me very ill if I don't. At the moment, I don't know what the best route is, but maybe therapy. But it would be nice to speak to someone who specialises in it and say 'this is how I'm feeling, what would you suggest to do' but it seems like that doesn't exist."
Although Mitchell has sought support privately in the past, he said it can be expensive and he is not in the position to see a private doctor or counsellor at the moment. On the support he has received outside of the NHS, Mitchell said he uses the charity Shout which offers free 24/7 support through confidential and anonymous text messages.
As someone who cannot always speak to someone on the phone or in person when he is not feeling well, Mitchell said being able to text really helps. Mitchell has also joined an online men's mental health group and finds it helpful to speak to others who have similar experiences. "Mental health is just as important as physical health," he added.
A spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “We are sorry to hear that Mr Brock is not happy with the care and support he has received. We would ask Mr Brock to contact us directly to discuss his care and any concerns regarding our services.”
When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org,or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
Shout 85258 is the UK's first free, confidential, 24/7 text support service. It's a place to go if you're struggling to cope and need mental health support.
Read more:
- 'I lived with a chronic undiagnosed condition for 15 years'
- 'I had to strap my grandad to a plank of wood after he broke his hip as 999 were too busy'
- Flights delayed and cancelled across the UK due to snow and freezing temperatures
- Photographer who recorded the Aberfan disaster dies aged 78
- 'I won't be bothering' - the people cutting back on Christmas in the cost of living crisis
