Talking to others

It's the people who talk about it, who bring it out into the light of day, who make it easier for other people to go out and get help for their own situations, who really make a difference to your mental state. Then other people can feel like, 'Well, I can talk about it. I can start looking at it, and I can start dealing with it.

Networks of advocacy groups, families, charities and people who live with mental illnesses are working hard to educate others as empathetic individuals who may need their help and deserve their compassion.

• Talk to your GP.
  
• Contact NHS Direct.
  
• Contact a Telephone Helpline.
  
• Visit a Resource Centre.
  
• NHS Walk-in Centres.
  
• Visit Accident and Emergency.
  
• Crisis Home Treatment Team.
  
• Support from friends, family and communities is vital. After the doctor's office, the home is often the first place people go for support.

Often people who are struggling with mental illness issues are in need of a sense of community. There's a need of feeling affirmed, knowing that peoples affirmation of them is expressed through a community of shared acceptance and hope. . . . Often these are the same people who are shunned by the community.
 
 "It's been one of the most therapeutic things of my experience, to be able to share something that I never would have wished for, but when I think of all the people I've met, and the opportunity to find meaning in what I had gone through, I think, what a blessing in my life."

Conntact NHS Direct.

• Contact a Telephone Helpline.
  
• Visit a Resource Centre.
  
• NHS Walk-in Centres.
  
• Visit Accident and Emergency.
  
• Crisis Home Treatment Team.
  
• Support from friends, family and communities is vital. After the doctor's office, the home is often the first place people go for support.

Often people who are struggling with mental illness issues are in need of a sense of community. There's a need of feeling affirmed, knowing that peoples affirmation of them is expressed through a community of shared acceptance and hope. . . . Often these are the same people who are shunned by the community.

"It's been one of the most therapeutic things of my experience, to be able to share something that I never would have wished for, but when I think of all the people I've met, and the opportunity to find meaning in what I had gone through, I think, what a blessing in my life."

For many people who are suffering from mental health problems the there first point of contact will be their General Practitioner (GP).


For more information refer to section on "Making the most of your GP"

NHS Direct operates a 24-hour nurse advice and health information service, providing confidential information on what to do if you are feeling ill, particular health conditions, local healthcare services, such as doctors, dentists or late night opening pharmacies and self help and support organisations. When you call NHS Direct you will be asked to provide some basic information about yourself and to describe the nature of your call. If you need advice about a health problem, you will be asked if you are calling for yourself or on behalf of someone else and are required to explain: -

• What the symptoms are, how they affect you/the person and when they began;What you /the person have tried already;
• Any drugs you/the person are already taking;
• Any existing medical conditions;
• Anything else you think is relevant.
• NHS Direct nurses will use their skills and experience, together with a comprehensive computer system, to advise you on the most appropriate course of action to take.
• NHS Direct staff can also provide information on a wide range of healthcare topics – from helping you to find out more about diagnosed conditions and treatments to giving details of local health services and if English is not your first language they can provide a confidential translation service.

Calls to the NHS Direct telephone service on 0845 4647 are charged at a local rate and to ensure patients safety all calls are recorded. 
 

In addition to national telephone helplines such as NHS Direct, the Samaritans and Saneline, there may be specialist local mental health helplines that can be a useful first point of call if you are feeling unwell, are worried about someone else, need access to information or just need someone to talk to. Staff on the helpline will provide a listening ear and help to point you in the right direction. Contact details for local and national telephone helplines can be found in the directory listings.

In addition to mental health lines there are also many other specialist helplines providing support and advice for any number of illnesses, conditions or issues. Some of the more common support lines can be found in publications such as Yellow Pages or Public Libraries, or the Internet.

Resource Centre’s provide information and advice on mental health issues, volunteering, employment, accommodation and benefits. They are not day services but can provide a platform for groups of individuals to meet together and organise self-help support, social or recreational activates. They come in different types and styles depending on your local authority or voluntary services and are staffed by trained mental health workers and have direct links into other mental health services such as community mental health teams, assertive outreach teams and crisis teams.

NHS Walk-in Centres give you fast access to health advice and treatment. There are now 43 throughout England. Open seven days a week, from early in the morning until late in the evening, they offer:

Treatment for minor illnesses and injuries

Assessment by an experienced NHS nurse

Advice on how to stay healthy

Information on out-of-hours GP and dental services

Information on local pharmacy services

Information on other local health services.

Visit Accident and Emergency

If you or someone you care for is in need of emergency treatment for a physical condition you may need to visit the accident and emergency department first. Accident and Emergency Departments have working links with mental health services but their primary concern is to treat physical injury or illness.

You can self refer to the Crisis Home Treatment Team during office hours. The teams work out of hours for Home Treatment supporting individuals who might otherwise be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. All of the Crisis Home Treatment Teams work out of hours and are multi-disciplinary i.e. have a mixture of social work, nursing and medical staff offering support to try to prevent hospital admission if at all possible.

For more information refer to section on "Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment".