Mental Health Practitioners in GP Surgeries

Each practice in Swift PCN has a Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) who can help support you with your mental health.

Offer:

The support the MHP provides is a one off conversation with signposting and techniques to manage how you are feeling.
Appointments are face to face, or by telephone.
This will be a supportive conversation where you can discuss your mental health and help you understand and explore your own needs, your experiences and what might be affecting you.
The next steps may include referrals to specialist services, further information and/or advice, and sign posting to the other services.
In some cases, the MHP may offer further appointments, providing brief interventions that can include:
Strategies for managing mental health difficulties
Techniques for managing anxiety and low mood
Safety planning
Learning problem solving skills
Understanding and managing emotions

The MHP is not able to offer counselling or longer term interventions.
The MHP role is not an emergency or diagnostic service.

Who can see a MHP?
The MHP sees anyone over the age of 18 with mental health difficulties, unless you have a confirmed diagnosis of dementia or are already being supported by a Recovery Team, Early Intervention Team, Psychological Therapies or other secondary mental health services.
In this case, the MHP will direct you to your care team.

How to access the service
Please contact your surgery reception team or speak to your GP.

Local helplines
NHS 111 option 2 available 24/7 for urgent mental health support
Samaritans 116 123
MIND 0300 102 1234
SHOUT – 24/7 Mental Health Support – text 85258