Shame and blame for those that have left the most vulnerable in society to rot

Even before the flu pandemic came about Trafford’s Mental Health services were on the ropes and drop-ins for those with mental health conditions were becoming extinct.

It gets worse, previously Trafford had the finest Mental Health Advocacy Service (TMHAS) anywhere, based on Park Road in Sale we are aware fully it was much more than that to service users.

Once the pandemic came about everything caved in, social workers to psychiatrists either caught the nasty virus or were too scared of catching it which is understandable at that time! still the same people with Mental Health issues needed the care they deserved, that once they had but no more.

Left to rot some of these people ended up dead making Trafford’s suicide rate climb higher than ever before, do not buy the nonsense statistics from the council, we spoke with a Mental Health worker who spilled the beans about the borough’s suicide problems and it was way more than what is being said more so it is claimed in the male 18-25 year-old group.

In came dodgy psychiatrists ripping up your care plan, these same people not even bothering to look at your file so pathetic they was, so pathetic they should have been struck off immediately, same old story though! apparently the CMHT backed them up and nothing happened even with complaints made against it.

What have people got now well after the pandemic, the GP (now you can see one!) and a primary psychology service in Altrincham that makes you wait for over a year before being seen! we cannot entirely blame them though since the NHS as they tell us needs more money!

The North and South CMHT are only bringing in those that are a danger to themselves or to others and no one else so far as we are aware, even those that had years with them with obvious complex needs cannot see them which is a disgrace, even so! they all claim the same thing “WE need money”

It’s not all bad though at least Trafford people have some advocacy as the little known and hidden away Advocacy Focus has decided to become an advocate to those with Mental Health issues…but don’t get too excited they do the bare minimum, if you are lucky the advocate will come out to see you according to a service user who emailed us.

The service they offer does not deal with financial or housing issues which many people need help with.

A political figure who we spoke with on many occasions told us that he was looking at bringing back TMHAS and to look at bringing more things to BluSci at Coppice Health and Wellbeing Centre in Sale, the Tory councillor did nothing! this though was to be of no surprise since it was his own Tory party that would not fund TMHAS in the first place, they took this away from the most vulnerable people in society.

Trafford’s last (so far as we know) independent mental health drop in which had its base at the side of a Methodist Church in Sale had to shut down due to funding issues, this time it was Trafford Labour in power and we were told they could not help, over 60 people many of them who were friends all of that time who cared for each other when times were bad said there last goodbyes in floods of tears.

The councillors all Tories in that ward (Manor) so far as we know did nothing if anything to save this vital drop in and it seems none of them did from any ward.

People with Mental Health issues are struggling right now, the fortunate few was able to keep hold of a care coordinator which we think is no more than 5%.

The GP is the only hope and they cannot do very much other than offer plasters which come off in the rain, for this time we as a media service are all in unison with every one with a mental health condition and fight behind the scenes to get justice back and to publicly shame the politicians who offer everything when they need a vote and nothing when they win.

It’s a complete scandal that these most vulnerable people in society are left to rot with only simple plasters and medication to get them through it is not good enough.

This is not a slur on those who stuck around even in the pandemic helping people at both North and South CMHT and to the doctors who fight a battle with what is now a broken NHS.

With those fighting hard to get the care these people need we can win together and we must fight harder to make sure those with mental health issues get the care they need, and to the councillors who have run them over to fix the issues with advocacy service and drop-ins which are desperately needed alongside Blu Sci.