Published on 12, July, 2020
In my area the waiting time for an assessment is about 5 years. I'm halfway through but also so burnt out and struggling to keep working, cannot afford to lose my job but I'm not formally diagnosed so I can't find any other help in my area.
Other than ending up on the psych ward, which I have been trying so hard to avoid for the last 20 years, is there any way of speeding up the wait time for an assessment? I hate that I'm even asking this question, everyone else on the list is important too but I'm really struggling with life at the moment and I need an accurate diagnosis. My GP surgery aren't taking me seriously and tell me to keep taking my depression & anxiety meds and go for a walk, try mindfulness etc. I do not know what to do.
https://psychiatry-uk.com/right-to-choose-asd/
It's free, and the waiting time is about 4 months. They can give you an official diagnosis, but nothing else. If you want workplace adjustment you have to find an agreement with your employer. If you want treatment you are out of luck unless you can pay for private. Remember that in UK, mental healthcare is an expensive luxury and not an human right.
Psychiatry UK are actually at capacity right now, but you can still go through Right To Choose (free NHS) with Clinical Partners https://www.clinical-partners.co.uk/for-adults/autism for adults. And Places like Clinical Partners and Psicon will do Therapy sessions via Skype for general mental health support. For kids Right to choose is also in place with Wellbeing https://www.wellbeingasd.co.uk/services/right-to-choose/