Community Mental Health

People suffering from mental health problems often need a
lot of support and understanding in order to be able to
cope with their lives. Most people experiencing symptoms
of anxiety or depression will speak to their doctor in the
first instance and many will find that is all that's
required. However, for more serious or complex forms of
mental health problems or when there are additional factors
or difficulties involved, they may be referred by their
doctor to other professionals or support workers within the
local community mental health team.

The community mental health team consists of a number of
professionals who are trained in their specific areas and
can include psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational
therapists, social workers, and of course the community
psychiatric nurse or CPN. Some specific problems or issues
that can arise in addition to existing mental health
problems or which can exacerbate or trigger mental health
problems and which might need extra consideration include:

• Financial problems
• Physical disabilities
• Housing issues
• Divorce or relationship problems
• Childcare issues

Certain kinds of mental health problems may result in
different needs and may therefore require some specialist
help to deal with and these can include:

• Elderly depression and dementia
• Child or Teen depression
• Postnatal depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia

Obviously, finding one person fully qualified and skilled
in all of these areas just isn't possible so the community
mental health team work together in order to ensure that
the best advice and support is available as many of the
professionals involved will be trained in specialist areas
that allow them to offer a better service to people
suffering from specific problems. So who is likely to be
involved in the community mental health team?

Psychiatrist

Patients can be referred to a psychiatrist by their doctor.
The psychiatrist will then assess the patient and decide
on an appropriate form of treatment and medication
including who will be responsible for carrying out any
treatment programme. If a mental health problem is
particularly severe then they are also able to recommend
that the individual be detained in hospital for a period of
time. However, this is a last resort and also requires the
approval of another doctor and a social worker who all
agree that this is the best option for an individual
concerned either for the individual's safety or for the
safety of others.

Psychologist

Psychologists have an understanding of human behaviour,
emotions and how the mind works and although they cannot
prescribe medication they can offer various types of
psychological therapies. Patients can be referred to them
by the doctor or other members of the community health team.

The Key Worker

People suffering from mental health problems will usually
be assigned a key worker, which can be anyone in the
community mental health team. The main responsibility of
the key worker is to make sure that the individual is
getting all the help he or she needs. They will regularly
assess the progress of an individual and report back to the
rest of the team.

Community Psychiatric Nurse or CPN

The key worker will often be a CPN who will usually make
regular visits to people with mental health problems in
their own homes. They offer an important lifeline for
people who are feeling isolated and alone with their mental
health problems or who are experiencing particular
difficulties. They are aware of the many issues
surrounding mental health and can listen as well as help
people talk through their problems in a setting in which
they feel comfortable.

The CPN will liaise with and work closely with other
members of the team to make sure that any practical support
and assistance is offered when needed. They monitor
medication, make sure the individual knows how to take
their medication and they also look out for additional
symptoms or side effects of that medication. The CPN can
also help families and loved ones better understand the
impact of mental illness and how to cope with it in the
family.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists help individuals to cope with
practical issues on a day to day basis in areas such as
dressing, toileting and feeding themselves and can help
individuals regain some control of their lives.

Social workers

Social workers can ensure that an individual gets access to
various social services that will improve their quality of
life and that they may be entitled to such as home help,
respite care and perhaps admission to day or residential
centres. They can also offer assistance in dealing with
housing needs, financial difficulties or other social
problems.

The best care

Many other people can be involved in the community mental
health team including various support workers, therapists,
counsellors, and of course loved ones. Together they all
make sure that the individual suffering from mental illness
gets the best care possible. Each team member can make a
valuable contribution to the individual's quality of life
and can help them not only to cope with their illness on a
day to day basis but to regain control over their lives and
integrate with the rest of the community in a positive and
productive way.

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Depression and anxiety are serious mental health conditions
that can strike anyone at anytime. For more information
about depression and selp help come and visit
http://www.fightingdepression.co.uk