"Support for us and our daughter"

Hi, my name is Adele, I am one of the leads in the Early Intervention Team in Shropshire. I would like to say a huge thank you for sharing what was clearly a frightening and difficult time for you all as a family. It must have been hard reflecting on what has passed and how this was for you all at the time, so again, thank you. Its fantastic to hear how positive receiving a diagnosis can be and how much this has changed and improved your family relationships. It shows how helpful it is to understand what you are facing and how that can mean you are able to face it together armed with knowledge.

When someone you know and love starts to become unwell, you can see them change and become almost unrecognisable and this can be very painful and confusing. Your account details your own experience of this very clearly and honestly and for that we thank you. It can be especially hard when the person you love is saying things that are distressing because they are not well. I can only imagine how this must have felt for you all. It must have also been really worrying not knowing where your daughter was at times when she was very unwell.

When we are trying to understand what is happening for someone when they are not well, we know how important it is that we get things right, and this can sometimes mean that we need to gain a full picture over time to ensure that any diagnosis is as accurate as it can be. In Early Intervention we are aware that this is often the first time someone has come into contact with mental health services, and we know how vital it is to get something as important as diagnosis right. We are grateful for your patience with this process.

It is truly wonderful to hear a story of a family now thriving following the recovery of a loved one. Thank you so much again for sharing your experience of being cared for and supported by our service and the services that we work alongside. I will ensure that this feedback is shared with the wider team.