Hi, I'm wondering if this is common and if anyone has any positive experiences with Social Prescribing?
I have 3 pre-existing mental health illnesses that were diagnosed over 20 years ago. I got my autism diagnosis, aged 39, a month ago. The consultant psychiatrist at the ASD Assessment Clinic discharged me because his job is only to diagnose. He referred me to the Mental Health Team because it's possible that my mental health illnesses were misdiagnosed now that we know I'm autistic. It's also possible that they weren't but that the treatments I've had over the years have been the wrong ones given my autism.
The Mental Health Team refused the referral claiming not to be the appropriate service the second they saw the word autism. My GP argued that my referral was to reassess my mental health illnesses and needs and not for support with autism but he was unsuccessful. He said the best he can do is to refer me to Social Prescribing instead.
I feel like I don't fit in anyone's remit, that my autism diagnosis is now a way for all the other services to wash their hands of me. As a late diagnosed, childless, medically retired woman I also don't fit in any of the autism support boxes. Perhaps social prescribing will be able to signpost me to something I haven't been able to find myself in the past month but I highly doubt it. I've honestly looked everywhere. I've spent hours and hours on it.
Is this normal? Or should I be fighting the Mental Health Team's decision? Has anyone had any positive experiences with social prescribing?
