Recently I was tasked with looking at our stats to identify some of the most common enquiries we receive at our Mental Health Information Service. I thought it would be interesting to share my findings with a wider audience. I’ll also provide some typical responses to the queries and who knows, there may actually be an answer to a question that a reader has wanted to ask for ages!
Enquiries come in to our service via telephone, email or in person – and from absolutely anybody with an interest in mental health in Powys. We also receive a lot of enquiries from people outside Powys surprisingly, but these usually relate to services available within Powys, and are made because Powys residents are currently living away from home, for whatever reason, but still have links with providers of the health services in Powys or family and friends here.
Sometimes we are asked a question which totally throws us – and then in our team we have to don our private eye deerstalker caps and do a little bit of investigative work. But those unusual and often intriguing topics are really probably the subject of another post!
So, without further ado, here are some of our most common enquiries:
I’m concerned about the mental health of a close family member. What should I do?
Whether a mother, sister, son or nephew – or any other relative for that matter – spotting that a close family member is struggling can be upsetting and hard. What can you do to help? The person concerned may not be ready to accept help. They may have received support in the past, recovered and now relapsed. They may already have put mechanisms in place to help themselves, or they may be really struggling and crying out for help in all kinds of ways.
One thing is sure. Families are all different and relationships within any of them can be complex. No two enquiries about families will ever be the same, but there are many common themes:
That there are long waiting lists for talking therapies in all parts of Wales is generally well known, but people still need to talk and will go to great lengths to investigate all the options. One of our guest authors wrote Finally receiving treatment – a personal view which documents one journey. We were being asked so often about alternative options that we decided to set up a webpage dedicated just to this – How to find talking therapy or counselling in Powys. Here you can find links to the charities locally offering counselling, plus an extensive list of counselling directories – everything from the Buddhists’ Therapy Database to the Hynotherapy Directory.
I think I need a mental health advocate – what do they do and how do I find one?
If an individual in contact with mental health services feels they’re receiving the wrong treatment, or wants someone to support them at a meeting or tribunal, for example, then they may be eligible for free support from an independent mental health advocate.
Advocacy is all about taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights and obtain the services that they need. Mental health advocacy in Powys is available to:
Moving is one of the most stressful things we do, so combine that with pre-existing mental distress and understandably people are keen to find out what they can do to make the move easier.
And to round off this post, one of our all-time top asks! How do you find your local CMHT? Especially when there are five different teams covering this enormous county which is Powys, not just one?
If you didn’t already know, the five teams are based in Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Brecon and Ystradgynlais.
And the best way to find each CMHT’s contact details is by checking out our webpage Getting help and support in Powys.
And that's the end of this round up of some of our top questions! If you have a question for our Information Service which isn't answered in this blog post, then please get in touch by ringing 01686 628300 or 01597 822191 or email: mailto:mentalhealth@pavo.org.uk
I’m concerned about the mental health of a close family member. What should I do?
Whether a mother, sister, son or nephew – or any other relative for that matter – spotting that a close family member is struggling can be upsetting and hard. What can you do to help? The person concerned may not be ready to accept help. They may have received support in the past, recovered and now relapsed. They may already have put mechanisms in place to help themselves, or they may be really struggling and crying out for help in all kinds of ways.
One thing is sure. Families are all different and relationships within any of them can be complex. No two enquiries about families will ever be the same, but there are many common themes:
- How do we get help from statutory health services (the NHS)? The first port of call is the GP. After that – there are various options which are outlined on Getting help & support in Powys.
- Where can my relative go to meet people going through similar experiences? There are mental health orientated voluntary groups all around Powys running all kinds of activities and training sessions – find the one nearest to you. They welcome new members.
- I really want to help, but I’m exhausted myself. Family members who provide an informal caring role can find support in Powys at Credu Connecting Carers.
That there are long waiting lists for talking therapies in all parts of Wales is generally well known, but people still need to talk and will go to great lengths to investigate all the options. One of our guest authors wrote Finally receiving treatment – a personal view which documents one journey. We were being asked so often about alternative options that we decided to set up a webpage dedicated just to this – How to find talking therapy or counselling in Powys. Here you can find links to the charities locally offering counselling, plus an extensive list of counselling directories – everything from the Buddhists’ Therapy Database to the Hynotherapy Directory.
I think I need a mental health advocate – what do they do and how do I find one?
If an individual in contact with mental health services feels they’re receiving the wrong treatment, or wants someone to support them at a meeting or tribunal, for example, then they may be eligible for free support from an independent mental health advocate.
Advocacy is all about taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights and obtain the services that they need. Mental health advocacy in Powys is available to:
- Those residents who are currently inpatients on a mental health hospital ward. That could be within Powys (Felindre Ward at Bronllys Hospital) or in another county (for example, North Powys residents may be at the Redwoods Centre in Shrewsbury in England). This service is provided by Conwy & Denbighshire Mental Health Advocacy Service. Don’t be put off by their service name – CADMHAS do cover Powys!
- People in contact with what are known as “secondary” mental health services, so they live in their community but receive support from, for example, a community psychiatric nurse or psychiatrist. There are advocates in the North and South of the county provided by the Powys Independent Mental Health Advocacy Service who can support them.
Moving is one of the most stressful things we do, so combine that with pre-existing mental distress and understandably people are keen to find out what they can do to make the move easier.
- If someone is already receiving support from a Community Mental Health Team in another part of the United Kingdom, then it’s a really good idea to liaise with that team well before the move takes place. That way the old CMHT can link up with the new team and the transfer will work so much more seamlessly.
- Otherwise, the route for a newcomer to Powys into mental health services is pretty much the same as it would be for anyone already resident in the county – a visit to the GP will be top of the list. However, there is an exception to this – which is available for people moving to Powys from another part of Wales. The mental health law in Wales (Mental Health (Wales) Measure) states that if people have been discharged by secondary mental health services during the past three years then they can go straight back to the mental health service which was looking after them before and ask them to check whether they need any further help or treatment.
And to round off this post, one of our all-time top asks! How do you find your local CMHT? Especially when there are five different teams covering this enormous county which is Powys, not just one?
If you didn’t already know, the five teams are based in Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Brecon and Ystradgynlais.
And the best way to find each CMHT’s contact details is by checking out our webpage Getting help and support in Powys.
And that's the end of this round up of some of our top questions! If you have a question for our Information Service which isn't answered in this blog post, then please get in touch by ringing 01686 628300 or 01597 822191 or email: mailto:mentalhealth@pavo.org.uk
PS: We have our deerstalker caps at the ready!
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