Mental health coverage?

Does anyone have any experience dealing with NHS for counselling and stuff like that? Pyschiatrists? Do you have to pay or get a referral or what? I'm bipolar (manic depressive) and I moved here about 2 months ago, but I still have yet to find any information...and my meds are running out! Anyways, lemme know!

=Kat=

Have you signed up with a GP yet? If so, then discuss your medical condition with him/her. They will be able to direct you into the right direction.
Your Physican will refer you to a Pyschiatrist, until then your DR can prescribe your medication for you.  

Good Luck!  

From what I understand, a GP will be happy to prescribe such things as prozac or wellbutrin or whatever anti-depressants are available here.  From what I understand of things like counseling, if going through the NHS, one has to be put on a waiting list and when your name comes up you are only allowed something like 10 sessions with a counselor.  

I would say if one is simply looking for a psychiatrist, one would probably need a referral from his/her GP.  

I, of course, will post-preface this by saying I could always be wrong.  This is just my understanding.

I can't speak for the London area, but here in the Southwest, mental health care is very, very good, of course, I could be biased as hubby is a psychiatric nurse/counselor!  As the others have said, as long as you are signed up with a GP, they can take care of your meds and refer you to counseling, etc.