Mental Health Services

Mental Health Services
Mental health problems are common with around 25% of the
population believed to be suffering from some form of
mental health problem at any point in time. Anyone
suffering from a mental health problem can access proper
treatment and most who do seek help will make a complete
recovery but unfortunately, there are still people who are
afraid of admitting that they cannot cope or that they need
help and will suffer unnecessary mental distress due to
lack of understanding about their illness or awareness of
what help is available. So what mental health services are
available to anyone suffering from mental illness?

Doctor

The first point of contact is your doctor. They will be
able to make a full assessment of your symptoms and your
physical and mental health in general as well as take into
consideration any other factors involved including any
family history of mental illness in order to make an
accurate diagnosis because an accurate diagnosis is
essential if the right help and assistance is to be
offered. For most people, a simple visit to the doctor may
be all that is required to put them on the road to recovery.

However, your doctor might feel that you could also benefit
from other mental health services so once he or she has
made a diagnosis they will be able to start you on a
suitable treatment programme which could include medication
and/or referral to other professionals or specialists in
the community mental health team as required, for example,
social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, various types
of counsellors or therapists and so on.

The Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)

It may be that you require specialist skills in order to
help you cope with your mental illness and as one person
couldn't conceivably be an expert in every single area, you
could be referred to someone in the community mental health
team. The community mental health team will vary depending
on which area that you live, some may be attached to a
hospital or work from a doctors surgery and others could
possibly have their own clinic in a separate building but
typically, they consist of professionals such as
psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses who may also be trained
to deal with specific problems or behaviours, clinical
psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, and
various other therapists and counsellors.

It is quite likely that one person will be appointed as
your key worker and will be liaising with you on a regular
basis and visiting you at home. This person could be a
social worker, a nurse, some type of therapist or quite
commonly, a community psychiatric nurse or CPN.

The CPN will assess your progress on a regular basis, will
identify and help you deal with any problems you might have
and put you in touch with others who can help, they will
monitor your mediation and any effects of that medication
and will generally offer support. They will work closely
with other professionals in the team so that everyone is
aware of any particular issues or challenges that need to
be dealt with. The CMHT will also regularly inform your
doctor about your progress, your medication and any other
issues involved in your case.

It might be that you need help from other professionals.
For example, an occupational therapist can help you regain
some independence in your life if you are suffering from
any disabilities, they can help you to do things for
yourself and improve your confidence in areas such as
dressing, washing and other practical skills. Social
workers can help with many social problems such as housing
needs, financial issues and maybe parenting or child care
challenges. Basically, the Community Mental Health Team
enables you to access the right kind of help from
professionals who are trained in a specific area.

Hospital

It might be that you need to spend some time in hospital to
get over a particularly difficult episode of mental illness
or where it is considered appropriate but this decision is
not taken lightly. Hospitals can offer safety and
protection and many people will voluntarily admit
themselves to hospital in order to get the right assistance
and support. However, there are also compulsory admissions
made under the Mental Health Act in order to protect the
person themselves or those around them. For some people,
the thought of admission to hospital can be frightening but
it is important to remember that a stay in hospital can be
a lifesaver and hospitals are there to help and are better
equipped to deal with particularly severe cases of mental
illness.

More support

Family and friends can be instrumental in helping someone
who is suffering from mental health problems to progress
and regain control of their lives and as such are an
extremely important part of any support network. There are
also numerous other agencies, support organisations, and
charities offering help to people suffering from various
mental health problems. Some will also tackle issues
related to mental health by raising awareness in the
community and others can provide information, advice and
support to people who are affected by mental health
problems in their family. You can ask your doctor or mental
health professional what other assistance is available in
your area.

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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