Mental Health
Mental health is about how we think, feel and behave. One in four people in the UK have a mental health problem at some point in their lives, which affects their daily life, relationships or physical health.
Mental health disorders take many different forms and affect people in different ways. Schizophrenia, depression and personality disorders are all examples of mental health problems. Diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia generally develop in old age, whereas eating disorders are more common in young people.
If you or a family member are affected by issues surrounding mental health and would like support and/or advice, please contact the surgery to make an appointment with one of our GP's.
Accessing Support
In Hertfordshire, there are a number of self referral services available, which are accessible without needing to see a GP.
General Health Checks
If you are affected by a mental health disorder and are interested in having a health check to assess your overall general health, please follow the steps below.
There are two stages to completing your a health check...
1) Attend for a blood test - when you are invited for your review or if you have been sent a link to this page - a online pathology request will have been made for you. Please attend either QEII, Lister or Hertford County Hospital to have the blood sample taken. It is a fasting test - this means no food for 12 hours before the test, but please drink plenty of water.
2) Complete the 'Health Check' questionnaire - please log in to SystmOnline to complete - click here to log in. You can request log in details at reception or via the 'Contact Us' section of our website. Alternatively, you can download and print the form below or you cancollect a paper copy from reception.
Once your completed form and blood results are received, it will be reviewed by a clinician to see if any further action is required. You will then be contacted to discuss the matter further.
The Wellbeing Service (IAPT)
The Wellbeing Service (IAPT) Website
Hertfordshire Wellbeing Service is part of the NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) initiative, offering free, confidential, and highly effective talking therapies for people struggling with common mental health problems including anxiety and depression. The service offers a range of treatment options to help you to make positive changes in your life and improve your mental wellbeing. they provide 1-1 therapy, troup interventions and live interactive webinars. More information is available on their website including an online self-referral form: www.hpft-iapt.nhs.uk.
The aim of the service is to help people across the county to be able to access psychological therapy and social care support towards achieving better psychological health and well-being, enabling them to gain or remain in employment and to participate in daily living activities.
What do we offer?
We offer rapid access, via self referral or your GP, to a range of short term interventions. Our team consists of experienced mental health professionals including Health Professionals Council (HPC) Registered Psychologists, High Intensity Workers and Psychological Well-being Practitioners, who offer a variety of different types of help including:
- Psycho-educational Workshops
- Computerised Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CCBT), which can be accessed from the comfort of your own home
- Sign-posting to other community resources
- Facilitated self-help
- Self-help Information
- Individual Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), usually involving around 12 sessions
If this is a service you are interested in accessing, please use the link above and click on the self referral form.
Alternatively you can call the Single Point of Access service on 0300 777 0707
Herts Help
If you need help and don’t know where to turn, if you have a question or problem, you can contact HertsHelp.
They will listen to what you need and, if you would like them to, telephone people and make arrangements on your behalf.
Or they can put you in touch with organisations that can help. They will then call you to make sure that you have found the help you need.
Office hours are 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Telephone: 0300 123 4044 (Calls to 0300 cost no more than a national rate call to a 01 or 02 number)
Minicom: 0300 456 2364
Email: info@hertshelp.net
Skype: Hertshelp
Text: Text hertshelp to 81025
Fax: 0300 456 2365
By post: HertsHelp, Hertlands House, Primett Road, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 3EE.
Mental Health Wellbeing Podcasts
You can subscribe to wellbeing podcasts on the Mental Health Foundation Website.
The website of the Mental Health Foundation outlines the charity’s work in research, policy, service development and service user involvement. The site offers information and publications to download on research, good practice in services and on mental health problems and key issues.
Useful Links
Young People's Signposting Guide
Access the above guide which provides lots of contacts for various services available to young people.
Mind in Mid Herts is a branch of National Mind. It has four sites can provide counselling and support individually or in group sessions at all four. Prospective service users can self-refer or be referred by their GP.
Mental Health - Healthtalkonline
Healthtalkonline, an award-winning charity website, lets you share in other people's experiences of health and illness. An excellent resource compiled after interviewing a wide range of people suffering from heart disease.
Alzheimer's Disease
An information sheet helping to understand mroe about Alzheimer's Disease
Depression
An information sheet helping to understand more about the causes, treatment and understanding of Depression
Alzheimer’s Society
Comprehensive information for people with all forms of dementia. Alzheimer's Society is a membership organisation, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mental Health Foundation
Founded in 1949, the Mental Health Foundation is a leading UK charity that provides information, carries out research, campaigns and works to improve services for anyone affected by mental health problems, whatever their age and wherever they live
These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.