For Previous Patients and Families.
At First Do No Harm, we know first-hand the experience of being discharged from inpatient treatment and being transferred or returned to community mental health teams, with no real difference proposed in terms of appropriate or effective support.
We also know that, in many cases, previous patients have had enough of the revolving-door cycles of inpatient to community services and want something different. Many often don't know that there's other options, what's out there, or where to start looking. Others just want to understand their mental health from a non-psychiatric perspective.
This guide outlines options of support and community for previous patients and families who are looking for something outside of the 'system', or who have already obtained legal documentation and funding (like from your ICB, an EHCP or social care personal budget) and want to find how best to use it.
Not yet obtained appropriate legal documentation and funding, or want to follow the 'system' route? Take a look at our 'The System: A Guide’ page.
Therapeutics and trauma services
Looking to find a therapist?
Use the UKCP Find a Therapist tool to find a private therapist near you. Please note: many therapists now offer concessionary rates for sessions but they won’t always advertise this, so make sure you request this in your initial contact with the therapist.
The Maggie Oliver Foundation provide a breadth of support services and legal advocacy for survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Beacon House is a specialist trauma and attachment service for people of all ages who have been impacted by trauma and adversity, including individuals who suffer from PTSD, C-PTSD and dissociative symptoms. Beacon House accepts referrals in a variety of different formats, including self-funded, NHS or Local Authority funding or specialist commissioning funding.
The Clinic for Dissociative Studies offers assessments, long-term psychotherapy and packages of specialist support for people with any kind of dissociative disorder. They accept referrals from a GP or NHS commissioners and clinicians supporting someone with a diagnosed dissociative disorder, or individuals who struggle with dissociation.
Mental Health Support
Have you been discharged without an appropriate care package or network of support? Struggling to find the right support, or don’t know where to start? Hub of Hope is a UK-based search database of local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services.
‘Frazzled Cafe meetings provide a place where people who are feeling frazzled can meet to talk and share their stories. Our meetings create a supportive, anonymous and non-judgemental environment – a place where it’s ok to not be ok. [Meetings] are not about therapy or offering solutions. They provide a safe and confidential space where people can speak openly without worrying about judgement amongst a group of peers who understand how it feels to be frazzled.’
Sometimes, what people really need is another person willing to sit, listen and connect. Many local Mind centres offer a variety of free and confidential services for anyone needing support with mental health, including one-to-one counselling, drop in sessions, social cafe drop-ins, group workshops and sessions. To access your local Mind services, all you need to do is self-refer.
Financial support
Use the NHS LIS for help with costs related to physical health, including eyecare, dental care, prescriptions and healthcare-related travel.
Mental Health UK have put together a website specific to giving detailed advice on mental health and money, including welfare and disability benefits.
Education
NFIS initially started out as a response to increasing awareness that difficulties arising in educational settings are inherent to the unmet needs of individuals within society, including trauma, bullying, mental health and neurodivergence. They provide a breadth of resources, support, and research for all things education, including advice on navigating the educational framework and services in place intended to provide the adjustments and support you or your child needs to access suitable education.
Jodie Smitten is a consultant and autism specialist who provides a range of support for families and children, including support sessions for parents, advocacy for autistic children and consultancy with schools. She also partners with other autistic-led organisations to provide workshops and courses for all to attend. By utilising her professional and lived experience, she aims to debunk the prevailing stereotypes of autistic individuals in the hopes that we can all be understood, supported, and accepted.
Education Provision
Missed out on years of education? Want to go to university, but don’t have the traditional qualifications to get you there? Not able to study via the more mainstream routes?
Gecko Community provides educational mentoring, teaching and therapeutic support for people aged 5-25, many of whom are neurodivergent and have struggled in mainstream education settings. Many of the team members at Gecko Community have lived experience in the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, and have expertise in mental ill health and trauma. Parent or self-referrals are accepted, and often placements at Gecko Community are funded through a young person’s Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP).
Enable are a small charity dedicated to providing high quality vocational and academic education and opportunities to those who might have missed out on traditional routes of education due to social and economic disadvantages. Take a look at their online Access to Higher Education courses, delivered year-round with flexible start-times and course pacing.
[Nisai Virtual Academy] have an extensive selection of long-term accredited courses to choose from including Functional Skills, GCSEs and A Levels, lasting 1-2 years with various levels and assessments. Education through Nisai is funded in a variety of ways, including through local authorities, EHCPs, grants/bursaries or self-funded.
Community
There are 2 FaceBook Groups, one for parents and service users who have been affected by Huntercombe/ACG, and one for staff and professionals who have witnessed the poor quality of care and want to share their experiences from a professional perspective. Both groups are private, safe spaces where people can have their experiences heard, access peer support and be part of a network looking to make change and seek justice.
If you would like to join either of the FDNH FaceBook groups, please follow this link or contact us.
Spectrum Gaming is an autistic-led charity, online community, and advocacy service for neurodivergent individuals up to 17 years of age, with or without a formal diagnosis. Their online community is a safe and moderated space for community members to interact and engage with like-minded people in a secure, meaningful, and accessible way. Their advocacy movement allows neurodivergent individuals to share their voice and be part of wider strategic change in developing a more positive perspective of autism in society.
Want to meet like-minded individuals, groups, and networks outside and inside of mental health-related spheres? Meetup is an online platform for online and in-person events and groups covering a range of topics from politics, hiking, gaming, or meeting at the pub for a board games evening.
Action
Legal Action
Want to take legal action against a hospital or care provider? Find out more about the process and how to get started here.
Hutcheon Law are currently representing patients/loved ones who have suffered at the hands of the Huntercombe Group/ACG.
Campaigning
Want to get involved in fighting for kinder, safer mental healthcare? Take a look at our what First Do No Harm and other action/campaign groups on our 'Get Involved' section or have a look at Mind's current campaigns in England and Wales.