Mind in West Essex - Harlow

tiffany N.

My experience with Vitaminds, is much the same as it was with Healthyminds.

Lengthy assessment processes which aren’t long enough for those of us with “complex” mental illness which spans decades, fitting into irrelevant boxes.

When Jess was assigned to me, she seemed nice enough to chat to, but the process is arduous and was delayed by Jess going on holiday. It then becomes apparent that “psychological wellbeing practitioners”, like Jess aren’t actually able to make decisions on treatment plans, and these need to be discussed with someone more senior. Fine. But then after Jess returning from holiday, her senior was on holiday. So yet again, my treatment was delayed.

I would hear from Jess at short notice, when for personal reasons, my phone notifications are off (because despite the whole world thinking you should be available 24/7, i choose not to subscribe to capitalism in this way). I made Jess aware I was made an inpatient, for my physical life long disability, and incurable illness, and when I came out. Now due to the new medications I was prescribed, I have been feeling even less with it, and not checking my emails so often. I missed ONE email (which was sent at 10.40am on a Friday), asking if it was possible to call me at 12.30pm that same day. I missed this email. Once. And 9 working days later, I receive a “no reply” email discharging me from the service. No warning, no check in to see how I am after a traumatic hospital stay (which Jess is aware of my medical trauma).

Once again, a private company, contracted to the NHS, failing the people who need it most.

Helen H.

My experience with west Essex counselling was a very good one ,they have been enormously beneficial to me giving me the tools to help which I'm trying to put in practice. Thankyou

Online S.

My experience of Vitaminds is that they are incredibly shoddy organisation that should not be used by the NHS. My GP practice say they have contacted them four times and have copies of the correspondence and yet when I called them today they had no record of me being referred to them. One feels like they’re only interested in the money not the patients, or they’re just grossly incompetent. From my experience, so far I would highly recommend you stay away from them and seek competent medical help with any mental problems from someone actually employed by the national health, not a money grabbing incompetent contractor.

Nik G.

I have not been in a good place for a while I have debated talking to someone for some time now and yesterday finally just decided to do it I called about 9.30am and no one picked up.

Big M.

A must in a local community, really great support for mental health.

Linda B.

Welcome Café for people to relax and do their own thing with a cuppa.

Sharmaine C.

Lovely and helpfull people and make you feel you are not the only ones

ian C.

Charity helping those with mental health issues.