3 - Users' perspective on emergency needs

Summary

A growing call for crisis services

In this chapter we will attempt to give a representative picture of the views of mental health service users, on current acute mental health services and outline suggestions for improvement. As we are all based in Britain, our account will inevitably focus on the current British situation, but it is our belief that this mirrors the situation in many other countries Wherever user groups have emerged, they have consistently and independently come up with the demand for a better response to people experiencing a mental health crisis. There are a number of common complaints. Sometimes the system offers next to nothing:

I have padded through the streets at 2 a.m. before now, seeking help from the nearest police station. It would have been nice to think I could have rung up a caring person in a crisis house.

(User contacting MIND.)

Sometimes it offers admission to the acute unit of a district general hospital, which may be experienced as bewildering or unhelpful:

I was taken to a psychiatric unit which is part of a large general hospital. My clothes and personal belongings were taken away from me. I had no idea why I needed to be placed somewhere where contact with my family and friends disappeared so suddenly when I needed it most.

(Beeforth et al., 1990.)

Sometimes it involves the use of legal powers or other forms of control.