# data[].attributes.headline
NHS Information on the Mental Health Act

# data[].attributes.subject
NHS Information on the Mental Health Act

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In most cases when people are treated in hospital or another mental health facility, they have agreed or volunteered to be there. They may be referred to as a voluntary patient.

But there are cases when a person can be detained, also known as sectioned, under the Mental Health Act (1983) and treated without their agreement.

The Mental Health Act (1983) is the main piece of legislation that covers the assessment, treatment and rights of people with a mental health disorder. You can read the Mental Health Act on the government legislation website.

People detained under the Mental Health Act need urgent treatment for a mental health disorder and are at risk of harm to themselves or others.
Find out where to get urgent help for mental health

Advice for carers and families

If your loved one has been detained, they will have to stay in hospital until the doctors or a mental health tribunal decide otherwise.

You still have the right to visit. Visiting arrangements depend on the hospital, so check visiting hours with staff or on the hospital website.

In some cases the patient may refuse visitors, and hospital staff will respect the patient's wishes. If you're unable to see your loved one, staff should explain why.

With permission from your loved one, doctors may discuss the treatment plan with you.

You can also raise concerns or worries with the doctors and nurses on the ward.

Hospital accommodation should be age and gender-appropriate.

Not all hospitals will be able to offer a ward dedicated to each gender, but all should at least offer same-sex toilets and washing facilities.

For more information:

Who decides that someone should be detained?

In emergencies

An emergency is when someone seems to be at serious risk of harming themselves or others.

Police have powers to enter your home, if need be by force, under a Section 135 warrant.

You may then be taken to a place of safety for an assessment by an approved mental health professional and a doctor.

You can be kept there until the assessment is completed, for up to 24 hours. This can be extended to 36 hours, if it wasn't possible to assess you in that time.
Find out more about the Section 135 warrant on the GOV.UK website
If the police find you in a public place and you appear to have a mental health disorder and are in need of immediate care or control, they can take you to a place of safety (usually a hospital or sometimes the police station) and detain you there under Section 136.

You'll then be assessed by an approved mental health professional and a doctor.

You can be kept there until the assessment is completed, for up to 24 hours. This can be extended to 36 hours, if it wasn't possible to assess you in that time.
Find out more about the Section 136 warrant on the GOV.UK website
If you're already in hospital, certain nurses can stop you leaving under Section 5(4) until the doctor in charge of your care or treatment, or their nominated deputy, can make a decision about whether to detain you there under Section 5(2).

Section 5(4) gives nurses the ability to detain someone in hospital for up to 6 hours.

Section 5(2) gives doctors the ability to detain someone in hospital for up to 72 hours, during which time you should receive an assessment that decides if further detention under the Mental Health Act is necessary.
Find out more about Section 5 of the Mental Health Act on the government legislation website
Non-emergencies

In most non-emergency cases, family members, a GP, carer or other professionals may voice concerns about your mental health.

They should discuss this with you, and together you should make a decision about what help you may need, such as making an appointment with your GP to discuss further options.
Find out more about accessing NHS mental health services
But there may be times when there are sufficient concerns about your mental health and your ability to make use of the help offered.

In these circumstances your relatives or the professionals involved in your care can ask for a formal assessment of your mental health through the Mental Health Act process.

Your nearest relative has the right to ask the local approved mental health professional service, which may be run by local social care services, for an assessment under the Mental Health Act.

It's also possible for a court to consider using the Mental Health Act in some circumstances, or for a transfer to a hospital to take place from prison.

As part of this formal process, you'll be assessed by doctors and an approved mental health professional.

One of the doctors must be specially certified as having particular experience in the assessment or treatment of mental illness.
Find out more about getting a mental health assessment
The length of time you could be detained for depends on the type of mental health condition you have and your personal circumstances at the time.

You could be detained for:

up to 28 days under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act

up to 6 months under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act, with further renewals

During these periods, assessments will be regularly carried out by the doctor in charge of your care to determine whether it's safe for you to be discharged and what further treatment is required, if any.

You should always be given information about your rights under the Mental Health Act.
Find out more about your rights on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website Read the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Q&A about being sectioned in England and Wales

What does the term 'being sectioned' mean?

The Mental Health Act is structured in many sections.

If someone says, "You're being sectioned under the Mental Health Act", they mean you're detained according to a particular section of the Mental Health Act.

In most cases, you'll be told which section of the Mental Health Act applied in your case. For example, "You're detained under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act".

How can I appeal against being detained?

Any person who's compulsorily detained has the right to appeal against the decision to the Mental Health Tribunal (MHT) or to the hospital's managers.

The MHT is an independent body that decides whether you should be discharged from hospital.

You may be eligible for legal aid to pay for a solicitor to help you do this.
Visit GOV.UK if you want to apply to the Mental Health Tribunal
You also have the right to see an independent mental health advocate if you're detained.

Ask the nurses on your ward or the hospital manager how you can get to see one.

An independent mental health advocate can help you understand your rights and could also help if you're not happy with your situation.

You can also make a complaint to the CQC if you're unhappy with the way the Mental Health Act has been used. Find out how to make a complaint on the CQC website.

Consent to treatment

If you're held under the Mental Health Act, you can be treated against your will.

This is because it's felt you do not have sufficient capacity to make an informed decision about your treatment at the time.

This is also the case if you refuse treatment but the team treating you believe you should have it.

The CQC provides detailed guidance about your rights in terms of consenting to medication and electroconvulsive therapy if you're detained in hospital or placed on a Community Treatment Order (CTO). Find out more on the CQC website:
CQC: Information for people detained in hospital CQC: Information for people subject to Community Treatment Orders (CTOs)

What is 'Section 17 leave'?

Going on leave from the hospital should form an important part of your care as you recover.

This means that while detained under the Mental Health Act, you may be able to leave the hospital if authorised by the doctor or clinician in charge of your care (also known as the responsible clinician).

This leave is often referred to as "section 17 leave", as it's Section 17 of the Mental Health Act that allows this leave.

The responsible clinician in charge of your care can place conditions on the leave, such as where you should stay while away from the hospital and whether this will be for a fixed period of time.

You should be given a copy of the Section 17 leave form that sets out these conditions so you're clear what they are.

The responsible clinician can revoke your leave and make you come back to hospital at any time.

If you do not return to the hospital at the end of the leave period, you can be made to go back to the hospital.
Find out more about Section 17 of the Mental Health Act on the government legislation website

What's a Community Treatment Order?

If you have been treated in hospital under the Mental Health Act and are being discharged or allowed out of the hospital on short-term leave, you may be put under a Community Treatment Order (CTO).

Under Section 17 of the Act, you can get leave but can be recalled to hospital if, for example, you stop taking required medication or your condition gets worse.

Make sure you know how long any leave is agreed for (usually 1 night or a weekend) before leaving the hospital.

You may be recalled to hospital during the leave if there are significant concerns about how you manage in the community.

If you're on leave or are being discharged, you may be made subject to a CTO if your doctor is concerned that you may not continue your treatment when you leave hospital.

Generally, a CTO means you can go home under certain conditions that you have to meet.

This is to protect yourself or others from harm and ensures you continue your treatment.

As normally occurs when someone is discharged from hospital, you'll be assigned a care co-ordinator, who'll help you with your mental health needs.

If you break the conditions of the CTO or your situation gets worse, you could be readmitted to hospital.

You could be detained for up to 72 hours while a decision is made about the next steps in your care.

Depending on your circumstances, your CTO could be revoked, which means you'll have to stay in hospital, or you could be allowed to leave hospital and continue your CTO.

While you're on a CTO, you can appeal against it. You may be eligible for legal aid to pay for a solicitor to help you do this.

You also have the right to see an independent mental health advocate and appeal to a mental health tribunal when you're on a CTO.

Ask your care co-ordinator, the nurses on your ward or hospital manager how you can get to see one.

An independent mental health advocate can help you understand your rights and could also help if you're not happy with any of your CTO conditions.
Find out more about your rights in relation to consent to medication and electroconvulsive therapy if you're subject to a CTO on the CQC website

What's the SOAD service?

The second opinion appointed doctor (SOAD) service safeguards the rights of patients subject to the Mental Health Act.

SOADs are consulted in certain circumstances when a patient refuses treatment, or is too ill or otherwise incapable of giving consent.

They'll check whether the recommended treatment is clinically appropriate and that your views and rights have been taken into account.

For example:

If you have already received medication for 3 months without consent under the Mental Health Act, the SOAD has to review whether continuous medication is really necessary.

If you're too ill to give valid consent to electroconvulsive therapy and your doctor feels it's necessary, the SOAD has to review whether it's appropriate for the treatment to be given. Electroconvulsive therapy cannot be given to a patient who's able to give consent but refuses to do so, except in urgent situations.

What's an approved mental health professional (AMHP)?

An approved mental health professional (AMHP) is a mental health worker who has received special training to provide help and give assistance to people who are being treated under the Mental Health Act.

Their functions can include helping to assess whether a person needs to be compulsorily detained (sectioned) as part of their treatment.

An AMHP is also responsible for ensuring that the human and civil rights of a person being detained are upheld and respected.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In most cases when people are treated in hospital or another mental health facility, they have agreed or volunteered to be there. But there are cases when a person can be detained, also known as sectioned, under the Mental Health Act (1983) and treated without their agreement.

# data[].attributes.headline
Mind Information on the Mental Health Act

# data[].attributes.subject
Mind Information on the Mental Health Act

# data[].attributes.headline
Mental Health Measure (Wales Specific Legislation)

# data[].attributes.subject
Mental Health Measure (Wales Specific Legislation)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 is a new law passed by the National Assembly for Wales and, as such, has the same legal status in Wales as other Mental Health Acts. However, whilst the 1983 and 2007 Mental Health Acts are largely about compulsory powers, and admission to or discharge from hospital, the 2010 Measure is all about the support that should be available for people with mental health problems in Wales wherever they may be living.

The Measure became law in December 2010 but significant preparation was needed before it could be implemented. So the main provisions only began to take effect between April and October 2012 and it will be some time yet before the full impact will be felt. It is important, however, that people with mental health problems and their families understand the main points of the Measure and know about the support they are now legally entitled to.

The Measure is intended to ensure that where mental health services are delivered, they focus more appropriately on people's individual needs. It has four main Parts (Parts 5 and 6 are essentially about administrative issues), and each places new legal duties on Local Health Boards and Local Authorities to improve service delivery. The four Parts are as follows.

Part 1 seeks to ensure more mental health services are available within primary care.

Part 2 gives all people who receive secondary mental health services the right to have a Care and Treatment Plan.

Part 3 gives all adults who are discharged from secondary mental health services the right to refer themselves back to those services.

Part 4 offers every in-patient access to the help of an independent mental health advocate.

Below we will look at each of the four parts of the Measure in more detail. Parts 2 and 3 will have the greatest impact for those with serious mental illnesses and who are receiving secondary care services but, as we explain, all have some relevance. However, before moving on to parts 1 to 4, we must begin by explaining some Guiding Principles.

THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES

These Guiding Principles are set out in the Code of Practice for Parts 2 and 3 and are particularly important for these Parts, but they are also relevant for the whole Measure. There are six in total and they are as follows.

Patients and their cares should be involved in the planning, development and delivery of care and treatment to the fullest possible extent - so that professionals seek to involve a person as fully as possible in their care and treatment in a sensitive way, and one which promotes their confidence and recovery.

Equality, dignity and diversity - so that professionals have due regard to a person's needs arising from their race, gender, religion, sexuality age or disability when delivering a service.

Clear communication in terms of language and culture is essential to ensure patients and their carers are truly involved, and receive the best possible care and treatment - so that there is always an understanding that poor communication too often leads to inappropriate care and treatment, and that good communication is likely to lead to better outcomes. This principle also states that all possible steps should be taken to ensure that bilingual (Welsh and English) services are available.

Care and treatment should be comprehensive holistic, and person-focussed - so that professionals are sensitive to the full range of a person's needs and that they plan care, treatment and support across whatever needs will help a person's recovery.

Care and treatment planning should be proportionate to need and risk - so there is a recognition that, whilst on the one hand, some people with complex needs may need detailed care plans, on the other some people may need un-complicated help that will still significantly improve their situations.

Care and treatment should be integrated and coordinated - so that when offering care and treatment, professionals recognise the range of services that may benefit a person, whether in the statutory or voluntary sectors, or whether specialist mental health services or more general services, and actively work together with other services to coordinate service delivery.

PART 1 - MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT THE LEVEL OF PRIMARY CARE

The aim of Part 1 of the Measure is to improve and expand what are referred to as "primary mental health services", the services that people with milder or more stable mental health problems may receive from their GPs and other local health and social care services. These services are essentially for two groups of people:

those who have "mild to moderate" mental health problems, for example anxiety or depression, and

those who have more serious mental health problems but who are sufficiently recovered that their illness is stable.

There is no one document that summarises for the wider public the proposed improvements to primary mental health services, but they are set out in detail for service providers in the Welsh Government document "National Service Model for Local Primary Mental Health Support Services" (2011). What follows is a summary of some of the key elements of that document.

What services will be provided: From October 2012 local primary mental health support services are required to offer the following.

Primary Mental Health Assessment - A person will be offered this assessment if their GP or other worker believes they would benefit from a more detailed mental health assessment, with the aim of identifying whether local primary mental health treatment or any other local service might improve, or prevent a deterioration in, that person's mental health. The aim is for a person to wait no more than 28 days for an assessment.

Short-Term Treatment or Support - Following assessment, a person should be offered short-term help where this is appropriate. Examples of this help could be counselling, psychological interventions including cognitive behavioural therapy, solution-focussed therapy, family work, online support, stress management, bibliotherapy or education, and it could be offered individually or through group work.

Referral to Secondary Mental Health Services - Where a Primary Care Worker believes a person would benefit from intervention or support by secondary mental health services, it is expected that an onward referral will be offered to that person.

Working Alongside and Supporting Primary Care - GPs and General Practice Workers will continue to play an important role in supporting people with mental health problems, and a key role of primary mental health services will be to work with them to help them do this, offering their specialist skills and knowledge where appropriate.

Information and advice to individuals and their carers - A further key role of primary mental health services will be to develop a good understanding of the range of services in their local area, including both general services and more specialist services. This will enable them to offer appropriate information and advice as to what options for additional support may be available, and it is particularly hoped there will be "signposting" to support provided by voluntary sector organisations. A clear aim is also to provide this information, not only to service users but also their families and carers.

How services will be provided: The Guidance for this Part of the Measure falls short of setting out a blue print as to what a local primary mental health support service may look like, but it does set out a clear framework for the services across Wales. Some of the key points are as follows.

Local Health Boards and Local Authorities must work together to establish Local Primary Mental Health Support Services across Wales, and together they will hold the funding and be responsible for the management of the service in their area.

Whilst LHBs and LAs will remain ultimately responsible for ensuring that services are being delivered properly, services may not always be provided by them. Rather it is suggested that LHBs and LAs should actively recruit other local partners to help deliver the service, and particularly should "recognise and draw upon the contribution and expertise of specialist third sector organisations".

It is expected that the service will largely operate "within or alongside existing GP practices", and will be a "specialism in the community".

There is considerable flexibility around the sorts of practitioners who may be recruited to act as local primary mental health support services workers. The main stipulation is that they must have the skills and competencies to fulfill all the five functions set out above.

An important requirement is that service users know where they are in relation to the service and what they can expect. For example it should always be clear to them as to whether they are receiving a local primary mental health support service or being referred on to a secondary care service so they are not running the risk of "being lost between services". They should also be clear about their "pathway of care" with "defined entry and exit points".

PART 2 - CARE COORDINATION AND TREATMENT PLANNING IN MENTAL HEALTH SECONDARY SERVICES

This is a very brief part of the Measure, in fact the shortest part with just 5 key paragraphs. However, those few paragraphs include duties and rights that Hafal has campaigned hard for over many years, and which we hope will significantly improve the experience of secondary mental health services for people in Wales. Essentially Part 2 places duties on service providers (Health Boards and Local Authorities) to act in a coordinated manner to improve the effectiveness of the mental health services they provide, and it gives people who receive secondary mental health services two essential new rights:

the right to have a Care Coordinator appointed to work with them to coordinate their care and treatment, and

the right to an individual and comprehensive Care and Treatment Plan to assist their recovery.

Part 2 of the Measure came into force in June 2012.

Whilst Part 2 of the Measure is relatively short, it is backed up by a comprehensive new Code of Practice which runs to some 60 pages. This is a statutory Code of Practice, prepared under Section 44 of the Measure. Like the Welsh Code of Practice for the Mental Health Act, it is not law which must be automatically followed, but it is an important document as it offers "statutory guidance", and professionals who do not follow this guidance can be challenged in court.

As well as setting out the Guiding Principles explained above, the Code of Practice has chapters on:

Assessment

Care Coordinators

Care and Treatment Planning

Coordination of Services

Monitoring and Review

Discharge from Secondary Mental Health Services.

You can access the full Code of Practice by ( link). Here we summarise some key points. (Where there is a quote directly from the Code of Practice, the paragraph number is put in brackets.)

Assessment - The Measure itself does not make specific reference to assessment in secondary care, but the Code of Practice fully recognises that effective care planning must be preceded by comprehensive assessment, stating "The aim is for the assessment process to establish information from which care and treatment planning, and future work, can take place" (2.11). Assessment should consider both need and risk. In relation to needs, it should be "holistic" and consider all the eight areas of a person's life also included in a Care and Treatment Plan (see below) (2.14). In relation to risk, it should "seek to identify any risks the relevant patient may be exposed to and any risks they may present to themselves or others" (2.18).

Role of Care Coordinators - A person's Care Coordinator will be a key, if not the key, professional working with them in secondary mental health services. Their Care Coordinator will be their "principle source of information" and will be "responsible for seeking their active involvement and engagement with the care planning process" (3.5). The Care Coordinator will also be ultimately responsible for ensuring the person has a written Care and Treatment Plan and that it is reviewed and updated (3.4). The duties and functions of Care Coordinators are set out in detail in the Code of Practice (3.32 to 3.36) and amount to ensuring they are actively working with, and coordinating the care and treatment of, the people they are responsible for.

Allocation of Care Coordinators - It is the duty of statutory service providers, normally a Local Health Board or Local Authority, to appoint a Care Coordinator, and the Code of Practice sets out in detail where this duty lies (3.06 to 3.12). It also stresses the importance of ensuring that a person knows consistently who their Care Coordinator is and lays out in detail what should happen if there has to be a change in a person's Care Coordinator (3.13 to 3.23).

Who can be Care Coordinators - The Code of Practice is specific as to which professionals can act as Care Coordinators, and the list has similarities with the one for Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) under the Mental Health Act. They must be mental health professionals with appropriate skills and qualifications including (3.26):

social workers

mental health or learning disability nurses

occupational therapists

psychologists

doctors

dieticians

physiotherapists

speech and language therapists.

Care and Treatment Planning - Chapter 4, the longest chapter of the Code of Practice, deals with Care and Treatment Planning. It sets out in great detail not only what a Care and Treatment Plan should look like, but also how it should be discussed, negotiated, distributed, and revised. In summary the Care Coordinator must work hard to involve the person, and/or their representative or advocate, and appropriate family members and carers, and to consult widely with appropriate team members, professionals and services (4.3 to 4.32). The Care Coordinator should aim to complete the Care and Treatment Plan within 6 weeks (4.87) and copy it to everyone with a direct interest (4.91).

A Care and Treatment Plan - There is a set 5 page format for a Care and Treatment Plan and Care and Treatment Plans should consider eight areas of a person's life:

finance and money

accommodation

personal care and physical well-being

education and training

work and occupation

parenting or caring relationships

social, cultural or spiritual

medical and other forms of treatment including psychological interventions.

A Care and Treatment Plan should include information against each of these areas as to:

what outcomes the person is seeking

what services are being provided or what actions are being taken

when and who by.

Hafal has detailed publications to assist service users, and their families and carers, through the Care and Treatment Planning process and these are well worth looking at for further information and advice.

Coordinating Service Provision - Care Coordinators have a responsibility for monitoring the implementation of Care and Treatment Plans, but they do not have the responsibility for ensuring that specified services are delivered. This wider responsibility lies with the service provider and the Code of Practice acknowledges there are likely to be instances of unmet need (5.8). When services are not provided, the Care Coordinator should review and revise the Care and Treatment Plan with the service user.

Monitoring and Reviewing Care and Treatment Plans - Once a person's Care and Treatment Plan has been agreed and services are being delivered, the Care Coordinator has an ongoing responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the Plan. Such monitoring should include:

continuing assessment of the person's mental health needs and risks

ensuring that services are being delivered as agreed

whether the specified outcomes remain relevant and are being achieved.

A person's Care and Treatment Plan must then be reviewed at least yearly, but the Code of Practice goes on to say that "reviews should be needs-led" (6,11) and can be triggered by the person, carer or service provider as well as by the Care Coordinator. Reviews should be carefully prepared and organised (6.18) and properly recorded (6.16).

Ending of Secondary Mental Health Services - The Code of Practice for Part 2 of the Measure finally looks a person's discharge from secondary mental health services. This will hopefully be a positive event marking an important stage in a person's recovery but, even when it is, it needs to be recognised that it may be a difficult time for the person involved. The Code of Practice, therefore, requires the relevant authority, whether Local Health Board or Local Authority, to provide the person with clear information about why the secondary care service is ending and where future support may be accessed. Importantly the person must also be informed of their right to a further assessment under Part 3 of the Measure which we will go on to now.

PART 3 - ASSESSMENTS OF FORMER USERS OF SECONDARY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The aim of Part 3 of the Measure is to make it easier for people who are not currently receiving secondary mental health services, but who have been done so in the previous three years, to access those services again. It gives them the right, if they believe their mental health is deteriorating to the point where they need specialist care and treatment again, to refer themselves directly back to secondary services, without first having to see a GP or go elsewhere for a referral.

This part of the Measure, which came into force in June 2012, puts a duty on Local Health Boards and Local Authorities to have arrangements in place to respond to such self-referrals, and to undertake timely assessments.

The Code of Practice which we referred to for Part 2 also has a chapter, Chapter 8, about Part 3. The key points are that:

a person over 18 who has been known to secondary mental health services within the previous three years and still lives in the local area is entitled to "seek a further assessment of their mental health, with a view to determining whether secondary mental health services (or other services) may be required to improve or prevent a deterioration of their mental health" (8.18)

this right is for the person alone, and does not extend to families or carers, although families and carers are still encouraged to inform services of important concerns (8.20)

an assessment has to be undertaken "in a timely manner" (8.39)

after the assessment is completed, a report must be written setting out whether further services have been identified and this must be given to the person within 10 working days (8.38/39).

PART 4 - INDEPENDENT MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCAY (IMHA)

The Mental Health Act 2007, which amended the Mental Health Act 1983, gave people detained under the Act an important new right to receive help and support from an Independent Mental Health Advocate (or IMHA). However, this right was only available to people under longer-term sections (Sections 2 and 3) and to people living in the community subject to Guardianship or Supervised Community Treatment.

Part 4 of the Measure is the only part that directly amends the Mental Health Act for people in Wales and it does so by extending the right to IMHA to all people admitted to psychiatric hospitals. Specifically it extends the right to:

patients on the shorter-term, emergency sections of the Act (principally Sections 4 and 5), and

patients in hospital voluntarily or "informally" (in other words, not subject to the Mental Health Act).

This Part of the Measure came into force fully in April 2012 with the clear aim of improving the experience of mental health services for all inpatients, assisting them in making informed decisions about their care and treatment, and supporting them in getting their voices heard.

There isn't a Code of Practice covering Part 4 but detailed guidance and further information is available in the Welsh Government document " Delivering the Independent Mental Health Advocacy Service in Wales: Guidance for Independent Mental Health Advocacy Providers and Local Health Board Advocacy Service Planners (2011). (link)

Some key points from this guidance are (where there is a direct reference to the guidance document, the paragraph number is in brackets):

Role of IMHAs - IMHAs must be independent (50) and have a key role in helping patients to obtain and understand information about their care and treatment. They may help a patient become involved, or more involved, in decisions made about their care and treatment, and/or represent the patient and speak on their behalf (54 to 57).

Rights and Duties of IMHAs - IMHAs have a duty to respond to any reasonable request to visit and interview a patient they are helping, and they have the right to visit and interview that person in private. They also have the right to visit and interview any person who is professionally concerned with a patient's medical treatment (58 to 68).

Information about IMHAs - The Guidance sets out which statutory authority has the duty to inform the patient, or their Nearest Relative, of the right to the help of an IMHA (69 to 75).

Responsibility for the IMHA Service - The responsibility for extending the IMHA service falls to Local Health Boards who have a duty to commission an independent organisation to provide it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mental Health Measure - Mental Health Wales

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 is a new law passed by the National Assembly for Wales and, as such, has the same legal status in Wales as other Mental Health Acts.

# data[].attributes.body
A collection of links relating to The Mental Health Act, Financial Help, Carers Resources.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Psychosis is when people lose some contact with reality. This might involve seeing or hearing things that other people cannot see or hear (hallucinations) and believing things that are not actually true (delusions).

Symptoms of psychosis

The 2 main symptoms of psychosis are:

hallucinations - where a person hears, sees and, in some cases, feels, smells or tastes things that do not exist outside their mind but can feel very real to the person affected by them; a common hallucination is hearing voices

delusions - where a person has strong beliefs that are not shared by others; a common delusion is someone believing there's a conspiracy to harm them

The combination of hallucinations and delusional thinking can cause severe distress and a change in behaviour.

Experiencing the symptoms of psychosis is often referred to as having a psychotic episode.

When to seek medical advice

You should see a GP immediately if you're experiencing symptoms of psychosis.

It's important psychosis is treated as soon as possible, as early treatment can be more effective.

The GP may ask you some questions to help determine what's causing your psychosis.

They should also refer you to a mental health specialist for further assessment and treatment.
Find out more about diagnosing psychosis

Getting help for others

If you're concerned about someone you know, you could contact a GP for them.

If they're receiving support from a mental health service, you could contact their mental health worker.

If you think the person's symptoms are severe enough to require urgent treatment and could be placing them at possible risk, you can:

A number of mental health helplines are also available that can offer expert advice.
Find out more about how to get help for others

Causes of psychosis

It's sometimes possible to identify the cause of psychosis as a specific mental health condition, such as:

schizophrenia - a condition that causes a range of psychological symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions

bipolar disorder - a mental health condition that affects mood; a person with bipolar disorder can have episodes of low mood (depression) and highs or elated mood (mania)

severe depression - some people with depression also have symptoms of psychosis when they're very depressed

Psychosis can also be triggered by:

How often a psychotic episode occurs and how long it lasts can depend on the underlying cause.

Treating psychosis

Treatment for psychosis involves using a combination of:

antipsychotic medicine - which can help relieve the symptoms of psychosis

psychological therapies - the 1-to-1 talking therapy cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has proved successful in helping people with psychosis, and family interventions (a form of therapy that may involve partners, family members and close friends) have been shown to reduce the need for hospital treatment in people with psychosis

social support - support with social needs, such as education, employment or accommodation

Some people are recommended to take antipsychotics on a long-term basis (and possibly for the rest of their lives). Other people may be able to gradually reduce their dosage and then stop taking them altogether if there is a marked improvement in symptoms.

Do not stop suddenly taking any prescribed medicines as this could trigger a relapse of your symptoms.

If a person's psychotic episodes are severe, they may need to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.

Complications of psychosis

People with a history of psychosis are more likely than others to have drug or alcohol misuse problems, or both.

Some people use these substances as a way of managing psychotic symptoms.

But substance abuse can make psychotic symptoms worse or cause other problems.

Self-harm and suicide

People with psychosis have a higher than average risk of self-harm and suicide.

See a GP if you're self-harming.

You can also call the Samaritans, free of charge, on 116 123 for support.

The mental health charity Mind also has some useful information and advice.

If you think a friend or relative is self-harming, look out for signs of unexplained cuts, bruises or cigarette burns, usually on the wrists, arms, thighs and chest.

People who self-harm may keep themselves covered up at all times, even in hot weather.

Read more about:

If you're feeling suicidal, you can:

call the Samaritans support service on 116 123

go to your nearest A&E and tell the staff how you're feeling

contact NHS 111

speak to a friend, family member or someone you trust

make an urgent appointment to see a GP or your psychiatrist or care team

Read more about warning signs of suicide

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Psychosis is when people lose some contact with reality. This might involve seeing or hearing things that other people cannot see or hear (hallucinations) and believing things that are not actually true (delusions).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Is psychosis a diagnosis or a symptom?

The word psychosis is usually used to refer to an experience. It is a symptom of certain mental health problems rather than a diagnosis itself.

Doctors and psychiatrists may describe someone as experiencing psychosis rather than giving them a specific diagnosis. Some people prefer this.

If you are diagnosed with one or more of these conditions then you may experience psychosis. Alternatively, if you experience psychosis (and you have other symptoms too), then you may be given one of these diagnoses:

Some people experience psychosis on its own. If you experience psychosis for less than a month and your doctor doesn't think that another diagnosis describes your symptoms better, you may receive the diagnosis of 'brief psychotic disorder'.

See our types of psychosisand causes of psychosis pages for more information.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The word psychosis is usually used to refer to an experience. It is a symptom of certain mental health problems rather than a diagnosis itself. Doctors and psychiatrists may describe someone as experiencing psychosis rather than giving them a specific diagnosis. Some people prefer this.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The term 'psychosis' is used to describe when a person loses touch with reality. Young people can behave very differently when they are feeling stressed, confused or very upset. In fact, these are rarely signs of mental illness. Psychosis is usually more severe and disabling.

How common is psychosis?

Psychosis can affect people of all ages but becomes increasingly common as people reach young adulthood.

What causes psychosis?

When a person has a psychotic episode, it can be a signal of an underlying illness. They can have a 'psychotic breakdown' after a stressful event, such as losing a close friend or relative. It can also be the result of the use of illegal drugs like cannabis, or a severe mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

The phases of psychosis

In a typical case of psychosis, it can be thought of as having three stages; the prodromal phase, the acute phase and the recovery phase.

Prodromal phase:
You may notice that they have difficulty following their normal routines, such as washing, dressing, or going to school or work. They may withdraw from family and friends and lose interest in your hobbies. During this period some people also develop a feeling that "things do not seem right" or that something strange is beginning to happen. People can also begin to feel anxious or depressed. This is also described as the ' at risk' phase.
Whilst most people with these experiences don't go on to develop psychosis, if you feel they are distressing you or impacting their life, then you should encourage them to consider approaching their GP or someone who they trust such a parent or tutor.

Acute phase:
During this phase, they would experience the symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations, delusions and changes in thinking. This is the stage where they would most commonly be referred to mental health services or to an Early Intervention Service, who will discuss treatment options with them. It may also be possible for you to refer them, or for your family member to refer themselves, directly to an Early Intervention Service.

Recovery phase:
At this stage, people start to recover, experience less of the distressing symptoms and begin to re-establish relationships with friends and family. This is also the time that people consider their plans for the future such as work, education and training. The Early Intervention Service will provide ongoing support throughout this period.
It is important to know that most people make a good recovery from psychosis
Ways to support someone with psychosis

Educate yourself
The best way to understand the illness is to look into it. There are plenty of websites that can help you gain an understanding of psychosis, including understanding treatment. You have already begun this process by accessing this website. There are plenty of resources availablehere.

Be compassionate, listen
It is hard to overemphasise the importance of care, kindness, listening and emotional support in times of distress, and this is often the most important thing you can offer.

Remember that recovery is possible
Your friend/ family member may feel down and unhopeful - remind them that recovery is possible. There are many mental health websites and books that can help inspire them.

Look after yourself
You may be caring for someone who is suffering from psychosis, but it is important to look after yourself too. Be realistic about what you can do, talk to someone about how you are feeling, and if things get overwhelming - Take a break
It is also important to remember that once your relative or friend is involved with services, you are entitled to a carer's assessment. There may also be carers groups in the service or within other organisations.

Hold on
Like all mental health problems, recovery from psychosis is rarely in a straight line. It is important to hold on to hope and optimism in recovery. Your involvement can be a crucial element to their recovery.

When should they seek help?

If you think that they are at risk of causing harm to themselves or others, you can:

Take them to see their GP. The GP is the best point of contact.

Take them to the nearest A&E Department

Dial 999 and ask for emergency services

You should seek help from your GP immediately if you have concerns about your mental health. They should refer to you a mental health specialist for further assessment and treatment.

Your GP may ask you some questions to help determine what's causing your psychosis. They should refer you to a mental health specialist for further assessment and treatment.

If you are currently in services and are experiencing a crisis, please refer to your care & treatment plan and contact your care co-ordinator or out of hours services.
Click here to find your nearest service

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Information for Carers & Family Members | Psychosis Wales

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The term 'psychosis' is used to describe when a person loses touch with reality. Young people can behave very differently when they are feeling stressed, confused or very upset. In fact, these are rarely signs of mental illness. Psychosis is usually more severe and disabling.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Symptomau cyffredin

Clywed lleisiau

Rhithweledigaethau - gweld pethau nad yw eraill yn eu gweld

Credu neu feddwl am bethau anarferol, a gaiff eu hystyried yn rhyfedd gan eraill

Profi bod eu canfyddiad o amrywiol bethau a sefyllfaoedd yn newid

Rhoi ystyr personol i wrthrychau pob-dydd

Profi meddyliau paranoid

Ynglŷn â seicosis

Mae seicosis yn disgrifio sefyllfa ble mae nifer o symptomau neu brofiadau yn digwydd ar yr un pryd. Bydd symptomau'n amrywio rhwng wahanol bobl, ond y brif nodwedd gyffredin yw nad ydyn nhw'n dueddol o brofi realiti yn yr un modd ag eraill.

Bydd rhai pobl yn profi un 'episod' yn unig o seicosis yn ystod eu bywyd, gan wella'n llwyr ar ei ol. Ond, i nifer, gall fod yn broses tipyn hirach. Mae'n bosib y bydd unigolyn sy'n dioddef seicosis yn:

clywed, arogli, teimlo neu weld pethau yn wahanol i eraill (rhith-weld);

meddwl am neu gredu ym mhethau rhyfedd sy'n aml yn gwneud iddynt deimlo eu bod yn cael eu rheoli neu eu haflonyddu (rhithdybiau);

ymddangos yn gynhyrfus neu fel eu bod yn tynnu'n ôl oddi wrth eraill ac yn osgoi cysylltiad gyda phobl

Fodd bynnag, yn aml iawn ni fydd unigolyn sy'n byw â seicosis yn sylweddoli fod unrhyw beth o'i le (diffyg dirnadaeth).

Gwneud diagnosis

Oherwydd tebygrwydd symptomau seicosis i'r rheiny a brofir gyda sgitsoffrenia, anhwylder deubegwn ac iselder seicotig, does dim un prawf penodol ar ei gyfer. Profir symptomau a chyrrhaeddir diagnosis drwy siarad â'r unigolyn a pherthynas neu ffrind agos er mwyn deall hanes yr unigolyn yn ogystal â beth arall all fod yn achosi'r symptomau.

Triniaethau

Bydd meddyginiaeth yn cael ei roi cyn gynted ag y bo modd er mwyn ceisio helpu gyda'r symptomau mwyaf annifyr a gall hyn helpu'r posiblrwydd y bydd mathau eraill o gymorth yn llwyddiannus. Defnyddir nifer o wahanol driniaethau ar y cyd â'r feddyginiaeth, neu ar eu pen eu hunain. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys therapïau siarad (seicotherapi) a therapi ymddygiad gwybyddol (CBT). Yn aml hefyd, bydd y pecyn gofal yn nodi'r angen i dderbyn therapi teulu fel rhan greiddiol o'r ymyrraeth.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Clywed lleisiau Rhithweledigaethau - gweld pethau nad yw eraill yn eu gweld Credu neu feddwl am bethau anarferol, a gaiff eu hystyried yn rhyfedd gan eraill Profi bod eu canfyddiad o amrywiol bethau a sefyllfaoedd yn newid Rhoi ystyr personol i wrthrychau pob-dydd Profi meddyliau paranoid Mae seicosis yn disgrifio sefyllfa ble mae nifer o symptomau neu brofiadau yn digwydd ar yr un pryd.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Rethink is a national mental health charity supporting everyone affected by severe mental illness to recover a better quality of life. They provide services (including respite breaks for relatives and support workers), have a network of over 150 local support groups many run by relatives and run campaigns. The Rethink website has useful information for relatives, including sibling relatives. A good starting place is the 'how can we help section'
www.rethink.org/living_with_mental_illness/caring/index.html
You can find out about local groups through the Rethink website home page.

Web: www.rethink.org

Email: info@rethink.org

Phone: 0121522700789

89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
REACT is the 'Relatives Education And Coping Toolkit'. REACT is an online self-help package (toolkit) for relatives and friends of people with mental health problems associated with psychosis or bipolar disorder.

# data[].attributes.headline
Taking care of yourself - Slam Recovery College/Rethink

# data[].attributes.subject
Taking care of yourself - Slam Recovery College/Rethink

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Universal Credit is replacing 6 other benefits with a single monthly payment if you’re out of work or on a low income - eligibility, how to prepare.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Some benefits and tax credits are ending and being replaced by Universal Credit.

Universal Credit is a single monthly payment to help with your living costs and provides support if you are working and on a low income or are looking for work

Find out more about Universal Credit.

The following benefits and tax credits are ending and being replaced by Universal Credit:

Child Tax Credit

Working Tax Credit

Housing Benefit

Income Support

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Look out for a letter called a Universal Credit Migration Notice from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) explaining what you'll need to do and when. You can find out when you're likely to be asked to move to Universal Credit.

When you receive your Migration Notice letter, it's important you check the date that you will need to claim by as you won't be moved automatically. Do not worry, your letter will give you instructions to follow. Meanwhile, you can start to prepare for your move to Universal Credit.

Find out how much you're likely to get on Universal Credit.

Your current benefits will end as soon as you submit your claim for Universal Credit. You will not be able to go back to your existing benefit once you have claimed.

Find out about the support available to you and who to speak to for independent advice.

If you are in Northern Ireland, please visit NI Direct.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Move to Universal Credit explains if you'll be moving to Universal Credit with information on when and how to apply and the support available

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Personal Independence Payment ( PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:

You can get PIP even if you're working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

You can also read about PIP in Welsh (Cymraeg).

How PIP works

There are 2 parts to PIP:

a daily living part - if you need help with everyday tasks

a mobility part - if you need help with getting around

Whether you get one or both parts and how much you get depends on how difficult you find everyday tasks and getting around.

Daily living part

You might get the daily living part of PIP if you need help with:

preparing food

eating and drinking

managing your medicines or treatments

washing and bathing

using the toilet

dressing and undressing

reading

managing your money

socialising and being around other people

talking, listening and understanding

Mobility part

You might get the mobility part of PIP if you need help with:

working out a route and following it

physically moving around

leaving your home

You do not have to have a physical disability to get the mobility part. You might also be eligible if you have difficulty getting around because of a cognitive or mental health condition, like anxiety.

How difficulty with tasks is assessed

The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP) will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they'll look at:

whether you can do it safely

how long it takes you

how often your condition affects this activity

whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment

Help with PIP

If you need help understanding or applying for PIP you can:

If you live in Scotland

You need to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) instead of PIP.

If you currently get PIP, you'll be automatically moved to ADP by summer 2024.

When the move begins, you'll get letters from DWP and Social Security Scotland. Read more about the moving process.

If you move from Scotland to England or Wales

If you get ADP and move from Scotland to England or Wales, you must make a new claim for PIP instead.

Your ADP will stop 13 weeks after you move - apply for PIP as soon as possible after moving or your payments could be affected.

If you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is being replaced by PIP for most adults. You'll keep getting DLA if:

you're under 16

you were born on or before 8 April 1948

If you were born after 8 April 1948, DWP will invite you to apply for PIP. You do not need to do anything until DWP writes to you about your DLA unless your circumstances change.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - how and when to claim, rates, eligibility.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There are 3 stages to claiming PIP:

1. Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and fill in the PIP1 form - they can do this for you over the phone

2. Fill in the 'How your disability affects you' form - you can choose to get a paper form by post or get an email with a link to an online form

3. Go to a medical assessment

It can take up to 6 months from when you first contact the DWP to when you get your first payment. If the DWP decide you can get PIP, they'll pay you the money you should have got from the date you started your claim.

You can't backdate PIP - this means you won't get any money for time before you made your claim.

It's best to start your claim by calling the DWP - it's quicker than writing to them. If they decide you can get PIP, they'll pay you the money you should have got from the date you called them.

You'll need to have this information when you call the DWP:

your full name, address and phone number

your National Insurance number

your bank or building society account details

contact details of your GP or other health professionals you deal with

the dates and details of any stays in hospital or residential care

your nationality or immigration status

if you've been abroad for more than 4 weeks at a time in the last 3 years (you'll need the dates and details)

Personal Independence Payment claim line
Telephone: 0800 917 2222
Textphone: 0800 917 7777

Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 917 2222

You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There's no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.

Video relay - if you use British Sign Language (BSL).

You can find out how to use video relay on YouTube.

Calling from abroad: +44 191 218 7766

Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

It should take about 20 minutes to complete the call. If you'd prefer someone else to call for you that's fine, but you need to be with them so you can give permission for them to speak for you.

The DWP will ask if you want them to send you the 'How your disability affects you' form by post or by email.

The DWP will also ask if you have any conditions relating to your mental health, a learning difficulty or behavioural condition. They ask these questions to check if you need any additional help or support with your claim.

If you want to apply by post

It's quicker to apply by phone, but if that isn't possible you can write to the DWP and ask for a PIP1 form.

Write to the PIP New Claims address. You'll need to tell them why you (or someone else) can't fill in the PIP1 form over the phone.
Personal Independence Payment New Claims
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 1AH

When you get the PIP1 form, fill it in and send it to the address on the form as soon as possible. You must send it back within 1 month after the DWP got your letter - that might be a few days before you get the form.

If the DWP decide you can get PIP, they'll pay you the money you should have got from the date they received the PIP1 form.

Check what happens after you start your claim

The DWP will check if you meet the basic conditions to get PIP - for example if you're living in Great Britain.

If they think you meet the basic conditions, they'll post the 'How your disability affects you' form to you - or send you an email with a link to the online form.

While you're waiting, it's worth thinking about:

If the DWP don't think you meet the basic conditions, they'll send you a decision letter to say you've been refused and why. If you think the decision is wrong, you can challenge the DWP's decision.

Video from the DWP - Claiming Personal Independence Payment

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There are 3 stages to claiming PIP: Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and fill in the PIP1 form - they can do this for you over the phone Fill in the 'How your disability affects you' form - you can choose to get a paper form by post or get an email with a link to an online form Go to a medical assessment It can take up to 6 months from when you first contact the DWP to when you get your first payment.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Skip to content

Skip to navigation

Who we are

Our vision and impact

2021-23 strategy

Our history

Our values

Becoming an anti-racist organisation

People and governance

Accounts and funding

Gender pay gap report

What we do

Our services and groups

Advice and information service

Mental health service provider

Community Mental Health Unit

Mental Health Training

Mental Health Navigators

Mental Health Breathing Space

Work with us

Volunteer with us

News and stories

News

Blogs

Supporters & ambassadors

Share your story

About mental illness

Learn more about conditions

Learn more about symptoms

Advice in other languages

Rights & Restrictions

Mental Health Laws

Rights and restrictions

Police, courts and prison

Living with mental illness

Medications

Treatment and support

COVID-19 and mental health

Wellbeing & physical health

Money, benefits and mental health

We Are Undefeatable

Carers hub

Responding to unusual behaviour

Carer's assessment - Under the Care Act 2014

Confidentiality and Information Sharing - For Carers, Friends and Family

Does mental illness run in families?

Rethink Trust Corporation

Browse all topics

Ways to give

Virtual fundraising events

Donate today

Fundraising

Gifts in memory

A gift in your will

Our partnerships

Give as you earn

Become a member

Campaign with us

A fairer benefits system and financial support

Right treatment, right time

Physical health

Rights, involvement and co-production

The difference we make

Resources and reports

The Janey Antoniou Awards

Awareness days and events

Carers Week 2022

World Mental Health Day

Mental Health Awareness Week

Time to Talk Day

World Bipolar Day

World Suicide Prevention Day

OCD Awareness Week

National Schizophrenia Awareness Day

1. Advice and information

2. Living with mental illness

3. Money, benefits and mental health

Money and mental health are linked. Living with a mental health condition can make managing money more difficult. And money issues can affect mental health. Find out here what help is available to you.

Money, benefits and mental health

Worrying about money can affect your mental health and living with a mental health condition can make managing money more difficult. This can lead to you being in a 'vicious cycle.'

This money and mental health page signposts you to our dedicated Mental Health & Money Advice website.  It aims to help you understand, manage and improve your mental health and money issues.

Welfare benefits and mental health

Financial help during a crisis

The Mental Health Access to Breathing Space Scheme will help take the pressure off people with debt issues while they are receiving crisis treatment and up to 30 days after.

Managing money with a mental Illness

Mental health and money tools

We care about your privacy
This website uses cookies to give you the best experience.
Read our updated privacy policy and cookies policy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Living with a mental health condition can make managing money and securing work more difficult. This section can help you understand what you can do.

# data[].attributes.body
Clear, practical advice and support for people experiencing issues with mental health and money

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How can we help?

We know everybody's different, but choose the statement that best describes you or your situation and we'll suggest some relevant topics.

Still not sure where to start?

Don't worry. We're here to help guide you to the information you need. Use the links below and we'll point you in the right direction.

/media/1131/homepage-man1.jpg
/media/1133/homepage-woman3.jpg
/media/1138/homepage-woman5.jpg
/media/1136/homepage-woman2.jpg
/media/1141/homepage-man3.jpg
/media/1142/homepage-woman4.jpg
/media/1144/homepage-man4.jpg
/media/1147/homepage-man2.jpg
/media/1145/homepage-woman1.jpg

/media/1130/homepage-man1-m.jpg
/media/1132/homepage-woman3-m.jpg
/media/1134/homepage-man4-m.jpg
/media/1135/homepage-woman2-m.jpg
/media/1137/homepage-woman4-m.jpg
/media/1140/homepage-woman1-m.jpg
/media/1139/homepage-man3-m.jpg
/media/1143/homepage-woman5-m.jpg
/media/1146/homepage-man2-m.jpg

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Mental Health and Money Advice service

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Mental Health and Money Advice service help and support people understand, manage and improve their money and mental health issues.

# data[].attributes.body
The recovery process will vary from person to person in terms of duration and degree of functional improvement. Some people will recover from the psychosis very quickly and be ready to return to their life and responsibilities soon after. Other individuals will need time to respond to treatment and may need to return to their responsibilities more gradually.

Recovery from the first episode usually takes a number of months

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This page looks at what it means to recover from a mental illness. We focus on personal recovery and suggest different ways that you can help your own recovery. Not everything in this section will help you to recover from your illness. But we hope that it will help you to work out what you find useful.

What is recovery?

What is recovery?

There are 2 different meanings for recovery.

These are:

clinical recovery, and

personal recovery.

But there is often an overlap between them.

Dealing with symptoms is important to a lot of people. But we think recovery is wider than this, we call it 'personal recovery.'

Personal recovery is individual to you. What is important to you, is likely to be different to what is important to someone else.

Don't be afraid to think about what you would like to do and work towards that goal.

Below are some ways you can think of recovery.

Taking steps to get closer to where you would like to be.

Feeling part of the local community.

Achieving something that you found difficult to do. Such as getting out of the house.

Feeling able to look in the mirror and feel comfortable with who and what you see.

Liking yourself.

Thinking more positively.

Feeling settled with your treatment plan.

Feeling in more control of your emotions.

Having a better social life.

Being able to have a healthy relationship.

Having hope for the future.

Recovery is an ongoing process. It is normal to have difficulties or setbacks along the way. You could describe yourself as 'recovered' at any stage in your recovery if you feel things are better than they were before.

What can help me recover?

What can help me recover?

You will recover in your own way. There is no right or wrong way, it is personal. Some people call this process a 'recovery journey'.

The following areas may be helpful for you to explore as part of your recovery journey.

There is more information about each of the above on this page.

Hope

Hope is a key part of recovery. You might find it helpful to read stories from people about their recovery. You can find this information online. Have a look at the following websites as a first step.

You could join a support group. A support group is where people come together to share information, experiences and give each other support.

See below about support groups for more information about how to find a group.

You could also contact an emotional support line for support. You can find a list of emotional support lines at the end of this page.

Acceptance

Your recovery journey may be easier if you learn to accept your illness and the difficulties it causes. You may have to accept that there are some things that you can't do anymore. But focus on what you can do. You are more likely to reach your goal if it is realistic.

Acceptance may help you to make positive changes and help you to reach new goals.

It might help you to:

read about your illness or symptoms. And

talk to other people with similar issues. Or who have the same diagnosis as you.

See below about support groups for more information about how to find a group.

Spiritual or religious beliefs and practices may also help you to make sense of your experiences and find meaning.

You can find more about 'Spirituality, Religion and Mental Illness' by clicking here.

Control

Take control of your life. You are in control of you. Do what is best for you.

It may be helpful to think about these questions.

What makes me happy?

How can I be happier?

What do I want to have changed in my life by this time next year?

How can I do it?

Do I need support to do it?

Who can support me?

Control may mean that you are more involved with your medication and treatment options. A community advocate may be able to help you if you struggle to get your opinion heard. A community advocate is free to use and doesn't work for the NHS. Speak to your family, doctor or other health professionals if you want more support to do what you would like to do.

You could write down when you feel mentally unwell or stressed. You should include things like:

The mood diary could also help you to identify things which can make you unwell. These things are known as 'triggers.' Identifying your triggers can help you to have more control over your stress levels.

There is a template for a mental health diary in the factsheet above that you can download from this page.

To help you to set yourself a goal, think about what is important to you.

These can be goals such as, giving yourself a routine and sticking to it. Or goals such as making new friends or changing your job.

Some goals will need more work than other goals. And will take longer to achieve. Make sure that you are realistic with your goals. You don't want to give yourself a goal which you are unlikely to be able to do. This is likely to have a negative impact on your mental wellbeing.

Whatever you decide to do make sure that you stick to it. There is not a quick fix and change will take time.

Below is an example plan.

Peter's Plan

What is your goal?

What is your deadline?

I am going to gradually change my eating habits over the next year

How are you going to prepare for this activity?

How will you do this activity?

I am going to find a healthy and affordable recipe to cook within the next 2 days

I am going to buy the ingredients for this on Friday

I am going to leave myself plenty of time to cook this on Saturday

If I like it, I will cook it again in the week.

Next week I will do the same thing with a different recipe.

What will you do when you have finished your task?

I will acknowledge that I have achieved something which I found difficult

I will reward myself by doing something that I enjoy

What will you do if you haven't stuck to your deadline?

You may be entitled to get help from social services. Social support can include support to help you to do things like:

get out of the house,

keep in touch with friends and family,

get a job or take part in education,

prepare meals or go shopping, and

manage money.

The Care Act 2014 gives local authorities the duty to assess people who are in need of care and support. This is called a needs assessment. The assessment must look at:

how your needs affect your wellbeing,

what you want to do in your day to day life, and

if social care would help you do what you want to do.

You will be given help if you have needs that qualify for support.

You will have a financial assessment to work out if you have to pay for some or all of your care. Some people will be entitled to free care from the local authority.

You can find more information about:

Medication. Choice and managing problems by clicking here.

Advocacy by clicking here.

Social care assessment under the Care Act 2014 by clicking here.

Social care - care and support planning by clicking here.

Stability

Money and housing worries can cause a lot of stress and make mental health problems worse. Secure finances and a suitable place to live can be important for your recovery.

Get help early if you start to have money or housing problems. If you ignore issues, they are unlikely to go away on their own. And may get worse.

You can find more information about:

Debt and Money Management by clicking here.

Debt - Options when you are in debt by clicking here.

Housing options by clicking here.

Relationships

Contact with people can help you to stay well. Contact with people could be the following.

Face to face. You could visit a friend.

Online. You can use a free online programme such as 'Skype' or 'WhatsApp' to speak to family or friends.

Online forums. This is where people talk about a subject.

Telephone call.

Text message.

E-mail.

Letter.

You do not have to talk about your mental illness unless you want to. Talking to people about anything you like can have a positive effect on your mental health.

Below are some things you can do if you want to make more contact with other people.

Get back in touch with people you already know.

Join support groups.

Join online forums.

Join social groups such as through 'Meet up.'

Join a recovery college.

Volunteer with a charity you care about.

Contact a befriending service.

Look for local classes or clubs that interest you.

Get help from the NHS or local authority.

Speak to emotional support lines.

Get into work or training.

You could tell them about any care plans that you have and tell them about any goals you have.

They may be able to offer you better support if they understand your illness. You could suggest that they read information about your illness.

We have factsheets on different mental health conditions which you can download at www.rethink.org. You and your family may also find family intervention useful.

This should be offered to people who you live with or who you are in close contact with. The support that you and your family are given will depend on what problems there are and what preferences you all have. This could be group family sessions or individual sessions. Your family should get support for 3 months to 1 year and should have at least 10 planned sessions.

Keeping a mood diary may help you to identify people who are making you feel unwell or stressed. There is a template for a mood diary diary in the factsheet above that you can download from this page.

Support groups

Joining a support group can be a good way to help yourself. Support groups may give you hope for the future or help you to take control of your life. They are a place where you can share experiences with others and get mutual support. You can search for local support groups below:

There are also online support services:

Or you can call the Rethink Mental Illness Advice Service on 0300 5000 927. We may be able to help find a support group for you.

Emotional support lines

You can contact an emotional support lines for support. Emotional support lines are also known as listening services. They are a place that you can off load how you are feeling to someone who is trained to listen. Emotional support lines are not the same as counselling. Counselling is also known as talking treatment.

You can find a list of emotional support lines at the bottom of this page.

NHS Support

There are different types of support that you can get from the NHS.

Often there are different medications that are used to treat the same symptoms. You may start your recovery journey by finding a medication that helps your symptoms and has the least amount of side effects for you.

Medication is helpful for a lot of people but not everyone needs it to recover. If you do use medication, or are thinking about using medication, it is important to remember that it may not work straight away.

Other treatment options may be important to you such as:

Complementary therapies are not generally available on the NHS.

A link worker will work with you to find out what is important to you. They can connect you with local support such as:

Unfortunately, recovery colleges are not available in all areas. To see if there is a recovery college in your area you can use a search engine such as Google. Or contact Rethink Mental Illness Advice Service on 0300 5000 927 and we can try and find one local to you.

You can find more information about:

Talking treatments by clicking here.

Medication. Choice and managing problems by clicking here.

Complementary and alternative treatments by clicking here.

Lifestyle

Making small lifestyle changes can improve your wellbeing and can help your recovery.

This could be a simple routine such as eating at the same time each day, going to bed at the same time each day and buying food once per week.

You can also include time for your new activity into your daily or weekly routine.

To learn new skills, you could try the following.

Volunteer

Study

Get a job

Talk to your employer about new things that you can learn as part of your job

Do housework or gardening

Learn a new hobby

Go to a class

Get a pet

Exercise

Not getting enough sleep can cause problems such as poor concentration and low mood. Long term sleep issues can lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

If you struggle with sleep, you can try to:

talk to your doctor,

refer yourself for NHS talking therapy, or

practice sleep hygiene.

Sleep hygiene means things like:

having a regular bedtime routine,

only using your bed for sleep,

exercising regularly but avoiding lots of exercise too close to bedtime,

cutting down on caffeine, especially in the evening,

making the place you sleep is a comfortable temperature,

making sure the place you sleep is dark,

not using your phone or computer immediately before bedtime, and

making sure that the place you sleep is tidy.

Exercise can be as good as antidepressants or talking treatments for mild depression.

GP's can prescribe exercise in some areas in the UK. This is part of social prescribing. See social prescribing above on this page for more information.

If you need some support to start exercising you could look at the information on the 'We are undefeatable' website. We are undefeatable is an exercise campaign that Rethink Mental Illness are involved with. Click the below link for more information:
www.weareundefeatable.co.uk/
You can read more about how physical health and lifestyle changes below:

Reward yourself

Make sure you reward yourself for any positive changes you make.

It is all too easy to be hard on yourself. Often, we are our own worst critic.

Remember to congratulate yourself for any achievement. And be kind to yourself when you haven't achieved a goal.

Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Plus. Formerly living without

Depression and Manic Depression - Mary Ellen Copeland, PhD. The Wellness Recovery Action Plan® or WRAP® is a self-designed wellness process. You can use a WRAP to get well, stay well and make your life your own. It was developed in 1997 by a group of people who were searching for ways to overcome their own mental health issues and move on to fulfilling their life dreams and goals.

Website: www.mentalhealthrecovery.com

Staying Well with bi-polar Guide. Rethink Mental Illness.

Staying well with bipolar is a guide based on the research conducted by Rethink Mental Illness. It is based on the personal experiences and learning of 32 people

Website: www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/living-with-mentalillness/treatment-and-support/staying-well-with-bipolar/

Live your best working life. Mental Health UK

Mental Health UK is made up of 4 national mental health charities working across the country. Such as Rethink Mental Illness. They provide videos and information to help to iprove your life The Live your best working life page has tips and ideas to help you manage your mental health and wellbeing so you can be your best at work.

Website: www.mentalhealth-uk.org/best-working-life

Recovery Star

Developed by the Mental Health Providers Forum, the recovery star measures outcomes to allow people to measure their recovery progress.

Website: www.mentalhealthpartnerships.com/resource/recovery-star

Emotional Support lines

Samaritans
Can be contacted by telephone, letter, e-mail and mini-com. There's also a face-to-face service, available at their local branches. They are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Sane Line
Work with anyone affected by mental illness, including families, friends and carers. Their helpline is open between 4:30pm and 10.30pm every day of the year. They also provide a free text-based support service called Textcare and an online supportive forum community where anyone can share their experiences of mental health.

Telephone: 0300 304 7000 (4:30pm - 10:30pm every evening)
Textcare: www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/support/textcare
Support Forum: www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/support/supportforum
Website: www.sane.org.uk

Support Line
They offer confidential emotional support to children, young adults and adults by telephone, email and post. They work with callers to develop healthy, positive coping strategies, an inner feeling of strength and increased self-esteem to encourage healing, recovery and moving forward with life. Their opening hours vary so you need to ring them for details.

Telephone: 01708 765200
E-mail: info@supportline.org.uk
Website: www.supportline.org.uk

Papyrus UK
Work with people under 35 who are having suicidal feelings. And with people who are worried about someone under 35. Their helpline is open 9am - 10pm in the week. And between 2pm and 10pm at weekends and bank holidays.

C.A.L.M. (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
Aimed specifically at men. Their helpline is open between 5pm and midnight every day of the year.

Telephone (outside London): 0800 58 58 58
Telephone (London): 0808 802 58 58
Webchat: through the website
Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Silverline
Aimed at people over 55. The Silver Line operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. They also offer telephone friendship where we match volunteers with older people based on their interests, facilitated group calls, and help to connect people with local services in their area.

Telephone: 0800 4 70 80 90
Website: www.thesilverline.org.uk

The Mix
Aimed at people under 25. Their helpline is open between 4pm and 11pm, 7 days a week. They also run a crisis text service which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 0808 808 4994
E-mail: through the website.
Crisis text message service: Text THEMIX to 85258
Webchat: through the website. (4pm - 11pm, 7 days a week - chats may not be connected after 10:15pm)
Website: www.themix.org.uk

Mood Swings
Aimed at anyone affected by a mood disorder, including friends, families and carers.

If you are in crisis you can contact the following text support service for help and support:

Shout
If you're experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support, text Shout to 85258. Shout can help with urgent issues such as suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying and relationship challenges.

Text: Text Shout to 85258
Website: www.giveusashout.org/

This website uses cookies to give you the best experience.
We care about your privacy

Read our updatedprivacy policy and cookies policy

Accept all mandatory cookies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Recovery can mean different things to different people. Recovery can mean managing your illness and having a good quality of life so you are able to do the things you enjoy. This page can help you find out more about recovery and what support is available to you.

# data[].attributes.headline
What is life after psychosis like? Stories of three individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia

# data[].attributes.subject
What is life after psychosis like? Stories of three individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia

# data[].attributes.headline
Real life stories of recovery from psychosis: South Yorkshire NHS

# data[].attributes.subject
Real life stories of recovery from psychosis: South Yorkshire NHS

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Personal experiences of having a mental health problem have been captured and published in Powerful Minds, a booklet which shares the stories of people who have experienced psychosis.

Personal experiences of having a mental health problem have been captured and published in Powerful Minds, a booklet which shares the stories of people who have experienced psychosis. Together with the perspectives of parents and partners, the result is a collection of honest and open accounts written with the aim of helping other people who may be going through the same thing.

The project came about as a result of a comment made by a man who used the Wakefield Insight team, which is for people who are thought to be experiencing psychosis or be at risk of this developing. He said he felt that being able to read about others' experiences of psychosis and recovery would really have helped him.

Since the booklet came out, this has been the main theme of the feedback received - that readers have been able to identify with the people in the book and see they are not alone.

It may also help families, friends, mental health staff and carers to better understand what an individual is experiencing. Psychosis can be a frightening word: Powerful Minds aims to show that it can happen to anyone and isn't something that needs to be feared or hidden; help is available.

Powerful Minds includes details of the Wakefield Insight team and how they can be contacted, for anyone reading who feels it may be appropriate for them.

Download Powerful Minds (6.8MB) or view an interactive version below.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Real life stories of recovery from psychosis - South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Personal experiences of having a mental health problem have been captured and published in Powerful Minds, a booklet which shares the stories of people who have experienced psychosis. Real-life stories of recovery from psychosis Personal experiences of having a mental health problem have been captured and ...

# data[].attributes.headline
Royal College of Psychiatrists: Quality Standards for Early Intervention in Psychosis Services  

# data[].attributes.subject
Royal College of Psychiatrists: Quality Standards for Early Intervention in Psychosis Services  

# data[].attributes.body
Early Intervention in Psychosis Network

Royal College of Psychiatrists Centre for Quality Improvement

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
EIPN Quality Standards for EIP Services 2nd Edition