Data, not people.

The Bridge Centre, Basingstoke
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Guest's review of The Bridge Centre, Basingstoke

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The Bridge Centre, Basingstoke

“Data, not people.”

Written on: 10/09/2012

some issues are not mental issues. some are emotional. altho emotional issues might exacerbate mental or physiological issues (physiological issues are physical symptoms, caused by mental or emotional issues)


During 2 years and a few stints, the 3 phrases they didn't tell me which would have helped me more than anything they did, are "adrenaline, fight-flight, panic attacks".

My experience and impression of them.

They came across as more interested in writing the next chapter of their book. Helping people overcome their issues seems like an also-ran. They seem to treat people as research, not people to help. I've talked to people with pens who love this place, I'm guessing because they get to compare someone to page 20 of the book.

When I had a meeting with them, it was more like a board staff meeting. Not something suitable for someone who may desperately need help, and wants to express themself. It was more "ok whats the problem with you then", not "how can we help". I waited weeks/months for 2 or 3 'assessments', and they gave me the wrong treatment. I got questions which weren't relevent, and crucially didn't get questions which were. Meanwhile life passes by.

They prescribed CBT for me, which wasn't the right thing for me. They prescribed it because CBT is the latest industry buzzword silver bullet. How to describe the purpose of CBT quickly... CBT is for when you are fit for work, but you're scared of travelling to work because you're convinced you'll get hit by a meteor.

Anyone this applies to - if CBT does not work for you, it might *not* be your fault. It might be that CBT isn't the right treatment for you. CBT is just the industry 'thing' right now.

At each bridge centre session they ask you to rate various things about yourself out of 7. Somehow, there is the misguided concept, that if one week you are 26/30, and next week you are 24/30, this means you have obviously got better. What a lovely bureaucratic world we live in where the details of a persons life can be accurately summarised by a number. Its beyond scary.

They could have the approach of "we are doing a very important job which could help people, so lets do it properly and well'. No. Their approach from receptionist to professional was "we are the only people doing this, so you'll do it our way, on our timetable."

If you go through the process, you will understand why official understanding of mental (or emotional?) illness is so poor. It's because they really don't give a rats about peoples situation, they just want 'data'. In fact....maybe my experience of them is so poor, because they were looking for data collection on mental issues, when in fact they should have been looking for emotional issues.

In conclusion; avoid this place at all costs. Except you can't, because there is no where else to go. So in conclusion: no wonder mental/emotional health in thie country is useless. Because the 'clinics' are more interested in writing books, than helping people. Which is fine if you want to be a leader in a subject while at the same time being useless at it. Meanwhile there are umpteen un necessary benefit claimants and more being prepared around the country.

The one good thing I could write is that the entrance is at the back of the building, so you don't have to walk into a mental health place in full view of the road.

Here's an idea, rather than the moment people walk thro the door handing them a questionnaire which asks things like "how is your sleeping", instead of that, howabout asking them "do you know whats causing your problems". Sleep and anything else might just be a symptom. Try finding the cause, rather than spending ages analysing the symptoms. Problem first. symptoms later...

but then "getting data" is the most important thing....right ?

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