Services

The mental health & wellbeing team are part of your surgery team. We offer a variety of different services to support you holistically. We recognise that there is no 'one size fits all' approach, focusing on the things that matter to you, instead of what is 'wrong' with you.

What we offer:
General wellbeing support and advice for your mental and physical health

• Mood and symptom management
• A holistic, preventative, and proactive approach
• Support to make changes to your environment which may be acting as a barrier to making change, physical activity, and weight management.
• Signposting and referring to other wellbeing and health care services
• Support with setting and maintaining goals.

Team Roles:

(Please see leaflet for more detailed information regarding roles)

• Health & Wellbeing Coaching
• Social Prescribing
• Child & Young Person’s worker
• Occupational Therapist specialising in Mental Health
• Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

How we support you:

• Phone/video call support
• 1:1 face to face appointment
• Group wellbeing workshops
• The workshops are an introduction into how you can begin to make changes to your mental health, physical activity, diet, and behaviour change.
• We will be developing our workshops in the future to cover more specific concerns e.g. women’s health, sleep. Please speak with the team if there is something specific that you would like covered.

Although we discuss aspects of your mental health and its impact on your wellbeing, please understand we do not offer a counselling or therapy service. Therapy focuses on addressing mental health issues in more depth, whereas coaching assists individuals in working towards specific goals. If you think detailed conversations about your mental health and its effects on your life would be helpful, there are alternative services that would be better suited to provide the necessary support.

What we need from you:

• Readiness for change
• Commitment to attending sessions
• Willingness to try strategies outside of 1:1 sessions.

How to access our service:

Please speak with your GP or other practice staff and ask to be referred to our team.

What to expect:

Once we have received a referral from your GP, a member of the team will contact you, this is often by text in the first instance, and invite you to an initial assessment. It will be decided which role is most suited to you once this assessment has taken place. You will then be offered between 6 & 8 sessions to work on your Mental Health &/or Wellbeing.

How can I support my own Mental Health & Wellbeing whilst I’m waiting to be contacted?

We know that there may be times when you experience distress, concerns and worries. It is important at these times to know where, when and how you can access support.

If you need to talk:

Mental Health Matters (0800 470 03 17) is a 24/7 service which provides emotional support to people experiencing difficulties with their mental health and an opportunity to talk to trained mental health professionals.

The Moorings Crisis Café provides a safe space for people to discuss their mental health. This support is available face to face and via telephone or email. Face to face appointments are available between 10am and 10:30pm Monday – Friday and 1:30pm-10:30pm at weekends. Wonford House, Exeter, EX2 5AF, devonexeter.mhm@nhs.net, 07990 790 920 or 07484 061 675

The Samaritans is a confidential listening and support service run by trained volunteers 24 hours a day. You can call them on 116 123. You can also email them and will receive a reply within 24 hours - jo@samaritans.org

Mental Health Crisis

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, a relapsing or first presentation of severe mental illness or feel at risk of harming yourself or others it is important that you reach out to someone. It is always best to do this before you act on any thoughts or urges. The Access and First Response Service are a 24 hour NHS service that can help to identify the most appropriate support for you during this time. Call 111 – select option 2.

If you have harmed yourself and need medical attention, you can contact 111 for advice on first aid. If you require more immediate assessment of your physical health due to a life-threatening condition you should call 999 or attend your local A&E department.

Other sources of support:

• Women’s wellbeing club – is a peer support group for women run by volunteers. It provides a safe space for women to share personal experiences and gain peer support. More information can be found at: www.womenswellbeingclub.co.uk
• Andy’s Man Club – is a peer support group for men who wish to share their experiences of mental health difficulties and gain support. More information can be found at: www.andysmanclub.co.uk
• Family and Friends – it is not unusual when people are struggling for them to tell us that they do not want to burden their family or loved ones. However your loved ones often tell us as clinicians that they wished you had reached out. Your family and friends can be an excellent source of support as they are often the ones who know you best.

Mental Health & Wellbeing Apps & Websites

• DistrACT app (support with self harm and suicide prevention) - https://www.expertselfcare.com/health-apps/distract/
• Stay Alive (Suicide prevention safety planning) https://www.stayalive.app/
• Calm app https://www.calm.com/
• Kooth app, Anonymous mental wellbeing support for young people https://www.kooth.com/
• NHS Every Mind Matters https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/
• MIND https://www.mind.org.uk/
• Rethink Mental Illness https://www.rethink.org/
• Campaign Against Living Miserably https://www.thecalmzone.net/