World Mental Health Day: These Northamptonshire services can be used without seeing a doctor first

Today is World Mental Health Day, which an annual day dedicated to global mental health education and awareness.

This year's theme is suicide prevention, for which Northamptonshire's NHFT has created a webpage to help provide advice, support and signposting to where anyone can find help.

Listed below are just a few of the services that anyone can self-refer to in Northamptonshire.

This means the services below can be accessed directly without the need to see a healthcare professional first.

Suffering with depression or anxiety?Service name: Changing Minds IAPTOverview: Working within GP surgeries and in other community areas, IAPT provide structured support to those over the age of 17 and a half who experience common mental health problems which impact on their wellbeing. These might include depression, anxiety, phobia, ObsessiveCompulsive Disorder or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.How to access this service: Referrals can be made by your GP or you can refer yourself directly by calling on 0300 999 1616 (9 to 5 weekdays) or by filling in the online form on www.nhft.nhs.uk/iapt Outcome: treatments may vary dependent on individual needs, however example treatments may include; live online wellbeing course, online supported cognitive, behavioural therapy (CBT) or self- help interventions.

Are you in a crisis or need support with your mental health outside of 9 to 5 hours?Service name: Mental health Crisis CafésOverview: these mental health crisis cafes are run by local Mind organisations and are supported by NHFT. When attending a Crisis Café a MIND peer support worker and a NHFT mental health professional will be available to provide support to anyone 18 or over who are finding themselves in a crisis or need support with their mental health. They provide support for mental health issues to anyone in need by offering coping mechanisms and management techniques to help reduce the risk of crisis.How to access this service: simply drop in to one of the Northamptonshire locations to receive support. For all locations, dates and times please visit: www.nhft.nhs.uk/crisis-cafeOutcome: support will help reduce any immediate crisis and to safety plan to manage their mental health and wellbeing. As well as this, professionals can also refer and direct you to further services if required.

Mental health support in A&E acute hospital wardsService name: Acute Liaison Mental Health ServiceOverview: the service supports people over the age of 18 with mental health needs who are attending A&E or are inpatients at Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital. It also provides support for those who have physical health needs which affect their mental health.How to access this service: services are based at Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital and support referrals from their A&E departments and inpatient wards.Outcome: you will receive an assessment, support, brief interventions and discharge planning. Staff will work through what further help you may need and draw up a plan of care, it may be that you are referred to psychological therapy within the service if deemed appropriate from the assessment.

Wellbeing supportService name: Mental Health NavigatorsOverview: provides support in the community to help people over the age of 18 years, improve their general wellbeing. The service is designed for people experiencing difficulties with their emotional wellbeing – stress, anxiety, depression or recovering from a mental health condition.How to access this service: referrals can be made from GP’s as well as other healthcare professionals and self-referrals direct to the team. For help and advice with self-referrals please call 01604 658813, email [email protected] or visit www.nhft.nhs.uk/navigatorsOutcome: treatments may vary dependent on individual needs, however example treatments may include; motivational interviewing, 1-1 support, counselling and group work.