East Basildon PCN Mental Health Practitioner
East Basildon PCN provides children and young people with a mental health practitioner to support them in a variety of ways.
We currently have a mental health practitioner who will be available to children and young adults throughout our PCN, and her name is Precious Akenzua.
Precious is here to provide mental health support by offering:
- Pyschoeducation, advice and signposting to other services.
- Specialist mental health consultation and advice for primary care colleagues.
- Assessment for young people up to 18 who might require further exploration to understand their mental health needs.
- Low-intensity, evidence based interventions for problems such as low mood, mild to moderate emotional difficulties, anxiety, stress related issues and sleep difficulties.
What is a mental health practitioner?
Mental health practitioners have been introduced into primary care networks to help and support patients with their mental health issues.
Navigating complex healthcare systems where the quality and availability of care can often be inconsistent, leading to worsened conditions and, at times, drastic crisis points. Mental health professionals are now available at your local GP practice to help you get the support you need, when you need it.
To remedy these systemic challenges, the introduction of new roles within Primary Care stands as a beacon of hope. Mental health practitioners have emerged to specifically address the nuanced demands of individuals. Unlike traditional General Practitioners (GPs), these specialists engage in longer consultations, allowing them to delve deeper into the patients’ concerns, ultimately assisting them in recovery by focusing on the issues that matter most to patients.
The preparation of mental health practitioners extends beyond merely understanding symptoms; depending on their training, some practitioners are capable of delivering brief psychological interventions. These services are invaluable for individuals struggling with symptoms, offering coping mechanisms and strategies in a supportive environment.
These practitioners operate in collaboration with local Mental Health Trusts and come from diverse backgrounds in mental health care. Such integration into Primary Care requires a concerted effort to knit mental health services closely with primary healthcare systems. An essential first step is consulting individuals with lived experience to capture what kind of support is genuinely beneficial, ensuring resources are tailored to meet patient needs effectively.
The role of a mental health practitioner
The roles of mental health practitioners are not restricted to patient engagement alone. By supporting GPs and primary care staff, they provide indispensable guidance on best practices in managing complex mental health issues. This collaborative model significantly eases the workload on GPs while fostering enhanced relationships with mental health resources, creating a seamless continuum of care.
Mental health therapists and practitioners can help with:
- talking therapies to support patients on a wide range of topic and issues
- providing tools and techniques to help manage symptoms
- supporting people who are experiencing the psychological effects of managing long-term conditions, such as diabetes
Looking forward, the implications of this development for the National Health Service (NHS) are profound. Similar to a ship adapting its sails to better catch the wind, the NHS is embracing a new model of mental health support that breaks previous barriers within healthcare services. By enhancing accessibility and prioritising early intervention, mental health practitioners aim to streamline and enrich the treatment journeys of patients. This concerted effort represents a change not just in methodology but in culture—a move toward a system where every individual receives the attention and care they rightfully deserve.
To learn more about mental health practitioners, click on this link now.
How do mental health practitioners help GPs?
Mental health practitioners are here to support GPs in their surgeries by:
- alleviating time spent on mental health consultations
- improving patient journey and overall experience
- faster access to appropriate mental health expertise
- early detection of mental health difficulties
- active case management to reduce number of patients who fall between primary and secondary care services
By visiting the NHS website, you can learn even more about mental health practitioners by clicking on this link today.
