#SpeakUp2020 - How would you improve mental health services?
Across the country people have told Healthwatch that mental health support is their top health and care issue.
Ben Keyte, who has lived with mental health conditions for the last 20 years, shared his experience with us in the hope that others will get the confidence to speak up and do the same.
“It’s quite hard for a man to talk about their personal issues and accept they have a problem,” says Ben
“Even now, I still sometimes struggle to admit I have a mental health issue. If you can’t admit you have a problem, it is quite difficult to know where to go."
How easy did you find it to access mental health services?
“Up until recently I kept getting dragged back into the doctors and wasn’t getting into a situation where I was recovering and getting off medication. They throw medication at you and expect you to get better. There’s not enough psychiatrists out there to help. The services have improved over the last couple of years for me and this is mainly due to having a better psychiatrist.
“I think I have been very lucky as I found the Independence Trust and the people at Cirencester Memorial have supported me. The 2gether Mental Health team suggested I took up volunteering at Healthwatch Gloucestershire and that has been a positive experience.
“I would encourage others to share their experiences of mental health services with their local Healthwatch, as the more people who leave feedback the greater chance there is of change.”
#SpeakUp2020
To help mental health services support people better, we want to know about your experiences at all stages of your care, including:
- How easy was it to access the help and support you needed?
- What was your experience of care like?
- How did you feel about the further treatment, care or support you were offered?
By taking just five minutes to speak up about what's worked and what can be improved, you can help future services improve care for you, your loved ones, and your community. It’s that simple.
