Help from professional services
Professional services are one of the first places you should look for help. They are experienced in assessing people with mental health problems and accessing care and treatment, and if the person you care about is already involved with mental health services, they may already know about some of the difficulties you are having.
The following people and services are worth trying:
The GP
The GP can refer someone to a psychiatrist or to the local community mental health team as well as prescribing medication or arranging talking treatments. It may be helpful to ask for a home visit if you live with the person you are worried about. If you are in crisis during the night, most GPs have a 24 hour ‘out of hours’ telephone number. You will usually not be able to talk to a specific GP so they will not know your circumstances. Because of this you will need to give them a good description of the situation making it clear what you want to happen; for instance, if you want them to come out. Some GPs will not help unless the patient directly requests it. This can cause problems if the person involved is convinced that they are not unwell (sometimes called a lack of insight) or does not want professional intervention. Some GPs are very good but often GPs knowledge of mental illness is limited and they are insufficiently aware of the need for prompt action.
Ask to see a community psychiatric nurse (CPN)
Community psychiatric nurses often work with GP practices or mental health centres and some can be seen on request. They should be familiar with all forms of mental illness and know how to access help.
Contact the local community mental health team (CMHT)
This may result in help especially if you or the person you are concerned about is already known to the team. In some areas the local team will only help if the person has been referred by the GP.
Contact the crisis resolution team
The crisis team deal with people both known to the mental health services as well as those that are not. As well as crises they act beforehand to prevent a person needing to go into hospital. However, if they do need admission, they can arrange this. They usually aim to see someone within a few hours of referral. Referral can be made by a GP or psychiatrist, but sometimes by a carer or the person themselves. There is often a crisis line where you can talk directly to a member of the team or psychiatric nurse.
Contact the local psychiatric crisis line
Many mental health trusts have an out of hour’s crisis line. This is usually for use of patients but can be used by carers in times of crisis. Sometimes this is answered by a member of the crisis resolution team but other times is answered by a psychiatric nurse, often in the local psychiatric hospital who can advise you or access additional services.
Take the person you are concerned about to A&E / Casualty
Sometimes A&E staff will be able to call the duty psychiatrist to see someone who is having mental health difficulties. This might result in admission. Going to an A&E department can involve a long wait in sometimes distressing circumstances.
Contact NHS direct
Depending on the circumstances, NHS Direct may be able to call your GP and emphasise that you are dealing with someone with a psychiatric crisis and request a home visit.
The GP
The GP can refer someone to a psychiatrist or to the local community mental health team as well as prescribing medication or arranging talking treatments. It may be helpful to ask for a home visit if you live with the person you are worried about. If you are in crisis during the night, most GPs have a 24 hour ‘out of hours’ telephone number. You will usually not be able to talk to a specific GP so they will not know your circumstances. Because of this you will need to give them a good description of the situation making it clear what you want to happen; for instance, if you want them to come out. Some GPs will not help unless the patient directly requests it. This can cause problems if the person involved is convinced that they are not unwell (sometimes called a lack of insight) or does not want professional intervention. Some GPs are very good but often GPs knowledge of mental illness is limited and they are insufficiently aware of the need for prompt action.
Ask to see a community psychiatric nurse (CPN)
Community psychiatric nurses often work with GP practices or mental health centres and some can be seen on request. They should be familiar with all forms of mental illness and know how to access help.
Contact the local community mental health team (CMHT)
This may result in help especially if you or the person you are concerned about is already known to the team. In some areas the local team will only help if the person has been referred by the GP.
Contact the crisis resolution team
The crisis team deal with people both known to the mental health services as well as those that are not. As well as crises they act beforehand to prevent a person needing to go into hospital. However, if they do need admission, they can arrange this. They usually aim to see someone within a few hours of referral. Referral can be made by a GP or psychiatrist, but sometimes by a carer or the person themselves. There is often a crisis line where you can talk directly to a member of the team or psychiatric nurse.
Contact the local psychiatric crisis line
Many mental health trusts have an out of hour’s crisis line. This is usually for use of patients but can be used by carers in times of crisis. Sometimes this is answered by a member of the crisis resolution team but other times is answered by a psychiatric nurse, often in the local psychiatric hospital who can advise you or access additional services.
Take the person you are concerned about to A&E / Casualty
Sometimes A&E staff will be able to call the duty psychiatrist to see someone who is having mental health difficulties. This might result in admission. Going to an A&E department can involve a long wait in sometimes distressing circumstances.
Contact NHS direct
Depending on the circumstances, NHS Direct may be able to call your GP and emphasise that you are dealing with someone with a psychiatric crisis and request a home visit.
