Services and support

People who have a diagnosis of psychosis can access the support of mental health professionals through various specialist services.

Services for people with mental health problems are normally run by NHS mental health trusts. Local authority social services departments also offer support to both individuals who are unwell and their family members.

Your GP will know what specialist services are available locally and can make a referral to the appropriate one.

The earlier someone starts getting treatment, the better. Most parts of the UK have specialist ‘early intervention’ services for people who are having experiences that may be the warning signs of psychosis (see Early intervention services page). In some areas, people can access early intervention services directly, without having to go through their GP.

Sometimes people access mental health services through accident and emergency departments, or because they have been detained by the police under the Mental Health Act. The Act gives police the powers to take someone to a place of safety if they are behaving in a way that could be because they have a serious mental illness, and they need immediate care or control.

Most people with psychosis are offered treatment and support from community mental health teams. These are made up of different types of mental health professionals employed by both the NHS and local authority social services, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, community psychiatric nurses, and sometimes vocational specialists who can help people keep a job, or get back to work. There are other sorts of community-based teams available in some parts of the country, and these are listed on the Mental health services page.   

Your local NHS mental health trust will also run some hospital-based services. When someone has an episode of psychosis, they may need to spend time in hospital (see Psychiatric wards page). Alternatively, they may be supported by members of a crisis resolution team/home treatment team (if a crisis resolution/home treatment service is available in the area where you live). The role of a crisis resolution/home treatment team is to support someone in the community instead of admitting them to hospital. The team may come to your house, or offer treatment in a residential service or day care centre, depending on what’s available nearby.

Sometimes your relative may not accept that they are unwell and may not want to have the treatment they need. Because of this, people are sometimes compulsorily admitted to hospital – or ‘sectioned’ – under the Mental Health Act (see Mental Health Act page). People can only be admitted to hospital against their wishes if it is in the interests of their health and safety, or to protect other people.

This page was put on the site on 2/11/11
Next page update due: June 2012
Links last updated: 22 February 2012
Next links update due: May 2012