Hi guys! I'm looking for some guidance/advice on what to do. I moved to Ottawa a few years ago and finally got a family doctor last month. I've mostly been trying to get one to get a psych referral but every referral he's put in has been to psychiatrists in Toronto(where I prev lived). On top of that, I get denied. I tried calling around Ottawa, including the Civic, to see if any psych drs were accepting anyone/had open waitlists, and while they did, I was informed that they only accept referrals through their own family doctors in hospital.
I've been struggling immensely the last 6 months and have been playing a waiting game with these referrals. I've been thinking of waiting it out in the ER so that I could see a psych dr in hospital but I'm hesitant as there are most definitely people ahead of me, in more dire need. I completed the free CBT program that AccessMHA runs with the Ottawa Hospital but unfortunately, I need something more. I've been hospitalized for my mental health/eating disorder before, but I was under 18 so people were more proactive about helping. I find now, things get pushed under the rug until something life threatening happen, and I genuinely don't want to harm myself in the name of getting help.
I guess my question is; have you had any experiences with the mental health system here in Ottawa? good/bad? Any advice is welcome <3 thank you