Treatment and support

This section is all about treatment, support and care. Mental health treatment covers a range of things people can do to get more control and a better quality of life. This includes things like talking therapies and alternatives to medication.

Talking therapies

This section gives information about talking therapies. It explains the different kinds of therapies available and how to get them. It also explains how you can get treatment on the NHS and privately. You might find this useful if you’re thinking about getting talking therapy. Or if you care for someone who is getting talking therapy.

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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment for severe symptoms of depression, mania and catatonia. This section explains what ECT is, when it is used and your rights to refuse this treatment.

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Complementary and alternative treatments for mental health

Some people with mental health problems find it helps to use complementary and alternative therapies. This section explains what they are, and how you can access them. This information is for people affected by mental illness in England who are 18 or over. And their carers, relatives and friends.

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Care Programme Approach (CPA)

The Care Programme Approach (CPA) is a package of care that may be used to plan your mental health care. This section explains what CPA is, when you should get and when it might stop.

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Social Care Care and support planning

If you are entitled to social care, you can plan what care and support you will get from your local authority (LA). This is called care and support planning. This section explains how you can plan your care, who is involved and when you have to pay for services. This section is for anyone with a mental illness that is entitled to social care from their LA. If you care for someone with mental illness, you may also find this information helpful.

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Social Care Assessment Under the Care Act 2014

If you have a mental illness you may need support from social services. This section explains who is eligible for social care support and how you can get an assessment from your local authority. Your local authority has to follow The Care Act 2014. This section is for anyone with a mental illness that would like support from their local authority. If you care for someone with mental illness who needs social care support you may find this information helpful too.

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Care home fees - who pays? Under the Care Act 2014

If you need residential care in a care home your local authority may ask you to pay towards the cost. This section looks at local authority rules on charging for residential accommodation. This section is an overview because the rules are complicated. This section is for people with mental illnesses and their carers.

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Recovery and mental illness

Recovery and mental illness means different things to different people. On this page, we focus on personal recovery. We suggest different support and ways that you can help your own recovery. We hope that this information will help you to work out what recovery means to you, and help you find ways in which you can focus on your recovery. This information is for adults affected by mental illness in England and their loved ones and carers. It’s also for anyone with an interest in this subject.

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GPs - What to expect from your doctor

This information is for people affected by mental illness in England who are 18 or over. It’s also for their carers, friends, relatives, and anyone interested in this subject A GP is a doctor that can give you treatment and care for your physical and mental health. This section explains how a GP decides what treatment and care to give you. And how to prepare for a GP appointment.

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Housing options - For adults living with mental illness

This page gives information on the different housing options available to people living with a mental illness. It is for people living with mental illness and their carers.

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100 Ways to Support Recovery

100 Ways to Support Recovery is a free practical guide for mental health professionals to work in a recovery-oriented way. Since publication in 2009, the first edition has been updated with references to new knowledge on how you can support someone with a mental illness.

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Staying well with bipolar

What’s the best way to stay well when you have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder? Our guide base on the personal experiences of 32 of our supporters can help you spot the early warning signs that you are become unwell, how to look after yourself and the treatment you might need.

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Empowering people - coaching for mental health recovery

This booklet can be used by all staff working in mental health services, and might be useful for anyone seeking to have supportive conversations with people who experience mental illness.

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Going into hospital for mental health treatment

You may need to go into hospital if you’re very unwell with a mental health problem. This section has practical information about going into hospital. Every hospital is different, so we can only give an overview of what you can expect. This information is for people affected by mental health problems in England who are 18 or over. It’s also for their carers, friends and relatives and anyone interested in this subject.

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Supported housing

This section explains the different types of supported housing that may be available in your area. Supported housing combines housing with support services. This can help people to live as independently as possible.

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NHS mental health teams (MHTs)

Mental health teams are part of the NHS. They support people living in the community who have complex or serious mental health problems. This section focusses on secondary mental health teams. What they can do to help you and how you can get referred to them. It also explains what to do if you have problems with your mental health team.

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Social care - Charging for non-residential services under the Care Act 2014

If you need social care, the local authority will decide if you need to pay towards the cost. This factsheet looks at when social services may charge you for non-residential care services you get in the community. This information is for adults affected by mental illness in England and their loved ones and carers. It’s also for anyone else interested in the subject.

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Social care - Direct payments

You may need support from social services if you have a mental illness or care for someone with a mental illness. Social services can give you money to pay for services that you need. This money is called ‘direct payments.’ This section explains who can get direct payments and what you can use them for. This section is for people who live with mental illness and their carers.

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