The NHS, Mental well being and low income
The last few years have been interesting. It's fair to say, I've had a catastrophic mental breakdown and have had some incredible support to try and get myself back on my feet. Much of it is still ongoing and I've opted for a course of CBT, which I have ended up funding myself, as I think (like the occupational health report from 2 years ago) it will be beneficial. This CBT could apparently have been offered on the NHS, but is far less prevalent in Wales, than it is in England. My therapist commutes to England because of this issue, which according to my local MP, shouldn't exist. (This needs more investigation, but is certainly a conversation worth having).
Learning about the benefits system has been a steep learning curve. My old job was complicated, but I'd class myself as above average intelligence, and I struggled to get my head round what I should be entitled to and what I shouldn't. Indeed, answering 'yes', to my dentist to inform him that I was on job seekers allowance last August (a month after losing my job), I assumed would be enough for a reduced cost dental check up. Alas, as I was on the wrong type of JSA (contribution based, not income based) and I was not, and so, an £80 fine followed in September.
£80, obviously, we can ill afford.
A month on and I find I am entitled to a NHS Tax exemption card, to allow me to claim free dental care from October! The mind boggles especially when this card, valid for 7 months, only arrives in February the next year. Free prescriptions and dental care are now an entitlement (despite my circumstances staying the same).
However, disorganisation aside, I have to highlight that I think this support misses one critical element. My first therapist (not CBT) advised me I would receive a card for reduced cost access to exercise facilities, as well as a personal coach for a week or two. Exercise is very highly regarded as a huge contributor to recovery for people with mental health problems. Sadly, this particular benefit never materialised.
The costs associated with looking after and caring for people in similar situations to my own are phenomenal. And believe me, I would far rather be paying my own way again, (like I have for the first 44 years of my life) than dependant on the state. I am trying to get my own business off the ground and I am optimistic that 2017 will be the year it starts to thrive. But exercise could be the key to helping me. Whilst, I know that, my motivation and drive are at rock bottom. Only those who have experienced this will understand. For months I struggled to get out of bed in the morning. But this was better than what I wanted to do a year prior to that. It's all progress.
My anxiety does however mean, if I have appointments, I keep them. (Every cloud eh?) The only thing I feel like I want to do, exercise wise, is to swim. But the cost is ridiculously prohibitive. £5.30 for one swim, or £4.20 if you're an activ card holder (local resident). Over £12 a week is something I can't commit to right now, for obvious reasons. But, perhaps, it ought to be essential for my recovery? If the state knows, like my NHS therapist knew, that this is a great and vital aspect of my recovery, then perhaps it should be made an integral part of it?
Checking in with a swim instructor or squash coach once or twice a week would be better all round than signing on every 2? Surely.
If you agree, then share this post with people who could make a difference, let's discuss the benefits of exercise to those with mental health problems and low income and get some action from those who can make a difference. The reduced costs to the NHS in the long term should at least be investigated.
Learning about the benefits system has been a steep learning curve. My old job was complicated, but I'd class myself as above average intelligence, and I struggled to get my head round what I should be entitled to and what I shouldn't. Indeed, answering 'yes', to my dentist to inform him that I was on job seekers allowance last August (a month after losing my job), I assumed would be enough for a reduced cost dental check up. Alas, as I was on the wrong type of JSA (contribution based, not income based) and I was not, and so, an £80 fine followed in September.
£80, obviously, we can ill afford.
A month on and I find I am entitled to a NHS Tax exemption card, to allow me to claim free dental care from October! The mind boggles especially when this card, valid for 7 months, only arrives in February the next year. Free prescriptions and dental care are now an entitlement (despite my circumstances staying the same).
However, disorganisation aside, I have to highlight that I think this support misses one critical element. My first therapist (not CBT) advised me I would receive a card for reduced cost access to exercise facilities, as well as a personal coach for a week or two. Exercise is very highly regarded as a huge contributor to recovery for people with mental health problems. Sadly, this particular benefit never materialised.
The costs associated with looking after and caring for people in similar situations to my own are phenomenal. And believe me, I would far rather be paying my own way again, (like I have for the first 44 years of my life) than dependant on the state. I am trying to get my own business off the ground and I am optimistic that 2017 will be the year it starts to thrive. But exercise could be the key to helping me. Whilst, I know that, my motivation and drive are at rock bottom. Only those who have experienced this will understand. For months I struggled to get out of bed in the morning. But this was better than what I wanted to do a year prior to that. It's all progress.
My anxiety does however mean, if I have appointments, I keep them. (Every cloud eh?) The only thing I feel like I want to do, exercise wise, is to swim. But the cost is ridiculously prohibitive. £5.30 for one swim, or £4.20 if you're an activ card holder (local resident). Over £12 a week is something I can't commit to right now, for obvious reasons. But, perhaps, it ought to be essential for my recovery? If the state knows, like my NHS therapist knew, that this is a great and vital aspect of my recovery, then perhaps it should be made an integral part of it?
Checking in with a swim instructor or squash coach once or twice a week would be better all round than signing on every 2? Surely.
If you agree, then share this post with people who could make a difference, let's discuss the benefits of exercise to those with mental health problems and low income and get some action from those who can make a difference. The reduced costs to the NHS in the long term should at least be investigated.
Comments
Post a Comment