Care Professionals

Some people who experience Mental Health Problems:
Mental Health Problems arise when a problem, life event or situation, disrupts the way we think and feel. This can either be temporary – for example, following a bereavement – or be more enduring. Mental health problems can include suffering stress, constant worrying…
moremental health problems may only ever get support from their GP Doctor. Others may be referred to a psychiatrist or ask to see one.

Meanwhile, modern care methods recognize that you might need more than just medical help to assist you in your journey to recovery.

Community Mental Health Teams
Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN)
Counsellors (and Psychotherapists)
GP Doctors
Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Public Health Nurses / Health Visitors

Community Mental Health Teams

Community Mental Health Teams look after the welfare of people who need more attention for their Mental Health Problems:
Mental Health Problems arise when a problem, life event or situation, disrupts the way we think and feel. This can either be temporary – for example, following a bereavement – or be more enduring. Mental health problems can include suffering stress, constant worrying…
moremental health problemsthan a GP doctor can provide. The make-up of care teams varies from area to area and according to the needs of the individual. Teams can include psychiatrists, psychologists, community psychiatric nurses, health visitors and housing and welfare officers.

Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPN)

CPNs are registered psychiatric nurses who work in the community to provide care for people with Mental Health Problems:
Mental Health Problems arise when a problem, life event or situation, disrupts the way we think and feel. This can either be temporary – for example, following a bereavement – or be more enduring. Mental health problems can include suffering stress, constant worrying…
moremental health problems. They can help in a number of ways including by giving practical advice, supportive Counselling (and Psychotherapy):
Counselling broadly involves talking to an experienced listener about the feelings associated with areas of difficulty. It is particularly appropriate where…
morecounselling, giving injections and supervising medication.

Counsellors (and Psychotherapists)

Counselling broadly involves talking to an experienced listener about the feelings that exist around areas of difficulty. It is particularly appropriate where specific events or circumstances are seen to have caused a Depression:
Not just a "bad mood", depression is all-pervasive, goes on for more than a few days and affects the day-to-day life of a person. Depression is the most common mental illness and is experienced by around one in six of the population at some time. Symptoms can include…
moredepression.

There are many different techniques and disciplines available. Reputable counsellors and psychotherapists are registered with the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA) or The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). Contact COSCA or the BACP to find a therapist near you.

The need to try different approaches:

As with other kinds of treatment, it can take time to find which approach or practitioner is best for each individual. Different practitioners have different areas of speciality and levels of expertise.

Treatments can last a long or a short time:
Talking therapies and psychotherapies can be conducted in blocks or 'courses' or can be open ended and ongoing. As with drug treatments, beneficial effects are not usually immediate and can take some time to become noticeable.

GP’s

Your GP should be your first port of call if you have any health worries. They can look at your overall health to see if there might be physical causes behind any mental health problems you might be experiencing. They can refer you to a wide range of services and other specialists.

The amount of time GP doctors have to spend with each patient can be quite brief, however.

To get the most from your visit, read our notes on seeing a doctor about a mental health problem.

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are specialists in mental health. They make diagnoses, decisions about treatment and care, and prescribe psychiatric drugs. Increasingly, psychiatrists are encouraged to work in partnership with other agencies, such as Social Work Departments and voluntary organisations, which have an interest in the wellbeing of the person.

Psychologists

Psychologists are experts in human behaviour. They can help to work through the way people act in certain situations (behavioural therapy). They can also help people to work through the way they think in certain situations (cognitive therapy).

Public Health Nurses / Health Visitors

Public Health Nurses used to be called Health Visitors. They work in the community and visit people who are being cared for in their own homes or other residential settings to make sure that they are being given the care and support that they need. They work alongside other members of Community Mental Health Teams, such as community psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists.