NHS mental health services for EU Citizen

March 10, 2010 9:54 PM

I'm French and living in the United Kingdom for several months for business. I'm depressed, and would like to see a therapist. I have very little money. I hear there are often long waits here. Can I see someone through through the NHS in the next month? How would I arrange this? Would it make sense to, or should I wait until getting home (at the earliest the end of April)?
posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (17 answers total)

Gosh sorry to hear about your problem. Mrs Mutant is Dutch, and after relocating to London about three ago has been to the NHS several times.

The first step (as I understand it, I totally avoid Doctors to be honest) was to get signed up to a GP. The GP will be your entrypoint to the specialised care you seek, as they must make referrals.

Of course you'll need to present your European Health Insurance Card to be able to sign onto the GP so hopefully you've brought that along.

This page has details on the overall process of securing therapy through the NHS, and includes links to both private and free options should your GP not provide you with a referral.

Since you mention returning home in April timing may be an issue. Mrs Mutant had to get a referral for to an eye doctor, and the appointment took roughly three weeks to realise.

Not sure how timing would work for therapy, but why not give it a go?

Hope this helps!
posted by Mutant at 11:34 PM on March 10, 2010

First of all, if you're not registered with your local GP, do that now.

Make an appointment with said GP, and tell him/her how you're feeling, what's going on, and what you would like to happen. Ask if there's a possibility to be referred to a therapist in the time frame you have. Ask if there are free/low-cost counselling services in your area.

If he/she isn't sure about counselling services, look online or contact the Citizens Advice Bureau in your area. Or if you're female, see if there's a Women's Centre - they usually have low-cost counselling available.

And finally, depending on where you work, there might be counselling services available through there. Check with Human Resources. This really only happens in very big companies, though, so it might not be there, but it's worth a shot.

Of course, all of this might be irrelevant if you just want some antidepressants to get through the next month and a half. Your GP will prescribe them for you and book regular appointments with you to check how you're doing.

Good luck.
posted by Katemonkey at 12:27 AM on March 11, 2010

I realize I'm not directly answering the question, but as someone who's been through culture shock and its related depression a few times, I figured perhaps sharing a likely reason (perhaps not the only reason, but certainly at least one reason) could help?

Je vous l'ai trouvé en français : L'adaptation culturelle au cours d'un séjour à l'étranger à moyen ou long terme.
Vous êtes sur place depuis suffisament longtemps pour avoir un point de vue général de la situation, mais pas assez pour avoir tissé des liens d'amitié solides ou encore pour vous sentir réellement chez vous. Vous constatez des comportements qui vous semblent inacceptables, ou étranges, et vous ne parvenez pas encore à identifier le système latent des valeurs. La culture ne se limite pas à la somme d'éléments visibles et tangibles (musique, danse, cuisine, langage, etc.). Bien des éléments propres à une culture sont invisibles et il s'avère souvent difficile d'identifier les facteurs sociaux, religieux ou historiques qui les motivent (concept de l'espace et du temps, tabous, croyances et valeurs). Vous ressentez souvent le besoin de vous justifier et restez perplexes sur la façon de communiquer et d'agir des gens autour de vous. [...]

Autant dire qu'il est parfaitement normal de se sentir déprimé vers les quelques mois (1 à 6) après son arrivée dans un autre pays, aussi "proche" qu'il soit physiquement — c'est la différence de culture qui compte, et qui finit par nous donner une impression de solitude aïgue. Dans tous les cas, bon courage !

(Err. I wrote in French automatically and should summarize in English for others reading: culture shock is a very likely reason, and it's normal to feel depressed a few months - from 1 to 6 - after arriving in a different country, no matter how "nearby" it may be. It's the cultural differences that count, and that end up giving a sense of profound loneliness, especially since you haven't had the time to form new friendships.)
posted by fraula at 12:54 AM on March 11, 2010

aiguë !! :)
posted by fraula at 12:56 AM on March 11, 2010

Investigate possibilities on the NHS through your GP, but yes, there is usually a long-ish wait (2-3 months) for referrals (unless you're lucky - it won't hurt to try).

Otherwise, contact Mind, who will certainly be able to provide some sort of advice.

If isolation and culture shock are part of the problem, and you're in the Manchester area, feel free to MeMail me. Je suis francophone!
posted by idiomatika at 1:06 AM on March 11, 2010

European Health Insurance Card

Maybe not. Access to the NHS is based on residency, not citizenship. If you are a legal resident of the UK, you're covered. (Fantastic.)

When I moved to London from Stockholm (wife was working in the city), I was holding a Swedish EHIC and was told that I could not use this, but would have to apply for an NHS number. Your GP can help you with this.

Seconding what fraula said. I know a girl who worked in corporate relocations and she told me that the UK had the highest failure rate for Americans and Continentals. Reason was, as she opined, that the UK is culturally close to the continent and the U.S. which created false expectations. She argued it was easier to move to a place like Japan because people expected culture shock and sort of had their heads set for it. There was less of an expectation of culture shock in the UK - but no less of a culture shock - and people aren't prepared for it.
posted by three blind mice at 1:17 AM on March 11, 2010

There are not necessarily long waits to see a therapist, it really depends on your area, a GP can tell you about this. If you are on a low income, you can apply for help with prescription costs, have a look here, the form you will need to fill in is called an HC2 form, this will be good if you were thinking of antidepressants as well.

I will third the problem of culture shock, I have moved around western Europe in the past and it takes a long while to adjust.

Bon courage.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:25 AM on March 11, 2010

I'm down on the South Coast and often get into London. I'd be happy to meet up and talk, if that might help.I've been through this in the move from Ireland to the UK which is not as culturally similar as I thought! Exactly like what one of the posters said above. It's deceptive.

I got to my GP, was on anti-depressants and had a 2 month wait for CBT which was too long but worth it. this will pass, honestly.

It will be a case of getting you through these weeks till you go back to France and talk to someone there. Memail me if I can help
posted by Wilder at 2:57 AM on March 11, 2010

Honestly, I would be surprised if you manage to get access to a therapist through the NHS in less than two weeks once you're signed up with a GP. You might be lucky, especially if you're attached to a university, but realistically you can expect four weeks, and in a high-demand area/time more. You should be able to get regular consults from a GP, plus antidepressants, immediately.
posted by cromagnon at 2:59 AM on March 11, 2010

Wilder, idiomatika: you rock. It's generous people like you that make this place worth hanging out.

Back again to the poster. I've been living abroad for 15 years in various places and have had my share of culture "shock" except I know enough not to be shocked and now it's nothing at all.

The trick is to see the differences as not better or worse - only different. The UK is a great place to live - wonderful, friendly people. Moving from Sweden it was strange to have people chat with me (like we do in America) and I quickly learned to enjoy it. It took a longer time to get used to the idea that Brits are friendly and outgoing, but at the same time really reserved. They become stiff as boards when you hug them - which is completely different from Sweden where people are really cold at first, but warm as hell once you get to know them. I loved the politeness in the UK (which Swedish people have but in a really different - and obscure - way.) Seemingly small stuff like that really makes a difference.

And as a drinker, well, I loved the (adult) drinking culture in the UK. The youth drinking culture on the other hand was utterly repulsive.

So there is nothing wrong with you. Your reaction is completely normal and to be expected.

Enjoy the differences. Again not better or worse - only different. Every culture has super positive things and focus on those instead of on the (many) frustrations.
posted by three blind mice at 3:15 AM on March 11, 2010

There's a counselling program available in the NHS for people who show up & ask. ISTR you get five or six sessions under it. As an EU citizen resident in the UK you should automatically be eligible I think.

You need to get registered with a GP & ask to be referred. Your GP might also be able to offer a referral to a suitable group therapy program. See the relevant page on the NHS web site.
posted by pharm at 3:59 AM on March 11, 2010

Sounds like it could be a blend of culture shock and SAD, we've had a pretty cold and grim winter this year.

Absolutely get registered with a GP, it takes 10 minutes and you might even be able to get a same day appointment. If they arrange a follow up with a therapist before you head home then that's great. If it's after then make sure you cancel the appointment!

And don't worry about the cost, so long as you have your EHIC card it will all be free. isn't social healthcare great? :)
posted by gaby at 4:53 AM on March 11, 2010

Sorry, should have added a descriptive link for SAD so it makes more sense.
posted by gaby at 4:54 AM on March 11, 2010

SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder

Didn't know it was a problem in the UK, but in Sweden it is a matter of obsession. According to what I've read, the science says that people become depressed due to a lack of sunlight reaching the optic nerve. Apparently some sort of chemical is produced from exposure to sunlight - which is of course lacking in the Northern lattitudes during the winter.

Therapy is to sit in a white room with bright, broad-spectrum lights.

Too boring. Alcohol works wonders for me.
posted by three blind mice at 5:45 AM on March 11, 2010

I think SAD is heavily underdiagnosed in the UK, for what it's worth.
posted by cromagnon at 6:51 AM on March 11, 2010

If you go to church, go and speak with your pastor - If they aren't qualified, they will tell you and hopefully point you towards someone who is.
And if you aren't a regular at a church, don't suffer in silence -- call one that is close to you or one that a friend attends that you know about and ask if you can make an appt to speak with a pastor about some personal issues which are giving you trouble.
If they ask if you are member, tell them your situation. If they say "no" - call the next one on the list (you didn't want to go to the one that said "no" anyway.
posted by cactus86 at 10:18 AM on March 11, 2010

Another option to consider is to check out charities in your area which might have funding to provide free counselling for specific groups (such as for instance LGBT individuals, ethnic minority etc), if you happen to belong to any of these groups then you might be able to jump the queue immediately. Good luck - and in the meantime, do sign up with the GP and check the "psychological well-being practictioner"/"low-intensity therapist" option, that might give you six free sessions and the wait isn't too long, but that depends on the are where you live.
posted by coffee_monster at 1:55 PM on March 11, 2010