Older people - Mental Health Concerns

G.P's (Family Doctors), will usually be the first point of contact for a person who becomes concerned about their mental health or for a member of their family. Your G.P may suggest treatment or advise about stress. They may make an appointment for you to see a psychiatrist, or refer you to the local mental health team.

If you phone when the surgery is closed, there will be a recorded message telling you who to contact in case of an emergency.

Any person with a mental health problem, or the carer involved with them, is entitled to a Community Care Assessment. The idea of an assessment is to get a clear idea of what you and/or your carer need and to look at the best way of helping you. Social Services and Health Services are responsible for assessing the needs of people with mental health problems, and arranging services. However, they do not provide all the services.

Help and support is provided by a wide variety of people and organisations, including family members, friends or neighbours; Barnsley Council (including Social Services and Housing); Health Services, (including G.P's, psychiatrists, psychologists and community psychiatric nurses) and voluntary groups. By working together, all these people and organisations aim to ensure that people with mental health problems and their carers get the care and support they need.

The Barnsley branch of the Alzheimer's Disease Society, offers support to carers of people with anyform of dementia - see the entry in the Voluntary Organisations section.

If you or a person you care for has a Mental Health problem please contact your GP. If the surgery is closed there will be a message telling you who to contact in an emergency.

Help and support can be provided by a variety of people and organisations.

Health Services and Social Services assess the needs of people with mental problems they do not provide all the Services.