A ST Helens man believes he may not still be alive if he’d have waited six weeks to attend counselling through the NHS while he battled depression.

Christopher Nevitt, from Sutton, began to notice his mental health deteriorating in 2016 after feeling increasingly lonely.

The 27-year-old did not reach out to friends and family, including his twin brother, and contacted the Samaritans after he began contemplating suicide.

“I would often find myself thinking about suicide just to end what I thought was my lonely sad life, when in fact this was very much the opposite,” he said.

After a positive call with the Samaritans, Christopher made an appointment with his GP.

The doctor prescribed some medication and gave him a leaflet for the NHS Mindsmatter service.

“When I got home I read through the leaflet and just didn’t feel the urge to ring them,” he said.

“I was looking at a piece of paper thinking, how is this going to help?

“The way I was feeling I was very aggravated all the time and I just left the paper on the side and ignored it.”

After several GP appointments Christopher said he asked his doctor about counselling.

Christopher was given a phone number but when he called he said he was told there would be a six-week wait, so decided to see a private counsellor instead.

“I think I’d seen my doctor around nine times over the monthly appointments and I actually got a sense of happiness from my doctor that I’d actually found help quicker,” he said.

“The doctor actually agreed with me that six weeks wait is unacceptable from the NHS.”

Christopher had eight counselling sessions and was able to recover. However, several months later he began to feel low again.

This time, he went straight to the private counsellor.

“I had another six sessions and I’m back to feeling like me again,” he said.

“Why is there a six-week wait for counselling from the NHS? Why is there no urgency in treatment for mental health?

“If you have a cancer scare you are seen within two weeks.

“I felt and still feel so lucky I was able to pay for private treatment.

“If I needed to wait the six weeks, I may not be here today.”

There were 28 recorded suicides in St Helens in 2017, which means St Helens has the fourth highest suicide rate in England.

Margaret Baker, 59, from Sutton, suffers from depression and anxiety and said she regularly has suicidal thoughts.

She said her mental health began to deteriorate around six years ago when her brother, who suffered from motor neurones disease, died.

Her mother died five months later, followed by her friend of 30 years and finally her sister, both within a two-year period.

Margaret said the deaths proved too much to handle and became very depressed and anxious.

She began to self-harm and was given medication, which she says she is now dependant on.

She was also offered counselling with Open Mind, The Primary Care Mental Health Team in St Helens.

“I tried counselling but it wasn’t for me,” she said.

“I visited my doctor on a regular basis at first and the hospital who prescribed the medication I’m on now.

“It has never been followed-up, I just get checked every 12 months. Other than that, deal with it is your only option.”

The 59-year-old also believes people being refused benefits is a major reason for the rising suicide rates.

Margaret said this is something that is currently affecting her.

She said: “You don’t know which way to turn because you are so terrified of sitting with strangers and being  interrogated, because that’s what they do.

“This must have an affect on people mentally.

“We need support and there is none.”