Worried about my medical evidence

I apologise if this duplicates info on the site already, I've tried searching and haven't been able to find an answer to my question.

I received my ESA50 last week as I'm being 'migrated' from IB. It's due in January 4th. I suffer with migraines and dysthymia (a chronic depressive illness and mood disorder) among other conditions, and so am completing the form on both physical and mental counts. I spoke to my GP recently and he has agreed to support my claim if the DWP approach him, so I'm confident that he'll back me up on the migraine front, and mention other physical ailments I deal with.

However, I'm very worried about my evidence for my mental illness, because, after completing a year of psychotherapy and 6 months of occasional psychiatric consultations on the NHS last April, I've been cut adrift from my local community mental health team. In the meantime, they've gone from describing themselves as 'assessment and shared care' to 'acute mental health' and it seems the only way I'd get referred to them now is if I'm suicidal. I don't want to appear that desperate if I'm not - even for the purposes of getting the benefits I'm entitled to! - but I'm scared that my evidence from them ended over 6 months ago, and also that (in my opinion, more because of their agenda than the actual condition of my mental health) they signed me back over to the GP with a slightly glowing report (especially compared with some of the descriptions in my initial assessment and review reports that they wrote earlier in the process).

I think it's significant (and hopefully will mean something to the DWP) that as soon as they washed their hands of me, I sought out a private psychotherapist and have had weekly sessions since. He has written a very strong letter of support for my claim, but despite his excellent professional credentials, I'm anxious that it won't count as evidence.

In anyone's experience here, am I right to be worried or does his report count as much as that of an NHS therapist and psychiatrist? He has stated very clearly the mental and emotional difficulties that I'm trying to oevrcome through my therapy, but that I have a way to go and in his opinion am nowhere near fit for work.

Any feedback would be appreoiated at this stage, particularly since I've just read that the forum will be closed for most of the period that I'll be completing my forms.

Thanks, Gordon, that certainly makes sense given what I've heard about the unpredictability and randomness of the assessment and decision outcomes!

I wonder, however, if other members reading this have had any similar experience.

My advice would be

a) to seek your support of your GP, who can emphadsise that the local mental health service has had to redfine its prioritoies to more critical cases, but you have nonetheless serious enduring problems in consequence of your mental health difficulties

b) add this with your private health practitioner report

in addition ensure you pay close attention to the guides available on this site, and complete your forms using the guidance

Thanks for your input, XFACTOR, it's very welcome

I'm taking a copy of my psychotherapist's letter to my GP before I send back my ESA50 and will certainly mention to him what you've suggested. Perhaps he'll put that in writing before I send back the forms; I'll ask, he can only say no!

And yes, thanks, I've been using the guides and although I'm finding the whole experience pretty overwhelming by now, I'm gradually making progress. I approached the council for welfare support but they don't provide any and referred me to my local branch of MIND instead, who I'm seeing on Monday, although I'm not sure what they can do for me. My therapist is considering signing the back page of my ESA50, which I hope will add some extra weight.

Thanks for your input, XFACTOR, it's very welcome

I'm taking a copy of my psychotherapist's letter to my GP before I send back my ESA50 and will certainly mention to him what you've suggested. Perhaps he'll put that in writing before I send back the forms; I'll ask, he can only say no!

And yes, thanks, I've been using the guides and although I'm finding the whole experience pretty overwhelming by now, I'm gradually making progress. I approached the council for welfare support but they don't provide any and referred me to my local branch of MIND instead, who I'm seeing on Monday, although I'm not sure what they can do for me. My therapist is considering signing the back page of my ESA50, which I hope will add some extra weight.