THE BEST MEDICINE

For someone living with mental health issues, loneliness and isolation and a lack of hope can cause feelings of panic and hopelessness. They may turn to their mental health team or visit accident and emergency departments in a desperate bid for help.

But the best medicine often lies elsewhere. On Merseyside an army of experts from voluntary organisations has teamed up with health professionals caring for people with enduring mental health problems to offer more than medication.

Under this new scheme, the person may be matched up with a support worker, welcomed to social groups where they can meet new people, or take up activities such as angling, yoga, or dancing.

The aim is for people to have ongoing one to one support – someone to encourage, help them embark on new opportunities and be there in times of need.

The programme reflects national changes to bring ongoing care after diagnosis in line with the sort of care and support people receive for a physical health issue.

Rebecca Taylor is head of operations for the programme within Mersey Care.

She explains: “If someone went to their GP with a heart problem, they would be referred to a cardiac specialist team to be assessed, diagnosed and perhaps given medication or more investigations. But they would also receive ongoing diet and lifestyle support to help them stay as well as they can.

“We will always provide clinical care, but we can’t help people build personal relationships; to get back into their local community and become involved in social activities that will prevent them becoming more unwell in the future.

“Now, through this programme, we can instantly refer to experts in voluntary organisations who can give that continuous personal support that can help someone stay well and be there if they have a setback.”

“Someone with a mental health issue would be assessed, diagnosed, then be placed in the care of a community mental health team, perhaps with medication. But mental illness can cause people to become isolated from friends, family and their community. When someone is in crisis, they call their mental health team or go to their local A&E department.

Since the programme launched in 2022, success stories are plentiful, with people making friends, engaging in new activities and reducing medication. Some are now working towards complete discharge and others are considering volunteering within the groups they joined – another huge step forward in their recovery.

Rebecca says it’s made a big difference to both patients and health professionals. “It means people are getting the right type of help, and we can spend more time with those who most need clinical support.”

Read Paula’s story. Page 29.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Mersey Care is working closely with the following voluntary organisations to support people with severe and enduring mental health problems who are in the care of their local community health team:

Age Concern Liverpool and Sefton

Tel: 0151 330 5678 ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk

One to one support for individuals by building personalised community programmes.

Evolving Mindset

Kirkby and South Liverpool evolvingmindset.co.uk

Email: evolvingmindset@outlook.com

Connecting with people recently referred to their GP to help manage their mental health, reduce isolation and loneliness, develop skills and live independently.

Imagine Independence

Liverpool and Sefton 0151 709 2366