Mental Health Issues
Mental health problems can affect people at any time of life and in different ways. They can include anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, self-harm and dementia. Mental health problems can play a major role in your ability to manage your home. It is important that you access the support that is available to you.
When a mental health condition becomes a 'disability'
If someone has a mental health problem that has long-term effects on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activity, this is considered a disability under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
'Long term' is defined as an impairment that has lasted, or is likely to last, at least 12 months.
Your local doctor (GP)
If you are worried about your mental health, or that of a close friend or relative, you should contact your doctor. They can offer advice or refer you to specialist services.
All local doctors have access to teams of professionals and support staff offering a range of skills and different ways to help. The team normally includes:
- community psychiatric nurses
- psychiatric social workers
- consultant psychiatrists
- clinical psychologists
- occupational therapists
Where necessary, they will work closely together to provide support and services.
If you feel uncomfortable with your doctor you should be able to:
- ask to see another doctor in the practice
- ask to see the nurse at the practice
- register with a new surgery
Support from other people
Friends and relations
Often, friends and relations will notice changes in you and be concerned, so talking to them may be a relief to them and helpful to you. You can ask someone to go with you to a doctor's appointment if you are concerned about visiting a doctor alone.
Specialist services
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist like a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, community psychiatric nurse or a counsellor. These professionals will work with you to help you find ways of dealing with the problems you are experiencing.
Durham County Council's Supported Living Scheme
The Supported Living Scheme is designed to meet the needs of individuals by supporting them in their own homes.
Community Floating Support offers a service to people with mental health problems by providing supported living assistance. At present the scheme has seven houses in the North Durham area which were purchased in partnership with housing associations. All the houses are shared living accommodation and every resident holds a normal tenancy. All the houses are supported by a team of support workers and each resident has an individual key worker.
If you are under 18 years old
Try talking to your parent(s) or someone who has parental responsibility for you. You could also talk to a teacher, youth worker or doctor, or call ChildLine. Calls to ChildLine are free, and you do not have to tell them your name if you don't want to.
Other ways to get support and advice
Other people who may be able to help are health visitors, charities and self-help groups. The mental health contacts page lists a number of organisations that offer advice and information on various mental health issues.
