Cassandra Evans, who says she has been let down by the mental health service.
A DEPRESSED and suicidal woman this week claimed she had been failed by the Island’s mental health service.
Ryde mother-of-two Cassandra Evans, 32, said she desperately needs help but has been denied inpatient treatment at mental health unit Sevenacres by the Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust.
"They have not done enough to help me and I feel like no-one is listening," said Cassandra, of Cross Street, Oakfield, who regularly self harms and has deliberately overdosed on painkillers on several occasions.
"They say I do not need hospital treatment but I’m ill and that’s where I need to be.
"I’m suicidal and I’m not getting the help I need."
Dr Daniel Harwood, clinical director of the trust's mental health and learning disability directorate, would not comment on Cassandra's case but said a patient would always be admitted to hospital if his or her mental health problems were severe enough.
"Admission is only helpful for a small minority of patients. For some, it can cause a deterioration in their health or behaviour and people with severe and long-term psychological distress are often best helped with therapy and support rather than hospital admission," he said.
But Cassandra’s family feel she is not receiving the support she needs and have contacted MP Andrew Turner and the Isle of Wight Council to complain about the standard of the Island's mental health service.
Her husband, Jim, 47, said Cassandra’s long-term depression had been particularly difficult for their young children.
"She is under supervision by the mental health service and has received short-term treatment at Sevenacres a few times over the past couple of years but they have failed to help her. The service is diabolical, totally useless," he said.
"Cassie is just deteriorating. How many other people on the Island are in this position?"
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk