Reviews of New Westminster Mental Health Centre (Psychologist)

Hannah Meldrum

I had my referral sent in easily over a year ago, and so far I have had 3 appointments cancelled because "the dr is not actually in that day". I feel like the only way to get help from these people is to actually try to kill myself and then maybe I will be taken seriously? Good god, don't go here. UPDATE: i have now had 5 appointments cancelled, this time because the dr didn't want to work that week. I am convinced that there is no actual dr that works there.

Paula Ewaski

Great Place as I had to have my husband reassed and a few new questions answered. Sure waited a little bit, but I do think it was lunch time when we showed up. There might of been an emergency as to why your not seen on time. They do great work <3

amber hawse

I used to see dr. Fredrickson when my child was little for post Partum issues and when I got referred back to dr. Fredrickson I had to go through this office. They had closed my file with no proper reason and now that I'm being referred AGAIN I got papers sent to me to fill out which they said it's okay to go to their office considering the circumstances I'm in and now they say they closed my file AGAIN because I'm not in New west when I had explained to them my circumstances before getting the papers sent to me. Only reason it's a 3 is because dr. Fredrickson is the only psychiatrist I get along with.

Keira Campbell

Based on my address, I was sent to the New West Mental Health Centre after a hospital visit for mental illness reasons. I was initially quite apprehensive due to the multitude of poor reviews, but thankfully, my experience was a very positive one. The psychiatric nurse I spoke to on my intake visit was very kind and understanding. She got me on the waitlist for group therapy, which is about three or four months long. Because of this, they have a "rapid access" form of group therapy that you can attend on a drop-in basis until you get in to your actual group. My only qualm with this place is that it could do with better funding, but this doesn't surprise me after my few years of experience with publicly-funded services. Regardless, I am very grateful for its existence.

Ulad Shauchenka

The most disorganized public health unit. Most the employees including some doctors are extreme unprofessional and unprofessional will actually do more harm than good. Kept loosing records, voicemails and straight lying to your face. Avoid at all costs. P. S. Female Japanese doctor resident here sent a squad of 4 police cars to my apartment weapons drawn by calling me "extremely dangerous" because I missed an appointment and a caseworker with heavy accent harassed me with dozen calls a day for no reason.

Jenna Mitchell

I have been using this facility for a while because of my disability and address, this is the only mental health center in New Westminster so MSP will not cover any other mental health specific treatments like therapy, case managers and other support workers unless you go through this facility. That being said, it has been extremely hard for me to get the help I need when I need it on a continuous and regular basis. I have been transferred to other case managers without notification. Currently I have no case manager because the last one just didn't show up to our last appointment, then I learned that I was transferred to another person, whom I met once, and then when I tried to make an appointment with him I learned that he was just a 'temporary' case worker and he doesnt work there anymore and they haven't actually found me a case manager yet. This started at the beginning of September. It is now mid-November and I have not heard anything yet. I feel like they make you jump through hoops to get help, referrals and counselors that actually care, because they just randomly set you up with a support worker and you are kind of screwed if you dont work well with them. This is so dissapointing because I feel, as a person living with disabilities, that I do not get the respect, dignity, or trust that is my right as a Disabled Canadian Citizen through this facility that is funded through MSP.

Marv Magi Gustaf Pardis

Hello well deserved Bank on mental health patients please write a letter to Fraser health department youand fully describe their kind t her experience at first treatment that you had receive thenumber for Fraser health

Amanda P

I went here for a severe case of anxiety and was looked after for a good length of timely visits. They told me if I fell into a crises again to get a referral back and they would continue to see me again. I did just that as I unfortunately became worse. They refused my referral. I had a wonderful doctor but it was the overhead authority who dismissed my cry for help a second time. What a terrible way to go about calling yourself a mental health unit. Close down..your poor reviews are enough to get he word out there as you cant hide the truth of how you are operating this so called public health unit.

Lisa J

I waited 15 minutes for my appointment with a psychologist and the secretary at the front desk was SO RUDE and insulting, after waiting 15 minutes. .the DR. was late...I left in tears. I then received a call from Beena a counselor that because I did not show up for my appointment with Dr. Frederickson, I am S.O.L How are those with mental health issues ever to get well with this kind of attitude? I have been in the emergency medical services for 25 yrs and have NEVER BEEN treated so disrespectfully in my life nor would I EVER treat any of my patients in such a manner.

Dolly Dot

Completely useless. The psychiatrist I saw flat out refused to prescribe any anti-depressants after having tried only 1 medication with no results. Even as my general mental health was deteriorating she still steadfastly refused to try any new medications. Eventually she discharged me, claiming there was nothing more she could do for me, leaving me worse off than when I was referred here! I tell them that I'm actively in pain and they still won't do anything for me! I'm more despondent than ever! I think you have to be 'in crisis' before they take you seriously. Even then, I'm not sure. The therapists are even worse. The therapist never even bothered to ask any questions about my past, and didn't bother to read any of my medical or personal history, telling me to do things I already do anyways! Sometimes she told me to do certain things, and then later pointed to those as things I need to avoid! When their useless therapy doesn't work, she outright blamed me, telling me that I'm not doing it right, and in a passive-aggressive manner accused me of lying to her. They belittle and they ignore real problems. I don't know what to say, it's not like I can choose wherever I want to have mental health problems! Stuck with this useless office! With mental health care services like this, no wonder there's a crisis in this country!

Barbara Marak

I was referred here from a North Shore Hospital and on my first visit the female Dr. discontinued all my medication which resulted in an emergency visit as I could not cope. I became very ill with this supposed Mental Health Team, until I was able to locate a professional Doctor. I have been fine for almost 3 yrs now..Twice I asked for and signed for my previous medical records to be transferred, but the Psychiatrist didn't bother to send request. In my particular situation, this Agency did significant harm.

Mellybeans

Very disappointed that this place is the only public mental health team available in New Westminster, because I would go literally anywhere else before this, but need to be followed by a psych team so I can be referred to neuropsychiatrists for my movement disorder. I have continually gotten terrible service and unhelpful counselling. The very worst of it all occurred yesterday when I saw a new psychiatrist and he dismissed literally everything I told him. I am a young female with autism, bipolar 2, c-ptsd, and general anxiety. After talking with me for about fifteen minutes he decided that I don't have any of those, and instead pushed hard that I have borderline personality disorder, which I am 100% sure I do not, having known several different people who do. But he would not listen to anything I told him or allow me more time to explain. He thought that my bipolar was borderline mood swings which tend to happen several times a day, even after I told him they are phases that last weeks or months. He said that my pstd flashbacks were probably BPD too, for some reason. He would not drop the BPD thing even after we went through a checklist and I answered 'no' to almost all the questions. He did not care at all what I had to say about my own experiences. But the very worst of all was about my autism. My diagnosis somehow did not end up in my medical record (I got it in April 2018), so he felt it appropriate to tell me that he didn't believe I'm autistic after being with me for only 15 minutes, and again, it didn't matter what I told him. He had the gall to tell me that my autistic shutdowns could have just been dysphoria. He also had the absolute gall to try to explain to me how autism diagnoses work, how they take hours and not a few minutes, as if I never actually had one and had been lying. This reduced me to tears because I had fought so hard to find a doctor who would actually take me seriously and talk about autism so I could get on my way to a diagnosis. I had so many refuse to believe me or even talk about it, when all I needed was help. Even my family did not believe me at that point. I had to self-advocate endlessly for 2 years to get my diagnosis. I really thought I was done with doctors trying to tell me I don't have it. Especially ones that supposedly know the diagnosis takes hours, but still decide they know better after 15 minutes. He also continually asked me why I'd been taking my medication if it wasn't working properly, as if it was my fault. I left the office feeling shaken and abused. I would not be surprised if he refused to listen to me because I'm female. I was halfway expecting him to tell me that I didn't actually need to walk with a cane, and my functional neurological disorder was just hysteria. I had seen a different psychiatrist prior, and she was alright, but then she ditched me completely to go on maternity leave without setting me up with a replacement. I've seen two therapists, one who just showed me a bunch of TED talks and talked philosophy without giving me an inch, and another who was sweet but very inexperienced. The second therapist even told me at one point that I was beyond her help and gave me a number to call for trauma therapists, but didn't actually do any research because the place did not do public counselling, and she knew I could not afford private. This mental health centre is, to be blunt, garbage. I hate that I'm stuck with it. Would not recommend it to anyone.

Daymon Burnside

Shauna was the lady in charge during my visit. I Inquired to see a mental health professional to speak to and document issues regarding Bi-Polar/ PTSD due to discovering my girlfriends suicide. I needed documentation of my visit with a health care professional for a school grade apeal. I was dismissed entirely after asking if I had extended medical and suicidal feelings. After explaining that I had intense suicidal ideation/anxiety/depression and other issues regarding the trauma of my girlfriends suicide. I was met with comments such as " I'm sorry but we don't have what you're looking for" and "we can't help you." She insisted on what I was looking for did not exist, and I was a "niche" case? As well, she dismissed my concerns of bi-polar after only speaking to me 10 minutes. I've had two MD's inquire about this and was switched to a medication to treat Bi-polar and refer me to New West Mental Health. This leads me to wonder what this ladies credentials are and her diagnostic ability. She offered me a 5 month wait to see a psychiatrist for one only day. I guess that's what I get for not having extended medical and not feeling like killing myself that day. I feel terrible for anyone who gets the courage to finally take their mental health serious, only to be met by condescending under educated "professionals" in this field and more particularly this location. On a side note- a 5 month wait is dangerously long for people with deteriorating mental health. It's a sad world when a field as important as mental health is poorly ran/underfunded to the point where waits are this long and staff standards are as low as it is.