Looking after your mind: Finding the right mental health service for you

Just this week on the 10th of October, you might have noticed that World Mental Health Day took place; a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy that gives individuals support in finding things such as the right mental health service for their needs. First celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries. We all need to take care of our mental health and wellbeing whether we have concerns over our mental health or not. Let’s take a look at the ways you can look after your mental health and how to seek support from a mental health service if you feel you need it.

Accessing the right treatment

If you require access and support from a dedicated mental health service, you can get it free on the NHS. There are some mental health services that allow people to refer themselves but if you require a more specific and tailored mental health service, you may need a referral from your GP. If you’d like to refer yourself to a mental health service, it’s important to get to know which one is right for your specific needs. Most referral services are drug and alcohol-related, so if you are seeking help for a different issue or problem, it’s always best to speak to your GP or a healthcare professional. 

If you feel that your mental health concern is related to the workplace and stress from your occupation, you can always ask your employer what occupational health services and Employee Assistance Programmes are available to you. If you don’t have an Employee Assistance Programme or health insurance in place, it could be a factor worth feeding back to your employer to ensure that you and your colleagues have the opportunity to request support for your mental wellbeing as and when you need it.

If you are at school or college, a mental health service and care may be arranged for you. Some mental health issues can be managed without the help of your GP, taking care of yourself and utilising as much as you can from materials available and local organisations may help you out. If you’re still unsure, there are an abundance of mental health service lines that you can contact for free and confidential support.

Choosing the mental health service for you

When seeking the help of your GP, they will assess your circumstances and offer you the most appropriate advice on treatment for your needs, which may be a referral to a dedicated mental health service. Your given mental health service may be provided by your GP surgery, a large local health centre, a specialist mental health clinic or a hospital. It’s helpful to remember that your mental health service provider and the clinical team you’re referred to will be your completely your choice.

If you’re unsure about which mental health service best suits you and your needs, you can compare providers using online tools from websites such as the NHS who offer a ‘services near you’ search tool and directories for different types of mental health problems. If in doubt, you can always talk to a healthcare professional who will be happy to discuss your options further. Once you have chosen a mental health service provider, you will then be able to select the mental health service team who will take care of you and your treatment. 

Supporting your team

With more and more workers dealing with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression or stress, giving your team access to the right mental health service providers and support is now a vital responsibility for employers. As an employer, making sure that your team can openly discuss their problems with you is highly important. Employers should be confident in which mental health service providers are available to their team while ensuring that they have the skills and tools needed to help support their staff in their time of need. 

Taking out an Employee Assistance Programme or a company health insurance policy is a great way to show your team how much you take their physical and mental needs seriously. Whilst Employee Assistance Programmes can be on hand to offer your team 24 hour support in their time of need, company health insurance will see that your team are looked after when seeking further treatment, with the opportunity to seek the best care available. Mental health is an important consideration that every business should factor in, and no company should be afraid to put the right support systems in place throughout its operations.

At Protectus, we understand the importance of mental health in the modern-day. Whether it’s taking care of yourself or your team, there are thousands of treatments and support options available through private health insurance and employee assistance programmes. If you’re looking to take greater care of your top team, get in touch to see how we can support you and your operations for the future.