Does not select just anybody : it affects everybody at least once in their lifetime

Mental Health sadly is still a stigma despite much research backed by evidence. We still separate general health from mental health, and yet, our bodies work in tandem with our brain. Our brain can be used to the detriment of others in being the most powerful weapon in the world i.e. whose idea was it to destroy the Twin Towers using aeroplanes and innocent people? But, it can also be used to our advantage i.e. Bill Gates designing the internet. In other words, we have the capacity to do anything if we put our minds to it i.e. mind over matter.  However, it is imperative we take into account our emotions. Our brain instructs our muscles but only because our emotions provoke a reaction. All done at lightening speed, it is difficult to work out who is the cause of what?

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy looks at causes [triggers] and effects, and then looks for evidence. In other words, if you feel or think things, take out the emotions, and look for the hard evidence.

[Expect up to 16 sessions]

Interpersonal Therapy looks at relationships and you. It is a very empowering therapy and constantly circumnavigates you as the individual dealing with others.

[Expect up to 12 sessions]

Counselling is reflective. In other words, sit and talk to a mirror. The counsellor often repeats what you have stated so you can hear it.  It does not solve problems but helps to identify them.

[Expect up to 6 sessions]

Sadly, we are fast approaching the time when most services we need have to paid for out of out own pocket. The cheapest route will be through medical insurance, as we have seen with dentistry.

Your, GP should be able to offer you the opportunity to be referred to a mental health specialist. He/she would assess you and signpost you to the most appropriate agency. This could be:

i.      Psychiatrist for Prescribed medication to those with chemical imbalances [Chronic depression. bi polar depression, drug induced psychosis, schizophrenia]

ii.     Psychologist to test and quantify results affecting behaviour,

iii     Psychotherapist to do long term therapy invariably dealing with childhood issues

iv.    Counsellor, who allows - the time and space to ventilate your thoughts and feelings to make sense of them OR

v      Psychiatric Nurse

Psychiatric nurses are better known for their role within the secondary care [Acute admissions, elderly rehab, and community care as the extension to the hospitals]. Dotted around the UK where there is money made available for primary care, you will find Link workers who work from GP surgeries. Not every county has them.

The emphasis is very much patient focus to allow as much control as possible to the patient rather than the NHS. If that is the case, professionals should always refer to their patients as CLIENTS. If you are a client and negotiating your plan, it requires a two person team as a minimum. Not all professionals in health will agree with this. Psychiatric nurses have always been encouraged to listen and talk with their clients to teach the clients tools to aid better mental health. The overall aim is to allow the client dignity and empowerment. It is sad then, those clients within primary care have few choices to help with their mental ill health, and are left to deteriorate. In other words, you need to be chronically ill over a long period of time, or exhibiting at risk behaviour to yourself or others to be admitted to hospital.