Understanding
Mental Health
Services
Presented by:
On:
At:
Aims of this Session
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What are the mental health services?
How do they work?
Who works there?
What other services are available?
How to get the best from them?
The Day Hospital
Accessing the Psychiatric Day Hospital
• Referral by GP
• Initial appointment (assessment)
• Development of initial care plan
Either:
-Further specialist intervention and care
planning,
Or:
-No further specialist intervention required
Accessing the Psychiatric Day Hospital
Staff in the Day Hospital
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Psychiatrist
Community Mental Health Nurse
Occupational Therapist
Social Worker
Clinical Psychologist
Addiction Counsellor
Medical Secretary
Staff in the Day Hospital:
Psychiatrist
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Medical Doctor
Specialist in treating mental health difficulties
Clinical Lead of the team
Work in collaboration with the Multidisciplinary team
• Supported by two other doctors
• All are qualified to prescribe specialist
medication
Staff in the Day Hospital:
Community Mental Health Nurse
• Supporting people experience acute and/or
enduring distress
• Assessing people and discussing best ways of
meeting their needs
• Providing education and
support around medication
• Working with the person and their family
• Arranging referral to other team members
Staff in the Day Hospital:
Occupational Therapist
• Assist the person to reach optimum level of
independence & to have a productive and
satisfying lifestyle
• Evaluating and adapting the
home environment
• Assist in developing leisure interests
• Training in activities of daily living
• Guidance and advice on employment
Staff in the Day Hospital:
Social Worker
• Offering individual and group support
programmes
• Providing family support
• Education and support to the
wider community
• Liaising and making referrals to other agencies
• Providing information and advice on welfare and
housing issues
• Advocating for people with other agencies
Staff in the Day Hospital:
Clinical Psychologist
• Specialist qualification in mental health
• Use psychological knowledge and techniques
• Address a range of emotional and
psychological problems
• Psychological assessment
• Use techniques e.g. CBT
• Work in partnership with client
• Usually over a number of sessions
Staff in the Day Hospital:
Addiction Counsellor
• Strengthen self-worth
• Find positive ways to manage stressful events and
emotions
• Learn how to react to common substance and
behavioural triggers
• Develop practical skills for dealing
with cravings
• Assist the individual with rebuilding
trusting relationships with others
• Become responsible and compliant with other
treatment plans
Staff in the Day Hospital:
Medical Secretary
• Answers all telephone enquiries
• Liaises with members of the team
• Responds to general enquiries about the
service
• Provides clerical support to the team
• Arranges all medical appointments
• Reception duties
Voluntary Services
Please see handout for contact details
• AWARE
• Reach Out
• Please Talk
• Pieta House
• Aras Follain
• Samaritans
• GROW
• Shine
• Le Cheile
Getting the best from Services:
Challenges
1. For Family &
Carers
2. For Staff
members
3. For Service
users
Challenges for Family & Carers
• Patience
• Understanding
• Learning about
the illness
• Giving support
• Communication
between
professionals
and family
• Difficult jargon
• Empathy
Challenges for Staff Members
• Time constraints
• Volume of
workload
• Conflict in teams
• Carer fatigue
• Resource issues
• Burnout
• Challenging
behaviour
• Vicarious trauma
Challenges for Service Users
• Access issues
• Resource issues
• Identifying most
appropriate supports
• Following up aftercare
plan
• Communication on both
sides
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Lack of knowledge
Fear
Stigma
Money
Knowing where to go
Knowing your rights
Getting the Best from Services:
How to:
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Keeping appointments
Prepare for appointments
Getting to know the person
Connecting
Online resources
Open & honest about
symptoms
Do your research
Putting in the time
Accepting the diagnosis
Use other services while
waiting
• Give all the information to
the service provider
• Filling time between
appointments
• Communication
• Persistence
• Knowing about MDT
• Private Care- quicker access
• GP
• Family support
• Asking for extra help
Thank you!
References
• http://www.addictioncounsellors.ie/aboutcounselling
• http://www.psihq.ie/page/art/65/0