Discharge from CMH for an abusive email/ benefits

Hi Agis

I'm sorry that you find yourself in such a position. In terms of commenting on the position with your local Community Mental Health Team that is outside the remit of our forum, but I will say a couple of things only because I have some experience. However, this comes with the warning - whatever I say may not work. You may find yourself being discharged, but I find it a positive note that you are being given a review first. Explain once again that you shouldn't have sent the email. Sending anything that smacks of abuse will always end badly. I don't know whether they will offer you any sort of other help. If they don't you ask the manager to put the decision in writing. You will also have an option to put in a complaint saying that your mental health difficulties are not being met and the decision will be reviewed (ask the manager for the name and address of who you should complain to). Keep all correspondence because it will demonstrate the mental health difficulties you have and you can use these in your future ESA or PIP reviews.

I know that you are worried, but I recently helped someone in a review who was in a similar position to yourself having been discharged because she is violent and deemed too sick to help! We got her through it with the evidence that she is untreatable. Now you may not be even facing that. You will also still be able to get information from your GP when the time comes.

BIS

Hi Agis

As BIS has stated in her post your query is outside the remit of the forum, you need to get advice from either a Welfare Rights Organisation or a Law Centre; you can find your local Welfare Rights Organisation to help you with advice by clicking on the link below and putting in your post code, it will then come up with a MAP with a list of agencies. advicelocal.uk or lawcentres.org

Gary

Hi Agis

The person I spoke about did not try and use a private doctor (I don't think anyone would have seen them) - so we had to use the paperwork they had which included a letter saying they had been discharged for being verbally and physically abusive. We still managed to get them PIP and ESA by using old paperwork and explaining that they had no current support because of their illness. As I said before the DWP tend to be dismissive of private doctors or psychologists simply because someone has paid to see them and they assume that they do not have the required knowledge of this person. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it - if you think it is necessary in the future.

As for the psychologist - you can make a complaint to the service they are in or you can see if they are registered with a professional organisation and make a complaint about their professional standards.

BIS