Referrals must exist to deter the psychologically worst!

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It's so incredibly tedious to possibly have an appointment with some mental health specialist. I was in contact with them over a year ago, so I just tried going there and asking whether I can just book another one, but no... I have to go all the way back to the generic clinic. Make an appointment. Wait from one to two weeks for it. And then... if I haven't forgotten about it at that point, which I just did last week, I could finally get a referral... and it's not like it's hard to get one, as the GP doesn't empirically check for anything before referring you (I think, not that I went through this process loads of times)... so why do referrals exist? What's the point?

Even if the intention isn't to deter the worst in society... because severely depressed people just wouldn't be motivated enough to go through all this bureaucratic nonsense (we are talking about conditions that affect us in society, after all... even if not depression, other states (including AS, I suppose) would make one too disorganized to go through all this without missing something) - the end result, nevertheless, is deterring those who need help most.

It isn't just mental health honestly. Getting any sort of help often seems like more work than it's worth. I'm physically disabled and I've been waiting for over a year for SSI so I don't end up dieing on the street. It's been three quarters of a year, and they still can't even SPELL my condition correctly.

I suppose this is part of why so many people in mental health hospitals end up there AFTER a suicide attempt.

idratherbeatree, yeah, in the US it must be much worse (if Moore's documentary is anything to go by).

This is an ongoing problem in every mental health system I've been a part of. It's also a problem for the homeless, etc. It's often necessary to be able to function in order to receive much of the support necessary for those who can't function. Having good family members or a good social worker can help. My mother is doing most of the work.

You make a good point, OP. For example, patients with anorexia nervosa who are 'noncompliant' in some treatment centres will be sent home. The thing is, 'noncompliance' is to be expected with that illness. http://ed-bites.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/myth-of-non-compliant-patient.html

I have seen this frustration from both sides of the fence. I don't know what the solution is, but it certainly isn't yet another beaurocratic restructure or reconfigured referral system.