IAPT and clinical services case-study: Healthy Minds Network
Most people can benefit from talking treatments. They provide support for people with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. They can be used alongside medicine or tablets prescribed by the doctor. Talking treatments can also help people to deal with difficult issues in life such as relationship problems, bereavement, concerns at work or physical illness. Where people have long term physical conditions, such as diabetes, talking treatments can support them to manage their condition more effectively.
Stepped care
We believe that everyone should have the right level of treatment depending on their need. The first step is to recognise the problem and for some people this is often enough. We provide some advice about lifestyle and healthy choices that could be making in respect of exercise and diet, alcohol and smoking. Often small changes we make can make us feel much better.
However, if this is not enough then we provide to access the Healthy Minds Network. Here the same principle applies. If a low dose of therapy is required, we allocate a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner who will help in working through guided self help materials.
Some people may require a little more help and this is often determined by how severe the problem is. If the problems require more help we allocate a high intensity therapist who will help through the use of more intensive treatments.
During and after treatment everyone is armed with tools to use to help manage their problems. If, after completing sessions of treatment anyone experiences difficulties at a later date, they are welcome to access the service for continued support.
Step 1 - Recognition of the problem with the help of the GP, Practice Nurse, community Development Worker, friend or family member. Treated by watchful waiting and healthy living advice.
Step 2 - Mild / moderate depression and anxiety treated by a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner using supported self help such as our recovery booklet for depression or CCBT (Computerised Behavioural Therapy).
Step 3 - Moderate / moderately severe depression and anxiety treated by High Intensity Therapist using more intensive talking treatments and social support.
The treatment that you and your therapist decide upon will be individually tailored to meet your needs, and therefore is likely to change over time. You will be involved at each stage of your treatment and our team is here to support you to recover a good sense of wellbeing.
Emma's recovery story
‘I really felt there was no light at the end of the tunnel, just a black pit that seemed to engulf every aspect of my inner and outer self. I had no identity, had lost my personality, my joy in life had gone. If there is a hell that was it! Having someone listen to me and help me to analyse my thoughts and feelings was the first step to recovery. No judgements on me and how I felt.
It was hard at times but reading the booklets and doing the exercises gave me a better insight into me and what was happening to me. Sitting quietly and deciding what small steps I would take to overcome my fears and anxieties became a positive focus and I was going to take on the challenge. Everyone can change. However, I also knew that it was ok to have set backs, the crucial point was not to give in totally.
Gradually after achieving small steps and recognising the positive effects in my life, the ‘mist’ began to lift and I began to have more clarity to my thought patterns. It helped to refer to the exercises and literature, I still had fears but we don’t always recognise our progress in the early stages. Knowing I had support was a life line and a comfort.
But I truly believe that the key is in our own hands meaning we have to want the help to unlock our fears, throw out the trash and gradually replace that with more positive patterns. I have slip ups but I now have some armour to fight with.
Realising life’s negatives will come and go but being able to face them and not run is a far more interesting challenge.’
