National mental health information

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  • Services Only
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  • Advice, Services and a Helpline

Welcome to the National Mental Health Information page of the Community Information for Carers Website. Simply click on the heading in the contents section above to see the organisations related to that area.

Those organisations that are marked with a have been identified as having fact sheets and information that is in a easy format to print out.

Advice only

BBC Lifestyle­

The BBC has a section of their Lifestyle website dedicated to mental health. It provides articles on a wide range of topics. Particularly useful sections are shown below:

  • Inside a hospital
  • Emotional health
  • Disorders
  • Coping techniques
  • Therapy and therapists
  • Supporting and caring
  • Understanding drugs

Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust Website­­

This site is provided by the pharmacy service within Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and supported on the Trust server. It receives no hidden commercial backing or bias, and was the first UK multi-page hospital pharmacy web-site.

From here you can find out more about drug treatments that are prescribed for mental health needs, about the Pharmacy that provides information on this website, and a related group of pharmacy and drug-related items.

A particularly useful section is called ‘Drugs Listed By Category’ from here you can find information about the drugs for particular forms of mental illness.

For more information visit the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust Pharmacy Medicine Website.

The Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation exists to help people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems.

For more information visit the Mental Health Foundation website.

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Services Only

The Research Institute for the Care of the Elderly (RICE)

The research carried out by The Research Institute for the Care of the Elderly covers a wide variety of areas and is intended to advance the knowledge and treatment of the more serious conditions affecting older people, in particular Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia and to improve their quality of life.

The Institute runs a weekly Memory Clinic and a Nurse led Community Memory screening Clinic (CMSC) to help those people who are concerned about memory loss, whether for themselves or for a loved one. The Research Institute also holds courses specifically for carers of memory impaired people.

For information about the carers corses or memory clinics visit the RICE website.

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Services and Advice

Together ­

Together is a national charity they support people with mental health needs to get what they want from life and to feel happier. They run a range of mental health services across the country; campaign, do research and educate local communities about their own mental health needs.

To see the services that Together offer in Wiltshire use the following link: Together Services Wiltshire

Together also provide services and information for Carers. There is a link to a booklet that may be particularly useful (Together Guide for Carers of People with Mental Health Needs) from this page of the website.

For more information visit the Together website.

The Alzheimer’s Society­­

The Alzheimer’s Society has expertise in information and education for carers and professionals. It provides help lines and support for carers, runs quality day and home care, funds medical and scientific research and gives financial help to families in need. It campaigns for improved health and social services and greater public understanding of all aspects of dementia.

The website has a specific section for carers entitled ‘Caring for someone with dementia’ Within this section, there are further pages on a range of relevant topics and all are accompanied by helpful fact sheets. A list of the particularly useful pages are shown below.

  • Coping with Caring
  • Unusual Behaviour
  • Health
  • Nutrition
  • Maintaining Quality of Life
  • Everyday Care
  • Relationships (Includes a fact sheet on grief and bereavement).
  • Dementia and the Law/
  • Residential and Nursing Care

A full list of the fact sheets that the Alzheimer’s Society produces can be accessesd by using the following link: Alzheimer's Factsheets.

For more information visit the Alzheimer’s Society website.

Rethink Carers ­

Rethink Carers is a sister site of Rethink. They operate over 130 Rethink carers support groups over the country. These groups exist to provide local carers of people with mental health problems with a support network in their area. The group's aim to provide mutual support, self help and local campaigning.

The Help area has practical tips and advice to help both you as a carer and the person you are caring for. It includes the following sections:

  • 14 Principles for relatives and friends
  • 25 Tips for Dealing With Difficult Behaviour
  • Dealing with diagnosis and afterwards
  • Living with severe mental illness
  • Personal Relations
  • In hospital

The Your Experiences Section has real carers experiences, the issues they've dealt with and how they've coped with their relative's illness.

There is a range of different articles with comprehensive advice and information, some of the particularly useful sections are listed below:

  • What about the future?
  • Rights, Benefits and Work
  • Minority Ethnic Community Carer Support
  • Helping and supporting your relative
  • What treatments are available for severe mental illness?
  • Types of Mental Illnesses and Disorders?

Mind­­

Mind is a mental health charity in England and Wales. They work to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress by:

  • Advancing the views, needs and ambitions of people with mental health problems
  • Challenging discrimination and promoting inclusion
  • Influencing policy through campaigning and education
  • Inspiring the development of quality services which reflect expressed need and diversity
  • Achieving equal rights through campaigning and education.

The MIND website has many sections that may be of use to Carers, some of the best ones are provided below:

Factsheets
Written by Mind's Information Unit, these cover numerous topics and can be read online or printed. This section includes 3 factsheets especially for carers.

Booklets
Produced by Mind Publications, these booklets include Making sense booklets containing detailed information on common treatments for mental health problems and Understanding booklets which give straightforward practical information on a range of mental health issues and contain resource lists for seeking further help.

Legal
Written by Mind's Legal Unit, this section contains frequently asked questions - with answers - and briefings on key legal issues.

For more information visit the MIND website.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists­­

The Royal College of Psychiatrists works towards making mental illness less isolating for the person and less frightening for everyone involved. They aim to increase public and professional awareness of different mental disorders and to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental health problems. They give information to the public on common psychiatric disorders and their treatments.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists website has a section specifically related to Older Peoples Mental Health that contains leaflets.

Of particular relevance to carers is the Partners in Care campaign that is currently being run jointly between The Royal College of Psychiatrists and The Princess Royal trust for Carers. The campaign is designed to:

  • Highlight the problems faced by carers of people with different mental health problems and learning disabilities
  • Encourage true partnerships between carers, patients and professionals

Leaflets and other information for carers from the campaign are available from The Royal College of Psychiatrists website and can be accessed by using the following link:  Partners in Care.

One Item that maybe of particular help is the: Checklists for carers of people with mental health problems: questions to ask the psychiatrist.

For more information visit the website The Royal College of Psychiatrists website.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers­­

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers provides comprehensive carers support services in the UK. Through its network of 122 independently managed Carers' Centres and interactive websites, the Trust provides quality information, advice and support services.

The Trust's ‘Help for Carers directory page’ has links through to key topics and articles about caring, which in turn signpost you to the information available on the internet.

The website contains fact sheets on Psychosis, Anxiety and Phobias, Depression and Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction.

For more information visit the Princess Royal Trust for Carers website.

The Stroke Association­­

The Stroke Association’s main focus is to prevent stroke and to give support to stroke people and their families through their information and community services.  They also campaign to raise awareness of stroke and fund research into stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

They provide a range of leaflets about stroke; these can be accessed by clicking on the link below:

For more information visit the Stroke Association website.

Depression Alliance­­

Depression Alliance is the leading UK charity for people affected by depression. They work to relieve and to prevent this treatable condition by providing information and support services.They also campaign to raise awareness amongst the general public about the realities of depression.

This website contains information and advice for Carers in its ‘friends and family’ section.

A full list of the publications that the Depression Alliance produces can be accessesd by using the following link: Depression Alliance Publications

For more information visit the Depression Alliance website.

The BiPolar Organisation­­

The BiPolar Organisation is a user led charity working to enable people affected by Bipolar disorder / manic depression to take control of their lives.

The BiPolar Organisation’s website has a specific section for carers, friends and family of people with bipolar disorder. This includes the following sub sections:

  • Bipolar disorder - an introduction to the bipolar spectrum which provides some essential background to people who are new to the topic.
  • Friends & family - a page of commonly asked questions by carers, friends and family.
  • Self-help groups - find out where your local self-help group is located.
  • NHS services - find out what the National Health Service has to offer.
  • Self-assessment tool - use this screening questionnaire to help find out if someone is experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder.

For more information visit the BiPolar Organisation website.

The Centre for Stress Management

The Centre for Stress Management is an international training centre and consultancy.  It undertakes stress audits, stress management and prevention, stress counselling, coaching and training.

The website provides information about the centres services, courses, books, definitions of stress, stress management strategies, imagery and relaxation exercises. They include articles on a range of issues such as the legal aspects of stress; rational principles; stress counselling, stress management, health, and coronary heart disease.

For more information visit the Centre for Stress Management website.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. Their primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

For more information visit the Alcoholics Anonymous website.

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Advice, Services and a Helpline

Mental Health Care­­

This web site is aimed at anyone providing support to someone experiencing mental illness. It contains information about mental health and mental illness, research findings and personal stories written by carers.

You may find many of the answers to the queries you have about mental health by reading the detailed information that Mental Health Care provide on their pages; particularly useful pages are shown below.

  • Ask the pharmacist
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Eating disorders
  • Psychosis and schizophrenia
  • Glossary of mental health terms

Mental Health Care also has a page where you can read personal stories written by people with experience of caring for someone with a mental illness, whether a family member, friend or other carer.

If you want immediate advice on any mental health medication then Mental Health Care has a helpline staffed by experienced mental health pharmacists that provides independent advice and information about drugs to patients and carers.

  • Telephone: 020 7919 2999
  • Opening hours: 11 am-5 pm Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.

For more information visit the Mental Health Care website.

Rethink­­

Rethink was formerly known as the 'National Schizophrenia Fellowship'. They are dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by severe mental illness, whether they have a condition themselves, care for others who do, or are professionals or volunteers working in the mental health field.

Rethink provide a wide range of community services including employment projects, supported housing, day services, help lines, residential care, and respite centres.

The Rethink website has a section dedicated to Carers Information. It provides information on a wide range of topics. Particularly useful pages are shown below:

  • Cause for concern
  • Getting help in a crisis?
  • Dealing with unusual thoughts and behaviour
  • Nearest relative
  • Carer's assessment
  • Carer's rights
  • Involving carers
  • Benefits for carers
  • Services for carers
  • Managing financial affairs
  • Wills and Trusts

Rethink also offer helplines.

For more information visit the Rethink website.

No Panic

No Panic is a totally voluntary charity whose aims are to aid the relief and rehabilitation of those people suffering from Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and other related Anxiety Disorders, including Tranquilliser Withdrawal.

No Panic provides support to sufferers and their families and/or carers by the following means:

  • Providing a confidential help-line, freephone 0808 808 0545, 10-00 am to 10-00 pm, every day, staffed by trained volunteers.
  • Providing a night-time anxiety crisis line, freephone 0808 808 0545, 10-00 pm to 10-00 am, every day (answer phone service only )
  • Providing telephone recovery groups
  • Providing literature, books, audio and video cassettes relevant to the illnesses
  • Providing a written recovery programme for phobias. A simple, easy to follow step by step guide to overcoming a phobia
  • Providing a written recovery programme for O.C.D. a simple, easy to follow step by step guide to overcoming O.C.D.
  • Providing support for people trying to give up tranquillisers
  • Providing information designed to raise public & professional awareness of the problems created by anxiety disorders
  • Providing lay-person self-help cognitive & behaviour therapy as a basis for recovery.

For more information visit the No Panic website.

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Contact Details

By Post

Social Care Help Desk
Wiltshire County Council
Department of Community Services
(Adult Social Care Services)
County Hall
Trowbridge
BA14 8LE

By Email

socialcarehelpdesk@wiltshire.gov.uk

By Telephone

01225 713001

By Fax

01225 713355

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