| Mental health problems are common with around 25% | | | | will identify and help you deal with any problems you |
| of the population believed to be suffering from some | | | | might have and put you in touch with others who can |
| form of mental health problem at any point in time. | | | | help, they will monitor your mediation and any effects |
| Anyone suffering from a mental health problem can | | | | of that medication and will generally offer support. |
| access proper treatment and most who do seek help | | | | They will work closely with other professionals in the |
| will make a complete recovery but unfortunately, there | | | | team so that everyone is aware of any particular |
| are still people who are afraid of admitting that they | | | | issues or challenges that need to be dealt with. The |
| cannot cope or that they need help and will suffer | | | | CMHT will also regularly inform your doctor about your |
| unnecessary mental distress due to lack of | | | | progress, your medication and any other issues |
| understanding about their illness or awareness of what | | | | involved in your case. |
| help is available. So what mental health services are | | | | It might be that you need help from other professionals. |
| available to anyone suffering from mental illness? | | | | For example, an occupational therapist can help you |
| Doctor | | | | regain some independence in your life if you are |
| The first point of contact is your doctor. They will be | | | | suffering from any disabilities, they can help you to do |
| able to make a full assessment of your symptoms | | | | things for yourself and improve your confidence in |
| and your physical and mental health in general as well | | | | areas such as dressing, washing and other practical |
| as take into consideration any other factors involved | | | | skills. Social workers can help with many social |
| including any family history of mental illness in order to | | | | problems such as housing needs, financial issues and |
| make an accurate diagnosis because an accurate | | | | maybe parenting or child care challenges. Basically, the |
| diagnosis is essential if the right help and assistance is | | | | Community Mental Health Team enables you to |
| to be offered. For most people, a simple visit to the | | | | access the right kind of help from professionals who |
| doctor may be all that is required to put them on the | | | | are trained in a specific area. |
| road to recovery. | | | | Hospital |
| However, your doctor might feel that you could also | | | | It might be that you need to spend some time in |
| benefit from other mental health services so once he | | | | hospital to get over a particularly difficult episode of |
| or she has made a diagnosis they will be able to start | | | | mental illness or where it is considered appropriate but |
| you on a suitable treatment programme which could | | | | this decision is not taken lightly. Hospitals can offer |
| include medication and/or referral to other | | | | safety and protection and many people will voluntarily |
| professionals or specialists in the community mental | | | | admit themselves to hospital in order to get the right |
| health team as required, for example, social workers, | | | | assistance and support. However, there are also |
| psychologists, psychiatrists, various types of | | | | compulsory admissions made under the Mental Health |
| counsellors or therapists and so on. | | | | Act in order to protect the person themselves or |
| The Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) | | | | those around them. For some people, the thought of |
| It may be that you require specialist skills in order to | | | | admission to hospital can be frightening but it is |
| help you cope with your mental illness and as one | | | | important to remember that a stay in hospital can be a |
| person couldn't conceivably be an expert in every | | | | lifesaver and hospitals are there to help and are better |
| single area, you could be referred to someone in the | | | | equipped to deal with particularly severe cases of |
| community mental health team. The community mental | | | | mental illness. |
| health team will vary depending on which area that | | | | More support |
| you live, some may be attached to a hospital or work | | | | Family and friends can be instrumental in helping |
| from a doctors surgery and others could possibly | | | | someone who is suffering from mental health |
| have their own clinic in a separate building but typically, | | | | problems to progress and regain control of their lives |
| they consist of professionals such as psychiatrists, | | | | and as such are an extremely important part of any |
| psychiatric nurses who may also be trained to deal | | | | support network. There are also numerous other |
| with specific problems or behaviours, clinical | | | | agencies, support organisations, and charities offering |
| psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, | | | | help to people suffering from various mental health |
| and various other therapists and counsellors. | | | | problems. Some will also tackle issues related to |
| It is quite likely that one person will be appointed as | | | | mental health by raising awareness in the community |
| your key worker and will be liaising with you on a | | | | and others can provide information, advice and support |
| regular basis and visiting you at home. This person | | | | to people who are affected by mental health problems |
| could be a social worker, a nurse, some type of | | | | in their family. You can ask your doctor or mental |
| therapist or quite commonly, a community psychiatric | | | | health professional what other assistance is available in |
| nurse or CPN. | | | | your area. |
| The CPN will assess your progress on a regular basis, | | | | |