Firstly, I want to apologise for the delay in updating you all. The past few weeks have been overwhelming and deeply distressing. I'm still in hospital and trying my best to manage, but as many of you know, I live with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD), Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) both recognised disabilities under the Equality Act 2010. The delays are not because I’m giving up — far from it — but because I’m unwell and fighting both for my care and for accountability for others.

1. Contact with Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW)

I’ve had a brief phone call with HIW. They are aware of the situation after my recent email and will inspect Ward F if deemed necessary. They are currently:

• Writing to the Health Board to ask what actions have been taken to address the serious issues raised;
• Assessing the level of risk and seriousness of my case through internal evaluation;
• Escalating to senior leadership as required (including monthly oversight meetings).

I’ve been told a decision on an inspection will be made this inspection year or the next and they review the final report from the investigation of my concerns. Patient safety and lived experiences like mine need to be taken seriously. I continue to be in regular contact with HIW regarding my concerns to call for accountability and change. I still continue to call for an urgent inspection due to the continued risk to life posed by Ward F in my view based on my experience, the experiences of others and the fact there's been 3 coroner reports associated with the ward in the past few years.

2. Complaint Investigation Progress

I have now met twice with the Complaints Investigator — a senior forensic nurse — and reviewed a draft report. There are multiple meetings still to come to ensure the report is fully reflective of the trauma I have experienced. So far the following has been discussed:

• Misconduct by the two named doctors— with “appropriate action to be taken” by the medical director. I call in particular for an urgent review of the continued practice Dr. Robertson, whose conduct I believe continues to pose a risk to patient safety. 
• Misconduct confirmed for the named nurse, with “appropriate action” again to be taken.
• Severe communication issues and failures in the ward staff with a potential recommendation of trauma training to ensure that ward staff can recognise and provide support to struggling patients in distress - instead of dismissing them and making them feel worse like they did to myself.
• Severe safety risks including risk of absconding, high risk items getting onto the ward and unsecured furniture fixtures. I have had discussions so far regarding failure to have a clear policy regarding search of high risk patients such as myself and negligence in risk assessments. My attempt with brazil nuts could’ve been prevented and Ward F were negligent - I will be ensuring that the report recognises this.
• Acknowledgement of my complaints with issues raised discussed upheld so far - I am calling for the healthboard to ensure the report is fully clear of how the poor conduct of Ward F has affected me and my family psychologically, with all failures fully outlined including unavoidable further suicide attempts caused directly by the trauma inducing conduct of Ward F as well as secondary trauma from the horrific experience I've had.

I will continue to meet and ensure the final outcome is clear, accurate, and includes specific recommendations based on my case, for the safety of others.

3. New Complaint – Discrimination

I’m drafting a further complaint regarding discrimination, to be incorporated into the final report. I’m still reviewing my medical records to ensure every harmful instance is documented. Examples of discrimination include:

• Being treated unfairly due to my age (18) and my mental health diagnoses (EUPD and GAD).
• Dismissive, antagonistic, and damaging conduct from staff, including:

1. Dr. Robertson’s disturbing statements: “You could kill yourself and might not get any help,” and threatening homelessness.
2. Coercion by Dr. Sian Heke, who told me I’d never be able to pursue a career in pharmacy.
3. Repeated failures to provide promised care, including DBT and associated psychological support.
4. Inaccurate documentation of my behaviour and minimising my suicidal ideation and consequent attempt as just “attention-seeking.”
5. Degrading treatment of my mother, my main support, who was labelled “rude” and ignored.

These behaviours breach the Equality Act 2010 (Sections 13, 20, and 26), NICE clinical guidelines, and NMC Code of Conduct. They reflect direct discrimination, harassment, and a failure to make reasonable adjustments.

4. DBT Assessment – A Breaking Point

On Friday, I attended a DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) assessment that left me deeply distressed and triggered a mental health crisis. This has been the most urgent and devastating development in my ongoing battle to access fair and lawful mental health care.

Following the assessment, I submitted an urgent call for action to Swansea Bay University Health Board management. I also copied in my solicitor at Cambrian Mental Health Law, my mental health advocate, complaints advocate, and Members of the Senedd Rebecca Evans and Tom Giffard, who are now fully aware of the ongoing situation.

At the assessment, I was told:

• That I am “too young” (aged 18) to be formally diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) — even though multiple qualified psychiatrists have formally diagnosed me. It was falsely suggested you have to be "at least 25 to have a diagnosis and get treated"
• That DBT would most likely not be offered, and instead I might be referred to a short, diluted 13-week “emotional regulation” group — a treatment not recognised by NICE as appropriate or effective for EUPD.
• That I am “not struggling enough” for DBT — despite being hospitalised multiple times this year following serious suicide attempts and currently still in hospital due to high risk.
• Them the assessment was “concluded” while I was visibly distressed — I was removed from the room and denied the chance to ask questions or respond.

Most shockingly, I was told:

“We try to avoid taking people on for DBT.”

 This statement makes it clear the psychologist had no intention of offering DBT from the outset — they were biased, dismissive, and appeared to be trying to mislead and discourage me to avoid taking me on. This was not an objective assessment. I tried to raise NICE guidelines but was waved off or dismissed entirely.

When I asked why I wasn’t being helped now — while I’m actively asking for therapy and in crisis — I was told:

“Lots of people struggle for years before they come onto DBT.”

But why should I be forced to suffer for years first? Denying me early access increases the risk of more suicide attempts, greater distress, worsening of my condition, and repeated hospitalisations. Preventable harm is being allowed to continue.

They also cited the fact I’m on a mood stabilising medication as a reason I don’t need DBT — despite me being told by a psychiatrist the day before that this medication is only a short-term intervention cannot be relied upon long-term, and that I urgently need therapy to manage my condition. Quetiapine may slightly reduce intensity of some symptoms, but it does not address the emotional dysregulation, interpersonal difficulties, impulsivity, chronic emptiness, or self-destructive behaviours that DBT is specifically designed to help me with.

This assessment had devastating consequences. I was so overwhelmed by the dismissiveness and rejection that I tried to abscond from hospital, attempted to end my life by hanging, and severely self-harmed. I was then detained under the Mental Health Act for my safety. During that detention, I was assessed by another psychiatrist who immediately rejected the claim that I was too young for a diagnosis and upheld the validity of my EUPD diagnosis and the urgent need for DBT treatment. The psychiatrist in question is a specialist for CAMHS and has diagnosed patients younger than myself who are getting DBT treatment - so the discriminative and misleading nature of the DBT assessment uphelds without a doubt.

I’m now back on an informal admission — but under Level 3 1:1 support, meaning I am followed and supervised 24/7 because the level of risk is so high. This deterioration was directly caused by the assessment. I had been doing better and making progress beforehand, but this asessment knocked me back completely.

The assessment violates NICE guidelines for borderline personality disorder (EUPD), which clearly state:

• Age must not be used as a barrier to diagnosis or treatment (Section 1.2.2.2).
• Brief interventions under 3 months must not be offered as substitutes for comprehensive therapy (Section 1.3.1.3).
• Patient preferences and willingness to engage must be taken seriously.

I have made it explicitly clear that I am willing and ready to engage in DBT — the only NICE-recommended therapy for EUPD. Denying me access on the basis of age, misleading claims, a lack of resources is not only unethical — it is unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

I should be at school with my mates, building a future and recovering — not trapped in a hospital under constant watch due to preventable harm. This is systemic neglect, and it is putting my life at risk. DBT is not a luxury — it is essential treatment, and I will continue to fight to access it, because I deserve the chance to get better.

5. Next Steps

• A formal legal warning has been submitted.
• Potential escalation of complaints to Health Service Ombudsman
• Consideration of legal action for discrimination and negligence which there is vast evidence of to date, as there has been clear negligence every step of the way in my care. This is well documented and already being acknowledged in the undergoing investigation.
• Further media coverage will be considered by Wales Online and The Express.

My petition and story will continue to be published widely as I continue to call for accountability and change.

Thank You

To every supporter, thank you. Your signatures and messages keep me going. I am determined to fight — not just for myself, but for every person whose voice has been ignored. Swansea Bay Mental Health Services have been failing for too long - it’s time for them to rectify their failures and step up. Please continue to share this petition. The more people who see it, the harder it becomes for them to ignore.

Many thanks,

Jacob