Your GP surgery now has a general practice mental health practitioner.
You can book an appointment with them directly without first seeing your GP.
What are General Practice Mental Health Practitioners?
General Practice Mental Health Practitioners have joined the multi-disciplinary team within your GP practice. They will work with you to help improve your mental health and wellbeing through early intervention, prevention and management of mental health issues, using a range of approaches to achieve this.
Good mental health is just as important as good physical health. One in four people in Northern Ireland will experience problems that negatively affect their mental health. While the things which affect your mental health can be very complex, there are many things that can be done to help support your mental wellbeing.
Your mental health practitioner can provide you with the tools and appropriate support that will enable you to improve and maintain good mental health and wellbeing.
If you are concerned about your mental health, you should seek support at the earliest opportunity.
How can a Mental Health Practitioner help you?
Your mental health practitioner is an expert who can:
- Provide an initial assessment
- Advise on management of your mental health
- Offer short term treatment
- Direct you to appropriate services
- Refer you to specialist mental health services
The mental health practitioner will work with you to ensure that you have the right support at the right time. They can offer a range of brief interventions to help you to self-manage common mental health problems.
Where you require on-going support, they will ensure that you access services that will enable you to address your individual mental health needs. These services may be in your local community or provided by your Health and Social Care Trust.
Is this service right for me?
Yes, if you are concerned about your mental health and wellbeing. Examples may be:
- Stress
- Coping with bereavement
- Addiction issues (alchohol/drug/gambling etc)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts
- Panic attacks
- Excessive worrying or negative thoughts