GPs and counselling
If you are concerned about your mental health, you should first visit your GP. GPs, in combination with counsellors, can successfully treat some less complex mental health conditions, such as mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and some eating disorders.
Your GP will be able to prescribe any medicines that are needed to help with your symptoms and refer you to a counsellor.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an increasingly popular type of therapy that is used to treat a wide range of mental heath conditions.
CBT is based on the assumption that most unwanted thinking patterns and emotional and behavioural reactions, are learned over a long period of time. The aim is to identify the unhelpful thinking that is causing the unwanted feelings and behaviours before learning to replace this thinking with more realistic and balanced thoughts.
A course of CBT therapy can consist of 5-20 weekly sessions, with each session lasting between 30-60 minutes.
A number of interactive software programmes are now available that replicate some of the functions of a CBT therapist. One example is the 'Beating the blues' programme, which has been approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) for treating depression, anxiety, and phobias.
Care plan approach (CPA)
If you have a more serious mental health condition that requires access to specialised mental health services, you will be entered into a treatment process that is known as a care plan approach (CPA). A CPA is essentially a way of ensuring that you receive the right tailored treatment for your needs.
There are four stages to a CPA:
- assessment - where your health and social needs are assessed,
- care plan - a care plan is created in order to meet your health and social needs,
- a care coordinator is appointed - a care coordinator, sometimes known as a keyworker, will be your first point of contact and will monitor your care, and
- review - your treatment will be regularly reviewed and, if needed, changes to the care plan can be agreed.
Assessment
The purpose of an assessment is to build up an accurate picture of your needs. As different professionals and agencies provide a range of services, your assessment will probably be carried out by more than one person. For example, a social worker, a psychologist and your GP may all be involved in your assessment.
During an assessment the following points will be considered:
- your psychiatric symptoms and experiences,
- your psychological thoughts and behaviour,
- your physical health and wellbeing,
- your housing and financial circumstances,
- your employment and training needs,
- whether you have a history of drug or alcohol use,
- whether you pose a risk to yourself or others,
- your culture and ethnic background,
- your gender and sexuality,
- whether there is anyone who depends on you, such as a child, or elderly relative, and
- your hopes and aspirations for the future.
Care plan
In its most basic form, a care plan is what different people or agencies agree to do in response to your assessed need. It also provides a record of your progress.
The care plan is drawn up for your benefit, so you will be encouraged to contribute your own wishes and desired outcomes to the plan.
As part of the plan you may wish to consider what steps you would like taken in the event of a future psychiatric crisis such as:
- who needs to be contacted,
- where you would like to be treated, and
- what help people who are currently in your care, such as your child, would require.
Care coordinator
Your care coordinator will be your first point of contact between you and the various healthcare professionals who are involved in your treatment. They are also able to explain how the different services are responding to your needs, while relaying any concerns or questions you may have to the appropriate person
Ideally, your care coordinator should be someone who you feel comfortable talking to and being with. For example, they may be a social worker, occupational therapist, or a community mental health nurse.
You may be able to have some input into who becomes your care coordinator, although this may not be possible in all cases.
Reviews
Over time, your personal needs may change, so it is important that your treatment is reviewed on a regular basis.
During a review, you, your care coordinator, and other professionals who are involved in your care will meet to discuss your progress, and discuss whether your care plan needs to be changed to better meet your needs.
It may be possible to hold a review at your house, or in a neutral place, such as a community centre. If you wish, you can bring a friend or relative to a review for support.
Some people prefer to bring an advocate to their review. An advocate is someone who will represent your views and interests during the review process.
Advocates can be voluntary, such as mental health charity workers, or professional, such as lawyers. Your care coordinator should be able to tell you what advocacy services are available in your local area.
