How do I support my patient’s mental health when they are:
- Feeling unable to cope, worried they may hurt themself or somebody else and/or experiencing suicidal feelings?
- In a mental health crisis – you suspect they are presenting with symptoms suggesting they may have an underlying mental health condition which requires secondary mental health care input.
For immediate help
If their life – or someone else’s life – is in immediate danger, please call 999 or go to A&E.
– For same day / next day urgent help: The patient needs help now
With the patient, call NHS 111, mental health option and get advice from a member of our staff who are based at the Central Access Point (CAP)
Or you can send an urgent PRISM referral, and CAP will call the patient directly within 4 or 24 hours dependent on risk. Please ensure that you put as much information in the referral as possible including an up to date telephone number for the patient, and your telephone number should they need any further information or you need a reply.
We have 25 Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafes across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. They are NHS funded, run by trusted voluntary sector partners and are free to attend for anyone over the age of 18. They offer immediate support, a listening ear, support groups and interventions such as coping strategies and wellness recovery plans.
Cafe details here including the opening times.
All cafes are on Joy and you can send your referral via Joy. You can add a message to your referral asking for the café to let you know if your patient has attended or not, or to update you on any outcomes.
– They already have a serious mental health condition
If they do, they may already be under the care of one of our Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams. There are eight teams and they look after patients presenting with:
- Bipolar disorder Schizophrenia; severe depression
- personality disorder; dual diagnosis
- Aspergers/autistic spectrum disorder (with a pre-existing mental health problem)
You can contact your local office to get advice.
Or your mental health practitioner can also provide the one-to-one support that your patient needs.
– The patient is in a crisis due to bereavement, debt, housing or another issue.
Your social prescriber may be able to put them in touch with a local service that can provide support.
If they are experiencing excessive worry, low mood, depression, anxiety or a lack of motivation then they can get free help from Talking Therapies.
Counselling from Talking Therapies or call 0330 094 5595 to start. They don’t need a GP referral to get started.
Free debt and money advice Citizens Advice LeicesterShire or call 0808 278 7970 (free, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm)
Risk of homelessness – in the city. Call 0116 454 1008 weekdays. Or 0116 221 2770 after hours and weekends.
Risk of homelessness – in the county
They can use the national helplines to talk to someone confidentially free of charge.
- Call the Samaritans on 116 123 (available 24/7).
- Call 123 Silverline (age 55+): 0800 470 80 90
- Call Childline (ages 19 and under): 0800 1111