Reach out

We put the onus on the person who needs help to reach out, but what if there's not anyone to reach out to? Crisis lines don't help. The health care system doesn't help. What's left?

6 Comments

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not a lot

Feb 27, 2020 at 12:05pm

I ended up in ER after suicidal thoughts. VCH's response was to set me up with group counselling on how to manage anxiety. I couldn't make the intake, because I had to work (HAD TO WORK), and they were like, okay good luck with your life. No wonder everyone is medicated.

Well...

Feb 27, 2020 at 12:52pm

There really isn’t anything out there.
There is so, so, SO much more they should and could be doing. “Reach out” is a slogan created to feel like they are doing something. GIVE THE PEOPLE SOMETHING TO REACH OUT FOR.

15 4Rating: +11

Hey friend

Feb 27, 2020 at 4:05pm

It's trash, there's way too little support out there. Just stopped by to plug Access and Assessment at VGH. That aren't magicians, but they're a starting point, anyways. I'm still here because of their interventions, anyways. Please go see them, or consider something like family services or community orgs.

8 5Rating: +3

Anonme

Feb 27, 2020 at 9:31pm

You can’t pay 40k year for help (I’m on a list) but they can send 4 officers In minutes to lock you up
So
Sad

11 5Rating: +6

Anonymous

Feb 28, 2020 at 12:25am

I got referred to a PTSD group at VGH Outpatient Psych, but then after waiting a long time on a waitlist, my intake finally came up and they decided my mental health wasn't good enough at that point for me to do the group therapy. Did they offer me any kind of help to improve my mental health? Nope. I was told I would need to be re-referred and wait all over again if I wanted to do the group. I did ask to be re-referred, but I was never able to do the group. I can't remember why last time, whether it was the same thing where they turned me down or whether I had to turn them down because of other obligations.

I'm glad that some people find AAC to be a good resource and I don't want to dissuade people from trying to get help there, but they've been pretty shitty to me. Last time I was there, I was taken by police, and after I was sent away without getting help, even the cops were uncomfortable about how I was treated. One cop actually said to me that the psychiatrist was an asshole. I was pretty surprised, because I'm used to how I was treated and because I don't generally expect police to take my side.

I can't afford Family Services. I believe their lowest rate for sliding scale is $80 (which also means waiting for months), although that may be out-of-date info. I'm on PWD and don't have access to subsidized housing, so paying $80 / session isn't a possibility for me.

SAFER is free, but I don't qualify because I have access to a psychiatrist (which is better than nothing, but doesn't give me access to counselling).

I've looked into organizations that offer low-cost counselling, but I don't qualify because of the severity of my mental illness. There are also long waitlists, many of which are simply full.

To add to that, not all counsellors have the competencies to work with people who are: trans, have experienced sexual abuse, have chronic illness, living in poverty...

9 4Rating: +5

Anonymous

Feb 28, 2020 at 7:05pm

I got desperate enough that I tried to get help today. The doctor told me to try a gratitude journal and to have a good night.

11 2Rating: +9

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