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Psychiatric help on offer to the victims of recession depression
Health chiefs to roll out pioneering scheme to combat anxiety disorders
PSYCHIATRIC assessments will be made available to everyone in the borough amid predictions of a surge in cases of depression and anxiety disorders triggered by the recession.
In a pioneering new scheme launched by health chiefs, anybody who thinks they may be suffering from psychological problems will be able to pick up the phone and speak to an NHS specialist to book an appointment, without the need to visit a GP for referral.
Previously the so-called “talking therapies” had only been available privately or for extreme cases, where patients experienced suicidal thoughts or were self-harming.
Health chiefs at NHS Westminster are frank about the possibility they could be inundated with calls, with an estimated 37,000 people in the borough suffering from depression and anxiety disorders.
The services will be rolled out next month at a cost of £700,000, secured from the Department of Health, doubling the number of therapists working in the borough, from 14 to 28 across 18 GP practices.
The concept of self-referrals has been piloted outside London, with neighbouring Camden launching a similar package of services in January.
The number of sessions available is contingent on an assessment, with either low- intensity therapy – six to eight sessions – or high intensity – 12 sessions or more.
Chief executive Michael Scott said: “One in four of us suffer with mental illness at some time in our lives.
“With the current pressures of the recession we are making sure treatment is available to get people back to health and work as soon as possible.”
Unlike private therapy treatment, which can be broad ranging, the primary care trust is offering support packages designed to solve specific problems, such as being out of work.
For further details visit www.iapt.nhs.uk
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