PLEASE REMEMBER TO VERIFY YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT YOUR SIGNATURE MAY BE COUNTED! YOUR VOICE MATTERS TOO!

Too many patients in Scotland are struggling with mental health crises and suicide risk—and GPs and staff are not always trained to help. Mandatory Mental Health and ‘At Risk’ training for all GPs and staff could save lives.

Many people at risk of suicide first contact their GP practice. Yet research shows that GPs and practice staff often lack training or confidence to recognise warning signs, leading to missed opportunities for support.

 

Mandatory Mental Health and ‘At Risk’ training for all GP staff, including doctors, nurses, and receptionists, could help identify at-risk patients earlier and save lives.

Sign this petition to demand better training, better care, and safer communities.

I know all too well what it feels like to reach out for help and be dismissed when you're at your lowest point.

For the last four years, I’ve been struggling to access proper care and understanding from my GP and receptionist's while living with daily NEAD- Non Epileptic Attack Disorder seizures. This is not an isolated incident, this is the third Scottish GP practise that I have registered with and sadly had the same experience. 

 

This petition focuses on the experiences of patients within Scotland’s NHS GP practices, where many people living with mental health conditions, neurological conditions like NEAD (Non‑Epileptic Attack Disorder), or other at‑risk situations are struggling to access compassionate and consistent care.

 

I want to make sure that patients with complex neurological and functional conditions are not dismissed or neglected in the system that’s meant to help them.

 

When I was suicidal, I phoned my GP surgery in Scotland, desperately hoping someone would listen. Instead, I was met with coldness and no real support. This experience left me devastated and has haunted me ever since. Adding to my pain, sadly I lost a family member to suicide a few years ago, this should have never have happened. 

 

Emotional Dysregulation and Outbursts in Patients With Neurological and Mental Health Needs in Crisis

People who struggle to regulate their emotions effectively during a crisis may experience intense emotional or verbal outbursts — reacting impulsively without fully understanding the cause or the impact of their words. This is especially common in patients living with neurological disorders or mental health conditions, where emotional control and rational thinking can be overwhelmed by distress.

 

In moments like these, a person is not in full cognitive control or self-awareness. Their brain and body are in a state of survival, and their ability to process information or communicate clearly is severely reduced. This reality must be recognised by first-contact responders — including GP reception staff and GPs themselves.

 

Patients in crisis should never be blamed or made to feel at fault for having a mental health or neurological episode. Instead, they should be met with compassion, calmness, and understanding, and properly risk assessed to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

 

Intense stress and emotional distress can disrupt key brain functions, leading to confusion, poor self-awareness, and difficulty articulating thoughts or needs. For someone living with a neurological disorder or severe mental health issue, this can make explaining their condition — or asking for help — incredibly difficult in the moment.

 

This is exactly why empathy, patience, and proper training for frontline healthcare staff are so important. The right approach can prevent harm, protect dignity, and quite literally save lives.

Physical Impact of NEAD 

Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder (NEAD) doesn’t only affect the brain — it impacts the whole body. For me, it causes constant shaking, severe leg pain, and weakness, along with pain and stiffness in my hands, fingers, and wrists. These symptoms make even simple daily tasks difficult or sometimes impossible.

During flare-ups or attacks, my body can become so tense and exhausted that I struggle to move properly or steady my hands. The pain can be relentless, and the shaking can last for long periods, leaving me drained and frightened. This physical side of NEAD is often invisible to others, but it is just as disabling as the emotional and neurological symptoms.

That’s why it’s so important for GPs and medical staff to approach patients with neurological and functional disorders with understanding and sensitivity. When someone is in physical pain, experiencing tremors, or feeling overwhelmed by symptoms they can’t control, they need reassurance — not judgement or dismissal.

Removal from GP Practice and Systemic Neglect.

Recently, I was removed from my GP practice for allegedly being abusive to two receptionists, with the practice claiming this had “broken down my relationship with the GPs.” This is deeply unfair and misleading. The behaviour in question occurred while I was in crisis, responding to the dismissive, unprofessional, and distressing attitudes of staff — including being made to feel highly uncomfortable during consultations and interactions.

All of my letters of distress and formal complaints have been overlooked or dismissed, meaning my side of events and the impact on my wellbeing have never been properly acknowledged. The focus has been entirely on blaming me for expressing distress, while the failings and behaviour of the practice that triggered my reactions have been ignored.

Ongoing Psychological Impact.

I am scared to make a formal complaint because past complaints have gone unheard and nothing was done to address them. Over the past four years, I have been left in a persistent mental health crisis, and although I have mentioned PTSD, each time I requested assessment or support from a psychologist or other qualified professional, I was told it was not possible.

As a Reiki Master and someone trained in EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) therapy, I am highly aware of the signs and symptoms of PTSD within myself. Unfortunately, holistic and complementary approaches are rarely recognised by mainstream healthcare professionals, leaving me without support. The repeated battles with doctors and reception staff to secure my legal rights, access to medication, and recognition of my condition have compounded my trauma. The psychological strain of having to fight for basic care, on top of my pre-existing conditions, has left me in severe distress and significantly impacted my wellbeing.

No patient in crisis should ever be dismissed, shamed, or left without help because their distress is misunderstood. I’m calling for mandatory training for all GP staff — including receptionists and first-contact responders — on recognising emotional dysregulation, neurological symptoms, and mental health crises.

This training should focus on compassionate communication, de-escalation, and risk awareness, so that patients in crisis are treated with the care and respect they deserve. People experiencing severe distress need to be heard, supported, and protected, not blamed or abandoned.

It’s time to ensure that every GP practice in the UK has the knowledge, empathy, and protocols to respond safely and humanely to those most in need.

Too many people in crisis in Scotland reach out to their GP surgery only to be dismissed or misunderstood by untrained reception staff. These dismissals aren't just bureaucratic errors - they have devastating consequences. That's why I'm calling on the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland to make it mandatory for all GPs and receptionists to undergo basic mental health and suicide response training.

This training should include:

 

.Recognising signs of distress and suicidal risk

.Responding calmly and compassionately

.Knowing when and how to escalate urgent situations to a clinician

.Communicating in a way that protects both patients and staff in crisis

 

Our receptionists are often the first point of contact for people in distress, and it is vital that they're equipped with the knowledge and empathy required to handle sensitive situations effectively. Training in mental health and suicide response can ensure that every patient in distress is treated with compassion, dignity, and understanding.

The statistics are alarming. According to Mental Health Foundation, suicide is a leading cause of death among young people in Scotland. Yet, these tragedies are preventable. Immediate and empathetic responses from trained professionals can save lives. Training our GPs and receptionists is a necessary step to ensure that those seeking help are never turned away unacknowledged or misunderstood.

We have an opportunity to create a safer healthcare environment where mental health is prioritized and those in crisis are given the support they need. This is a matter of life and death for many in our community. Let's make sure that reaching out in a time of need is met with open arms and prepared minds.

Join me in urging the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland to ensure all GP receptionists have mandatory training in mental health and suicide response. No one should ever be turned away when they reach out for help. Please sign this petition to make a change. PLEASE REMEMBER TO VERIFY YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO YOUR SIGNATURE MAY BE COUNTED! YOUR VOICE MATTERS TOO!