Elizabeth lives with schizoaffective disorder. She waited over a year for treatment and shares the impact that long waits had on her life.

I have schizoaffective disorder and was waiting over a year for community mental health support.  

I have finally got support now, but it has been a real battle. I was given a number to ring, but no one ever answered, and the one time I did get through, I got passed in a complete circle back to the original phone operator who told me to try another day. I don’t blame the mental health psychiatrists or nurses, as they have been good when I finally got to see them. It is just that there is such an admin circus before you get to speak to anyone.  

I am lucky that I am still articulate enough to understand things, but hate to think when people lose capacity entirely, and families are having to try and get support for loved ones. This is frankly a dangerous situation for people. What we need is care and treatment. If we seek it ourselves, it is denied to us. I am unsurprised that so many tragedies are taking place right now. The services have been stripped of nurses and psychiatric professionals.