The Blemished Rose

Following the meeting with my local MP, I have been forwarded the response by Alistair Burt (Minister of State for Community and Social Care). In the letter he states that improving mental health and treating mental illness are key priorities for NHS England. One of the core objectives is to put mental health on a par with physical health, and to close the gap between people with mental health problems and the population as a whole. According to Mr Burt, there is no cap on the number of counselling sessions per person. He goes on to say that whilst the Department of Health is responsible for setting the strategic direction of health and social care, local clinical commissioning groups are responsible for commissioning therapy sessions based on local need. He advised me to contact my local NHS with my concerns.  I have spoken with about 10 people in various parts of the UK who have also previously had counselling via the NHS. All of these people were offered a maximum of 6 c...

Everyone has issues, and sometimes issues related to everyday life can affect people in their place of work. However, being in the workplace is a lot more difficult for those with mental health problems. Many people are unable to work due to disabilities including mental health. In fact, in the UK 40% of people unable to work are claiming disability benefits due to psychological issues (according to the OECD report). Part of the problem in the UK stems from the Government and their lack of understanding about these issues. The NHS are only able to offer help for 2 years, it might seem a long time but in complex cases, much longer would be needed in order to heal. In my case, I was offered 6 counselling sessions from the NHS, thankfully it was extended and my therapist assured me that I would not be left in a raw state. Being offered support is better than nothing but still may not be enough time for a survivor to heal. Questions I believe that the UK Government should be asking...

This evening I looked back at old posts that I wrote on a forum, the majority of which I wrote when I had a major crisis in 2006. There’s an interesting post where I mentioned something that my therapist once said to me, which was: “You’re very strong, one day you’ll see it.” When I finished having therapy due to the sexual abuse I experienced as a child, I felt so strong and confident. However, 2 months after finishing therapy I was raped. I suddenly felt like I had taken a massive jump back. Because I was working as a teacher, I had to take time off work as I lost a lot of confidence. Unfortunately, some people showed their true colours during that very low time in my life and now that I’m strong I want to write about it here. I want people to realise what it feels like to suffer so much injustice in life and the effects it has. I confided in the colleagues at my school and I was shocked when one colleague asked me if I thought I had really been raped as I had been drugged. Of ...