| The community mental heath team are there to | | | | The Key Worker |
| help those who are suffering from mental | | | | |
| health problems. The first port of call for | | | | People suffering from mental health problems |
| anyone who thinks that they are suffering | | | | will usually be assigned a key worker, which |
| from some kind of mental health problem is | | | | can be anyone in the community mental health |
| your doctor who will be able to recommend the | | | | team. The main responsibility of the key |
| right sort of help. | | | | worker is to make sure that the individual is |
| | | | getting all the help he or she needs. They |
| The community mental health team consists of | | | | will regularly assess the progress of an |
| a number of professionals who are trained in | | | | individual and report back to the rest of the |
| their specific areas and can include | | | | team. |
| psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational | | | | |
| therapists, social workers, and of course the | | | | Community Psychiatric Nurse or CPN |
| community psychiatric nurse or CPN. Some | | | | |
| specific problems or issues that can arise in | | | | The key worker will often be a CPN who will |
| addition to existing mental health problems | | | | usually make regular visits to people with |
| or which can exacerbate or trigger mental | | | | mental health problems in their own homes. |
| health problems and which might need extra | | | | They offer an important lifeline for people |
| consideration include: | | | | who are feeling isolated and alone with their |
| | | | mental health problems or who are |
| � Financial problems | | | | experiencing particular difficulties. They |
| | | | are aware of the many issues surrounding |
| � Physical disabilities | | | | mental health and can listen as well as help |
| | | | people talk through their problems in a |
| � Housing issues | | | | setting in which they feel comfortable. |
| | | | |
| � Divorce or relationship problems | | | | The CPN will liaise with and work closely |
| | | | with other members of the team to make sure |
| � Childcare issues | | | | that any practical support and assistance is |
| | | | offered when needed. They will assess the |
| Certain kinds of mental health problems may | | | | individual regularly and will discuss with |
| result in different needs and may therefore | | | | them the effectiveness of their medication |
| require some specialist help to deal with and | | | | and any side effects they might be |
| these can include: | | | | experiencing. The family and loved ones of a |
| | | | person suffering from mental health problems |
| � Elderly depression and dementia | | | | often need additional support in order to |
| | | | understand mental illness and to be able to |
| � Child or Teen depression | | | | cope with it, the CPN can offer practical |
| | | | advice and guidance. |
| � Postnatal depression | | | | |
| | | | Occupational Therapists |
| � Bipolar disorder | | | | |
| | | | Occupational therapists help individuals to |
| � Schizophrenia | | | | cope with practical issues on a day to day |
| | | | basis in areas such as dressing, toileting |
| Obviously, finding one person fully qualified | | | | and feeding themselves and can help |
| and skilled in all of these areas just isn't | | | | individuals regain some control of their |
| possible so the community mental health team | | | | lives. |
| work together in order to ensure that the | | | | |
| best advice and support is available as many | | | | Social workers |
| of the professionals involved will be trained | | | | |
| in specialist areas that allow them to offer | | | | Social workers can ensure that an individual |
| a better service to people suffering from | | | | gets access to various social services that |
| specific problems. So what sort of people | | | | will improve their quality of life and that |
| make up the mental health team? | | | | they may be entitled to such as home help, |
| | | | respite care and perhaps admission to day or |
| Psychiatrist | | | | residential centres. They can also offer |
| | | | assistance in dealing with housing needs, |
| Patients can be referred to a psychiatrist by | | | | financial difficulties or other social |
| their doctor. After an initial assessment, | | | | problems. |
| the psychiatrist will recommend a suitable | | | | |
| course of treatment and medication. If a | | | | The best care |
| mental health problem is particularly severe | | | | |
| then they are also able to recommend that the | | | | Many other people can be involved in the |
| individual be detained in hospital for a | | | | community mental health team including |
| period of time. However, this is a last | | | | various support workers, therapists, |
| resort and also requires the approval of | | | | counsellors, and of course loved ones. |
| another doctor and a social worker who all | | | | Together they all make sure that the |
| agree that this is the best option for an | | | | individual suffering from mental illness gets |
| individual concerned either for the | | | | the best care possible. Each team member can |
| individual's safety or for the safety of | | | | make a valuable contribution to the |
| others. | | | | individual's quality of life and can help |
| | | | them not only to cope with their illness on a |
| Psychologist | | | | day to day basis but to regain control over |
| | | | their lives and integrate with the rest of |
| Psychologists have an understanding of human | | | | the community in a positive and productive |
| behaviour, emotions and how the mind works | | | | way. |
| and although they cannot prescribe medication | | | | |
| they can offer various types of psychological | | | | Depression and anxiety are serious mental |
| therapies. Patients can be referred to them | | | | health conditions that can strike anyone at |
| by the doctor or other members of the | | | | anytime. For more information about |
| community health team. | | | | depression and selp help come and visit our |
| | | | site. |