Mental Health Service provisions during the pandemic
At present the NHS in Oldham is reporting a large drop in referrals all around to Mental Health Services. Both Healthy Young Minds and Healthy Minds are reporting large drops in people accessing them. During this pandemic they are aiming to accommodate and may be offering telephone and video calls. It is a concern that people may be avoiding referring themselves as not to overburden the NHS; mental health services are separate from the front line workers so if you need support please access it.
Your first port of call is your GP. Below are a services that can also be reached by self-referral.
Under 17yrs 9months –
Healthy Young Minds in Oldham (previously known as CAMHS) have reported a 70% drop in referrals; they usually receive 250 per week. This apparently is because a lot of referrals come from school. They can take self referrals for any child under the age of 17yrs 9months.
If you are concerned about your child and want to refer them for assessment by Healthy Young Minds please call 0161 716 2020
Over 16yrs
Healthy Minds – Pennine Care’s Counselling service are also experiencing a drop in referrals. If you are over the age of 16 and registered with a GP surgery you can self refer by ringing 0161 716 2777 or completing an online form here – Health Minds Oldham.
Need urgent help?
Either go to A&E or ring 999 : If you attend A&E you will be promptly assessed in an area of the department that is not in proximity to patients who are presenting with possible Covid-19 symptoms.
If you attend A&E via your GP or are advised by e.g. the PCFT helpline, then they will ring the Mental Health team at the hospital in advance and make arrangement to see you outside of the department – this is likely to be in the Safe Haven.
You may also be interested in joining the Saddleworth Mental Health Caring Group that is now on Facebook. The group offers a space for peer support and updates on availability of services and evidence based information and support. Join them on Facebook here.
A number of online platforms have also been introduced in the area and apparently launched on social media recently.
Kooth
A free, safe and anonymous place for young people to find advice and counselling; online mental wellbeing community and more for those 11 to 18. Kooth website
SilverCloud
Pennine Care have been rolling this platform out to GP surgeries and you may have seen it previous to the lockdown. It offers online programmes for adults (16+ years) to help ease levels of stress, sleep better or to build resilience. Silvercloud website
Saddleworth Life will be updating about other services available in due course as we are liaising with Oldham Cares and GPs in the area.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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