Thread by @Sectioned_

In my area, what's left of #mentalhealth services only seems to work for patients who have MONEY

The money to make up for gaps in services that used to be provided by the State

My friend with money has done very well - whereas I'm treated as a hopeless case, toxic, & excluded

https://twitter.com/DrLadeSmith/status/1598236402466029568

My friend was able to self-fund things she needed (eg stable housing, supported exercise, art classes, wholesome prepared food, cleaner, transport)

This meant that what was available from #mentalhealth services landed on fertile ground - & services found her a pleasure to help

I'm very happy my friend has had such success with local #mentalhealth services, & that professionals find her so rewarding to help

It's important that staff enjoy their jobs

But that does not mean it is okay for staff to pathologise patients who are poor & lack other supports

That's what it's come to in this area

Patients who're unable to "recover" with the threadbare services still available, and who do not have the money & other supports to make up for the shortfall, are treated as the problem

We are to be excluded from services as toxic to staff

Sorry for being ill and poor

I was not poor before I became unwell

But, after I became unwell, I needed help that I did not get, and became poor

Before I was just unwell

Now I am unwell AND poor

And that's not a combination that's welcomed by #mentalhealth services

I was on my way to getting back on my feet - but then moved to an area where CMHT had no welfare rights adviser

Without needed support, all my social security was stopped & I was left destitute

All CMHT offered was a session to discuss the "emotional impact" of being destitute

I kid you not

Blaming people for their own poverty has a long history

Poverty as moral failing

And now poverty as mental disorder - the less you are able to "recover" with the meagre offerings from slashed #mentalhealth services, the more diagnoses you collect, the more you are to blame