Bersted Green Surgery

Mental Health

One in four people in the UK have a mental health problem at some point in their lives.
Good mental and emotional health is important at every stage of life.
Mental health and emotional well being affect how we think, feel, act, handle stress, relate to others, make choices and manage our physical health.

Ways to maintain positive mental health include

  • Getting professional help if you need it
  • Connecting with others
  • Staying positive
  • Getting physically active
  • Helping others
  • Getting enough skills
  • Developing skills

Mental health disorders take many different forms and affect people in different ways. Depression, Anxiety, Psychosis, Eating Disorders and Personality Disorders are all examples of mental health problems.

Diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia generally develop in older age.

Help with Alcohol and Substance Misuse

Are you worried you are drinking too much?

Follow the link to check to see if your intake is within the safe limit; get the facts about alcohol and tips for staying safe

Anyone needing advice or information about drugs can follow the link to ‘Talk to Frank’

If you have a drug or alcohol problem and want professional help contact the local service Change Grow Live (CGL) and make an appointment.

Young people needing advice about drugs or alcohol can also go to the Health Section of the Your Space website.

Help for Children and Young People

Useful advice and resources

An A-Z Complete index of information on all mental disorders; advice for all ages; advice for parents at the Royal College of Psychiatrists Smart Phone App

Local advice for young people on all matters of life, leisure and health at YourSpace

Advice and information on drugs for young people and parents at Talk to Frank

Integration Prevention and Earliest Help

Integrated Prevention and Earliest Help (IPEH) is available to support families and children with all sorts of problems that can affecting emotional health, behaviour, early or mild mental health problems. IPEH professionals can create an Early Help Plan.

Early Help Plans

What is an Early Help Plan (EHP)?

It is a combination of:

  • the assessment
  • the outcomes everyone hopes to achieve, including the child/ren or young person/s
  • the action plan

Following an assessment, the next step is to agree with the family what would improve their situation, and think of actions that could start to make things better.

School Counselling

School Counselling and support can be found through your child’s school.

Ask to talk to the form teacher, the head teacher or the head of pastoral care for advice. They should be able to explain how your child can access the help that is available.

Schools can initiate an Early Help Plan, which helps children, and their families get access to help when emotions and behaviours are difficult to manage.

Youth Emotional Support

Youth Emotional Support (YES) is a free service for young people aged 11-18 who have issues that affect their wellbeing.

YES can help with issues such as-

  • Self-harming
  • Low mood and mild depression
  • Anxiety
  • Low Self-esteem

To for advice and access to the YES service ask at the Chichester Find it Out Centre at New Park Road, Chichester, PO19 7XY.

Telephone: 01243 538587

More about the Find it Out Centre at YourSpace website for young people

Young Peoples’ Mental Health is also support by Coastal West Sussex MIND

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)


CAMHS is a specialist service provided for child and young people under the age of 18, who have moderate or severe mental health conditions or for a child or young person who is having suicidal thoughts or behaviours. 

Children and Young people usually get referred to CAMHS when other support or approaches have not helped and when two or more areas of life are affected eg at school and at home. 

Although GPs can refer to CAMHS, you don’t need to see a GP to find out if your child is eligible to be referred to CAMHS-

The professional who works with your child or knows the most about them eg the Teacher, School Counsellor, the School Nurse, a Social Worker is the best person to contact the Community MH Liaison Service advice line to discuss the best way forward. 

Community Mental Health Liaison Service (CMHLS) is an advice and guidance line available for any professional working with a child or young person under the age of 18, who is experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

CMHLS advice line Tel number: 03003 040304

Email: [email protected]

Psychosis

Psychosis in a Young Person can be very worrying and frightening

Getting professional help as soon as possible leads to to the best chance of recovery

A young person developing psychosis will have their own unique set of symptoms and experiences, according to  their particular circumstances.

If you are concerned that you or a young person close to you might be suffering from a psychosis, follow the link, check the signs and symptoms and talk to the GP or phone the Early Intervention in Psychosis Service for advice and access to help.

Four main symptoms are associated with a psychotic episode:

  • hallucinations
  • delusions
  • confused and disturbed thoughts
  • lack of insight and self-awareness

For a young person causing concern with possible psychosis symptoms anyone can refer them or they can refer themselves to- 

Early Intervention Psychosis Service (EIP)

The Bedale Centre, 1 Glencathara Rd, Bognor Regis PO21 2SF.

Telephone: 03003 040374

For more information look at the EIP website, Is anyone else like me

Urgent Mental Health Care

If you are very concerned and feel that you or someone you know needs urgent mental health care, contact-

  • Your GP between 8AM and 6.30PM on weekdays 01243 608201
  • 111, A&E or 999 if outside these hours

If you are thinking about suicide and no one is available to help, ring the Samaritans on 116 123. They available to listen and give support and to 24 hours a day, everyday.

Depression and Anxiety

Suffering symptoms of depression or anxiety is unfortunately very common.

People can experience the symptoms of mild, moderate or severe depression or anxiety or a combination of both.

Depression is diagnosed if a person feels down, depressed or hopeless for more than 50% of the time and finds it very difficult to enjoy activities that they would normally find enjoyable.

People with anxiety often feel restless and on edge; they experience a sense of dread, irritability and have difficulty concentrating.

Anxiety causes high levels of adrenaline to be released which causes physical symptoms like dizziness, heart palpitations, muscle tension, shaking, dry mouth, sweating, nausea, insomnia, pins and needles and headaches.

Anxiety can affect people in different ways and in different areas of their lives.

Subtypes of Anxiety Conditions

Here are some links about the subtypes of anxiety conditions: (This list is not exhaustive.)


Click here for further advice
Click here for explanations of therapies more self help resources 

The Royal College of Psychiatrists have developed a smart phone app with masses of resources giving advice and information about mental health problems, how to understand them and the treatments strategies available.

Help for recovery from depression and anxiety disorders 

Help for recovery from depression and anxiety disorders includes:

Help for post natal depression

Click on the link to this really helpful video explains that there is help available for Mum’s and families affected by postnatal depression. Please don’t suffer in silence-ask your midwife, health visitor or GP for help and they can refer you to the Sussex Perinatal Mental Health Service for an assessment. 

Sussex Mental Healthline

For telephone support and information from the Sussex Mental Healthline ring 0300 5000 101

Available 24 hours, seven days a week in West Sussex.

The Sussex Mental Healthline is a telephone service offering support and information to anyone experiencing mental health problems including stress, anxiety and depression.

The service is also available to carers and healthcare professionals. You do not need an appointment.

  • They are a service available to anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend.
  • They provide support for people experiencing distress.

Please note this is a limited service, if you are in urgent need of help see urgent help in a crisis.

Eating Disorders 

An eating disorder is when you have an unhealthy attitude to food, which can take over your life and make you ill.

It can involve eating too much or too little, or becoming obsessed with your weight and body shape.

It’s often really difficult to admit to other people that you have a problem with food and body image. People often mixed feelings about coming for help.

Treatments

There are treatments that can help, and you can recover from an eating disorder.

Men and women of any age can get an eating disorder, but they most commonly affect young women aged 13 to 17 years old.

Click here for more information on types of eating disorders and how to know if you or someone close to you may have one.

Screening Tool

Try out the Screening tool below to see if you need to see your GP to talk about your problem

  1. Do you make yourself Sick because you feel full?
  2. Do you worry you’ve lost Control over how much you eat?
  3. Have you recently lost more than One stone (14 pounds) in a three-month period?
  4. Do you believe yourself to be Fat when others say you are too thin?
  5. Would you say that Food dominates your life?

Answering Yes to 2 or more of these questions suggests further assessment is needed.

Eating Disorders Services 

Children and Young People Aged 10-18 yrs

If you are aged between 10-18 years old, anyone can refer you to the Children, Young People and Families Eating Disorder Service (CYPFEDS) 

Referral to CYPFEDS can come from yourself, a family member or carer, a school nurse, a GP/ paediatrician, someone at your school/college, a Youth support worker or your counsellor.

People Aged Over 18 years

West Sussex Eating Disorder Service treats adults with eating disorders.

At the moment you can’t refer yourself so you need to make an appointment with the GP who will need to see you and access your physical and emotional health before making a referral for you.

Support and Advice

Organisations that give support and advice for eating disorders:

BEAT

Men Get Eating Disorders Too

Recovery college courses are available to help you with your recovery.

Sussex Mental Healthline

Sussex Mental Healthline: for telephone support and information dial 03005 000101

Available 24 hours, seven days a week in West Sussex.

The Sussex Mental Healthline is a telephone service offering support and information to anyone experiencing mental health problems including stress, anxiety and depression. The service is also available to carers and healthcare professionals. You do not need an appointment.

  • We are a service available to anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend.
  • We provide support for people experiencing distress. Please note this is a limted service, if you are in urgent need of help see urgent help in a crsis.

Having problems with memory and difficulty thinking clearly

What’s Normal, What’s Not, and When to Seek Help

Memory and ageing

Age-Related Memory Loss

Forgetfulness is a common complaint among older adults. You start to talk about a movie you saw recently when you realize you can’t remember the title. You’re giving directions to your house when you suddenly blank on a familiar street name. You find yourself standing in the middle of the kitchen wondering what you went in there for.

Memory lapses can be frustrating, but most of the time they aren’t cause for concern. Age-related memory changes are not the same thing as dementia….Read more

If you are concerned that things are not right with you or someone close to you, make an appointment and your GP can assess you. Dementia is not the only cause of these difficulties. Age related memory loss is very common. Sometimes stress, depression or anxiety can cause similar symptoms. 

When you see the GP they will assess your memory and check you for physical or other mental health problems that could be causing the symptoms. This will include blood tests to check for previously undiagnosed issues like thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, anaemia, kidney or liver disease and diabetes all of which can have an affect on brain function. Treating or correcting any of these problems can improve symptoms. 

If you and your GP remain concerned you can be referred to our local memory service

The Memory Assessment Service (MAS)

Following referral your memory will be more formally tested and if concerns remain you will be referred for a CT scan of the brain. 

Once the scan has been carried out a follow up appointment will be made where results are given and if possible a diagnosis and a plan will be made.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition in which someone has minor problems with cognition – their mental abilities such as memory or thinking. In MCI these difficulties are worse than would normally be expected for a healthy person of their age. However, the symptoms are not severe enough to interfere significantly with daily life, and so are not defined as dementia…..Read more

Dementia

The word ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. These changes are often small to start with, but for someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life. A person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour.

Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or a series of strokes….Read more

If you or your loved one is diagnosed with a dementia they will be contacted by a Dementia Advisor from the Alzheimer’s Society.

You may see them straight after your MAS appointment or the Dementia Advisor will contact you as soon as possible afterwards.

You will also be assigned a Dementia Support Worker by the Alzheimer’s Society, who will provide support to any carers or relatives involved with you.

MAS also run an extensive group programme with talks eg Understanding Dementia, open to both the patient and their carer. 

Groups like the Cognitive Stimulation Group and Living Well With Dementia group, are available for the person with dementia.

Medication may be offered, the Memory Assessment Service doctor or Nurse Prescriber will provide you with a three month prescription and you will be reviewed during that period.

Once you are stabilised on your medication you will be discharged back to the care of your GP. 

Later if you or your loved one needs further support from specialist dementia services your GP can reassess and refer you back.

To access Social Care and Support contact WSCC Adults Care Point on Tel: 01243 642121

You can also contact the Adult Care Point if you have concerns that a vulnerable adult is at risk and needs safeguarding.

Visit WSCC Connect to Support for One Stop Shop for care and support

Alzheimer’s Society Tel: 0330 333 0804, email i[email protected] they provide info factsheets and books about dementia.

What about the carers?

Are you over 18 and looking after family or friends who are ill, frail or have another health concern? Do you feel the caring role is impacting on your own health and well being?

The Carers Health Team can offer professional support and guidance to maintain your own health and wellbeing. The team can visit you at home and check your general health and wellbeing. The service is provided by Sussex Community Foundation Trust.

Contact The Carers Health Team on Tel: 01243 623521 or email: [email protected] 

Carer’s Support West Sussex Tel: 0300 028 8888 Offers a full telephone assessment of the carer’s needs then advises on available local groups and support. 

Coastal West Sussex MIND Tel 01903 721893 or email at info@coastalwestsussexmind.org is an organisation offering support to people with all kinds of issues with their mental health.

Click this link to Chichester Careline Telephone 01243 778688 for advice on safety adaptations to the home for peace of mind.

Dementia Crisis

If you or your family are experiencing a crisis because of dementia and need help, phone-

  • Bersted Green Surgery 8AM till 6.30PM on 01243 864843
  • 111 outside those hours

Personality Disorder

Recognising Personality Disorder


How to recognise that you or someone close to you has a Personality Disorder:

  • Do you have a lack of a clear sense of ‘self’? – not being sure about who you are, what they are really like, possibly a distorted view of self in a very negative or conversely positive direction
  • Do you lack a good sense of ‘others’? – not sure about others, lacking trust and not understanding how people in general function
  • Do you have difficulties in your relationships with others? – for instance, with intimate partners, children, family or friends; are you in an abusive or abusing relationships
  • Do you struggle to get along in society in general? – do you find it difficult to maintain a job? deal with finances?  gain for education? stay out of trouble? Do you have  difficulties with substances (alcohol, illegal drugs)?
  • Do you sometimes struggle with controlling destructive behaviour (to self or others)? including self-harm, addictions, or other impulsive behaviours
  • Did problems start early in life and disrupt many domains across your life? Did you suffer early childhood trauma & neglect, abandonment

It is when the difficulties are long-term, and are present in most circumstances, disrupting the person’s life and those of others, that it can be seen as a problem requiring formal assessment, possible diagnosis of Personality Disorder and help from Mental Health Services.

More information and advice for people with Personality Disorders from the Royal College of Psychiatrists

An explanation of Personality disorders from MIND

If you think this fits with your problems, you are struggling to cope and feel that you are in need of help, your GP can assess you and refer you to the local mental health team at Chapel Street Assessment and Treatment Services (ATS) Chichester.

Help offered by the Mental Health ATS

Care co-ordination: This is provided for people with personality disorders from lead practitioners in the ATS, who can provide advice and support with issues such as housing, social care, employment. Lead practitioners work alongside clients and their carers to develop a care plan.

If you have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)/Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) you will initially be offered skills training and emotion management 

You may be offered a 20 week group treatment programme  STEPPS.

Families and carers may be invited to participate in the programme to help support you with your progress.

You may be offered individual evidence-based psychological therapy if it is thought to be helpful in your case e.g. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mentalisation, Interpersonal Therapy.

Recovery College Courses

Recovery college courses are available to help you with your recovery.

  • Support for Carers- Carers Support West Sussex  
  • Ask at the practice if you are a Carer for someone and would like a Carer’s Health Check 
  • Samaritans phone what ever your going through any time any day for free support tel 116 123

Mental Health Help in a Crisis

Sussex Mental Healthline: for telephone support and information. 0300 5000 101

Available 24 hours, seven days a week in West Sussex.

The Sussex Mental Healthline is a telephone service offering support and information to anyone experiencing mental health problems including stress, anxiety and depression. The service is also available to carers and healthcare professionals. You do not need an appointment.

  • We are a service available to anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend.
  • We provide support for people experiencing distress. Please note this is a limited service, if you are in urgent need of help see urgent help in a crisis.

Help for Psychosis

Symptoms

Someone  developing psychosis will have their own unique set of symptoms and experiences, according to  their particular circumstances.

Four main symptoms are associated with a psychotic episode:

  • hallucinations
  • delusions
  • confused and disturbed thoughts
  • lack of insight and self-awareness

If you are concerned that you or someone close to you might be suffering from a psychosis, follow this link, check the signs and symptoms and talk to the GP for advice and access to help.

If the person causing concern is between 14-64 yrs old and this might be the first episode of psychosis anyone can refer them or they can refer themselves to-  

Early Intervention Psychosis Service (EIP)
At the Bedale Centre, 1 Glencathara Rd, Bognor Regis PO21 2SF.
On tel 0300 3040374

For more information look at the EIP website, Is anyone else like me

If you are very concerned and feel that your mental heath or the mental health of someone you know needs urgent, attention contact-

  • Your GP between 8 am and 6.30 pm on weekdays
  • 111, A&E or 999 if outside these hours

If you are thinking about suicide and no one is available to help ring the Samaritans on 116 123. They available to listen and give support and to 24 hours a day, everyday.

Recovery college courses are available to help you with your recovery

Sussex Mental Healthline

Sussex Mental Healthline: for telephone support and information. 0300 5000 101

Available 24 hours, seven days a week in West Sussex.

The Sussex Mental Healthline is a telephone service offering support and information to anyone experiencing mental health problems including stress, anxiety and depression. The service is also available to carers and healthcare professionals. You do not need an appointment.

Please note this is a limited service, if you are in urgent need of help see urgent help in a crisis.