Mental health conditions can be complicated to treat because they can impact on a wide range of issues, such as housing, employment, relationships, and physical wellbeing.
As a result, there are a number of different mental healthcare professionals, each with their own specialised expertise, who may be involved in caring for someone with a mental health condition. Some of these healthcare professionals are described below.
GPs
Your GP will often be your first point of contact with mental healthcare services. It is estimated that people with emotional or psychological conditions make up between a quarter and a third of a GP's workload.
GPs can make an initial assessment of a mental health condition, prescribe medication, such as anti-depressants and, if necessary, arrange referrals to other treatments and services, such as counselling.
Community mental health nurse
A community mental health nurse (CMHN), also sometimes known as a community psychiatric nurse, is a registered nurse with specialist training in mental health. Some CMHNs are attached to GP surgeries, or community mental health centres, while others work in psychiatric units.
CMHNs have a wide range of expertise. They can provide counselling, offer advice and support to people with long-term mental health conditions, and administer medication.
Some CMHNs specialise in treating certain people, such as children, older people, or people with a drug or alcohol addiction.
Clinical psychologists
Clinical psychologists are healthcare professionals who specialise in the assessment and treatment of mental health conditions. They often work in combination with other mental health care professionals as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are qualified medical doctors who have done further training in treating mental health conditions. Psychiatrists are not just based in hospitals, but can have close links with GP's surgeries and community mental health centres.
As psychiatrists are medical doctors they can prescribe medication, which is not the case with psychologists (though a psychologist can make recommendations to your GP.)
Child psychologists and psychiatrists
There are also psychologists and psychiatrists who specialise in working with children and young people.
These professionals can help treat mental health and behavioural conditions that can affect children, such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).
They can also help children and young people who have experienced traumatic events that they are having difficulties coming to terms with, such as bereavement, bullying, or a past history of abuse.
Educational psychologist
Educational psychologists also work with children and young people, although sometimes adults can also benefit from their expertise.
An educational psychologist’s role is to assist children and young people who are having trouble progressing with their education due to emotional, psychological, or behavioural factors, such as having a learning difficulty, or a pattern of disruptive behaviours.
Counsellors
Counsellors are trained to provide talking therapies that aim to help people to cope better both with their life and their mental health condition. Most counsellors specialise in a specific type of therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Psychotherapists
Psychotherapists have a similar role to counsellors, but they usually have more extensive training, and are also often qualified psychologists or psychiatrists. Psychotherapy tends to be a longer and more intense process than counselling.
Occupational therapists
Occupational therapists who specialise in mental health provide training, support, and advice to help someone with a mental health condition reach their maximum level of functioning and independence for day-to-day living. This may include areas such as:
- personal independence,
- communication skills,
- self confidence,
- employment,
- social and leisure activities, and
- interpersonal relationships
Social workers
Social workers are often used to bridge the gap between mental health services and the wider social service provision. They can provide advice on a variety of practical issues, such as benefits, housing, day care, and training.
Approved mental health workers
An approved mental health worker is a mental health worker who has received special training to provide help and give assistance to people who are being treated under the 1983 Mental Health Act. Their functions can include helping to assess whether a person needs to be compulsorily detained (sectioned) as part of their treatment.
An approved mental health worker is also responsible for ensuring that the human and civil rights of a person being detained under the Mental Health Act are respected and upheld.
