What to do if your GP does not help

Getting the right mental health help can be complicated. We might sometimes feel like a doctor is dismissive, doesn't listen, or won't take us seriously. Or we might find they don't give us the help we need at first. 

This can feel demoralising. Especially when asking for help is hard in the first place. But it's important not to give up hope. There are things you can do.

My first GP that I had, I found him really uncomfortable to talk to. I just didn't feel like I was getting the support I really needed... Since then I got a new GP and she’s been really helpful.

Explore why your GP hasn't helped

Your doctor should follow clinical best practice guidelines for offering you treatment. In some cases these guidelines might suggest waiting a few weeks to see if you feel better by yourself.

This can feel frustrating or upsetting. Especially if you've already waited a while to see your GP. But in this case your GP should ask you to come back for a follow-up appointment soon. Perhaps 2 or 4 weeks later.

Or there might be another reason why your GP doesn't offer you something right away.

For example:

• Some services might not be available where you live.
• Some diagnoses and treatments need a mental health specialist. In this case you could ask your GP to refer you.
• Some treatments could be harmful. For example, some medications could have higher risks for you. Your GP might want to try something with less risks first.
• Your GP doesn't think a treatment is suitable for you. This can be really frustrating, especially if you disagree with them.
• Your GP has overlooked something. Sometimes GPs aren't aware of every option. Or they might forget to let you know about local services you can use.

If your doctor won't offer you something that you want, you can ask them to explain why.

If you have a question about medication, your local pharmacist can help you. Our pages on medication have lots of information.

If you disagree with a diagnosis you've been given, it's important to talk to your doctor about it. Our pages on types of mental health problems have information different conditions. You can also find out more on our page about mental health diagnosis.

Find an advocate

An advocate is another person who's there to represent your opinion. They can help make your voice heard.

An advocate could:

• Come with you to appointments
• Help you ask questions and assert your wishes
• Help you make a complaint

You could ask a friend, family member or carer to be your advocate. Or you could use a professional advocacy service.

Our pages on advocacy explain how to find an advocate.

Try to fix communication issues

If your doctor isn't communicating clearly:

• Tell them you don't understand what they mean. They might not realise.
• Keep asking them to give you more information, and explain what it means.
• Ask for information in a different format, like in writing. If you have a learning disability, ask for Easy Read format.
• Ask another healthcare professional to explain. Pharmacists can help if you're confused about medication.

If English isn't your first language you can:

• Ask for a translation of any written information
• Bring someone who can interpret with you to your appointment
• Ask your doctor to provide an interpreter for your appointment

Do your own research

Your doctor can give you information. But you can also find trustworthy and reliable information yourself.

There's a lot of misinformation on the internet. always look for sources you can trust. 

Start with:

• Our information and support pages
• The NHS website
• Information providers accredited by the Pif Tick quality mark

This preparation could help you feel more confident and assertive with your GP.

Hear from people who have similar experiences

You can ask or read about what other people found helpful when talking to doctors. 

You could explore:

• Online forums like our online community Side by Side
• Mental health blogs or videos. Explore our Your stories pages, our Youtube channel, or the HealthTalk website

Change to a different doctor

Having a good relationship with your GP can help you find the right support. If you're not making progress with your current GP, you can:

• Ask the receptionist to make you an appointment with a different doctor. They don't have to say yes. But if they say no then they should give you a good reason. Like if your GP surgery is very small. Or other doctors aren't available when you are.
• Ask someone at your GP surgery if you can talk to a different type of practitioner. This could be a nurse, specialist mental health worker or practice counsellor.
• Ask your doctor to refer you to a mental health specialist.
• Move to a different GP surgery if there's another near you. The NHS has a guide on how to register with a GP surgery.

Try to remember that there are doctors out there who want to help you.

Emily's story: getting the GP support I need and deserve

Watch Emily share her experience of struggling to get help from her GP. And what steps she took to address it.

Make a complaint about poor care

You might feel that your doctor isn’t being helpful, when they should be. Or that they've made a mistake, and you've been harmed as a result. This could be clinical negligence.

Or you might feel that your doctor is treating you unfairly. This could be discrimination.

If you’re very unhappy with how a doctor treats you, you can complain.

It’s not okay for you to be treated badly. And complaints help services address problems that might also impact other patients.

Our page on how to complain about health and social care explains exactly what steps to take.

Should I pay to see a private sector doctor?

If you're unhappy with your NHS doctor, you might be considering the private sector. For example, to find someone who can diagnose you quicker. Or get a second opinion. Or get more choice.

For most of us this isn't an option, because of the cost.

But if you are thinking of going private, you should be aware:

• The NHS might not accept a diagnosis from a private psychiatrist. They'll usually only treat you based on an NHS assessment. They might make an exception for a private ADHD or autism diagnosis. But only if it's done by an NHS-approved private clinician.
• The cost can be expensive, and hard to predict. For example, you might need to pay a doctor to prescribe medicine, then also pay to buy the medicine. And private prescriptions often cost more than the NHS flat-rate.
• It's likely to have an ongoing cost, even after the cost of your first appointment. Because any treatment will also be private.
• NHS pharmacies might not agree to fill a private prescription. And private pharmacies aren't always reliably stocked. So you'll need to be extra careful to never run out of medicine.
• You should check out the doctor's licence and qualifications. UK licenced doctors will be listed in the General Medical Council (GMC) register. You can check this register online.

Remember – you don’t need any kind of diagnosis to see a therapist or counsellor.

What if I've tried everything and nothing works?

If you've already tried these options and you haven't found the help you want yet, things might feel hopeless.

Unfortunately finding the help you need can sometimes be really difficult, and can take time.

But it's important to remember that you're not alone, and that things can get better.

• Keep trying – don't give up. If you've had bad experiences with all the doctors you've spoken to so far, you could give them another chance. Or try again with someone new.
• Develop your coping techniques. Planning positive ways look after yourself can help you cope. Our page on self-care for mental health problems has some tips.
• Talk to people who understand. Getting support and encouragement from people who've been in a similar situation can be really valuable. Even if they can't change what you're going through. See our information on peer support groups.
• Know your rights. Our legal pages explain your rights in a range of situations.
• Talk to Mind. We're here for you. Our Infoline can help you explore all your options for support. We also have local Mind branches across England and Wales: find Mind near you.