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Community Mental Health said no. Social Prescribing?

MrsMacca

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?

Parents

  • There was a discussion on here a few months ago about Social Prescribing https://community.autism.org.uk/f/adults-on-the-autistic-spectrum/27786/social-prescriber One of the posters had a positive experience and got help with accessing mental health services. My experience was not so positive, but I guess it depends who you get and if they have any knowledge of autism.

    Unfortunately mental health services are not equipped to help autistic adults in most areas. Any training they've had is usually very limited and covers stereotypical autism only. As a service they work to results and outcomes. It they can't tick a box and achieve a desired outcome in six sessions or less then they don't want to know.

    MrsMacca said:
    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.

    I encountered the same. My GP repeatedly referred me and it got declined every time. It's like they assume that my anxiety is untreatable because I'm autistic. Sadly reading these forums and elsewhere it is an all too common experience. Autistic people get treated like a hot potato, passed from one service to another and ending up without any support or access to mental health services.

    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/seeking-help/asking-for-reasonable-adjustments

    "Autism is not a mental health condition but autistic adults and children suffer disproportionately from poor mental health. Too often, when reaching out for help, there aren’t any services available. "

    If the conditions were diagnosed by a GP is it not possible for them to be retracted by a GP? If you're expecting anyone in mental health services to know anything about autistic burnout then you're likely to be disappointed. Honestly I think you'll get a lot more knowledge and understanding by researching the various conditions yourself online.

  • in reply to Autonomistic

    Thanks so much for this. At least I know it's not just me, I'm not getting frustrated over nothing. It's not right that this happens but it actually is pretty common. I hope social prescribing can suggest useful things but I'm going to keep my expectations low then anything positive is a bonus.

    I think I'll be doing a lot of reading and learning by myself at home. There's 39 years of unlearning to do too! It was probably naive of me to think that I would have some guidance and support in this.

Reply
  • in reply to Autonomistic

    Thanks so much for this. At least I know it's not just me, I'm not getting frustrated over nothing. It's not right that this happens but it actually is pretty common. I hope social prescribing can suggest useful things but I'm going to keep my expectations low then anything positive is a bonus.

    I think I'll be doing a lot of reading and learning by myself at home. There's 39 years of unlearning to do too! It was probably naive of me to think that I would have some guidance and support in this.

Children
  • in reply to Autonomistic

    Thanks, I found the forum a bit overwhelming initially but I'm getting my head round it more now Thumbsup

  • in reply to MrsMacca

    I naively expected that too when I was diagnosed late in life. I did get a couple of online group post diagnostic sessions. However there was a waiting list for those and they didn't happen until around 18 months later. By then I'd done a lot of my own research and been up and down the emotional rollercoaster a few times already.

    It's worth checking if you have access to any post diagnostic sessions as part of your diagnosis package. It's a postcode lottery I think and some areas get a lot more than others.

    There really needs to be more specialist mental health services for autistic adults.

    Stick around on here as this is the best place for post diagnostic support and connecting with your neurokin.