Rejected AGAIN for Psychiatric Assessment referral by CMHT. What do I do?
My GP agrees that a psychiatric assessment would be highly useful for me, given that, after being prescribed antidepressants, I had a manic episode, and this is highly concerning/indicative of a mood disorder. I asked for an assessment last year and received a dismissive response from the CMHT. A few weeks ago, I requested an assessment again, but this time, two things were different:
I have become more aware of my biological father's severe struggles with mental illness that have lead him to act violently, impulsively, and erratically. There is a huge genetic component to mental illness and I wanted to make my family history clear.
I have undergone CBT, art therapy, and group therapy this year. I weaned myself off the anti-depressants that caused so many problems for me. I have improved my life immensely and have returned to complete my studies. I have been self harm free for a year but experience near-daily urges to return to it, among severe mood swings that concern me greatly.
Both of these facts were included in my referral, along with my continued struggles with suicidality, self harm, impulsive behaviour, and more.
The CMHT responded as follows (which is identical to the letter I received last year): "Following discussion of your referral in our multi-disciplinary team meeting, we would recommend engaging with Emotional Skills Training in the first instance to support you in managing and understanding your emotions." The letter goes on but essentially recommends that I attend some local free workshops.
I feel completely dismissed and patronised by this response, especially as it is now the SECOND TIME I have received it. My plan now is to pursue a private assessment, but I am still disgusted with the way that the CMHT has belittled my struggles and suggested something as trivial as "emotional skills training", when I have worked so hard to improve my mental health, yet may still be suffering from a serious mood disorder.
I feel like my main issue is that their response has not changed since last year. They have not acknowledged either my progress or my continued mental health battle. They say they discussed my referral in the meeting, but I'm doubtful they actually did.
Does anyone have any suggestions or encouraging words regarding my next steps? I am determined to be assessed - if I am indeed living with bipolar disorder (likely type II), I want to know about it so I can pursue appropriate treatment and understand myself better.