An
investigation by BBC News and Community Care magazine has revealed more than
1,700 mental health beds have been closed in England
However,
catching people earlier could reduce the need for acute care in hospital wards.
The Mental
Health CCG Collaboration in Surrey is
pioneering an approach that offers patients access to a range of psychological
therapies, including online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) from
PsychologyOnline.
The benefit
of PsychologyOnline is that it allows fast access to help service users as and
when required. Patients have a
confidential text-based “conversation” with their therapist through secure
instant messaging, which can be conducted from home or wherever the patient
feels most comfortable.
While the Surrey scheme is in its infancy, Dr Fiona Buxton, the
mental health lead for Surrey Heath CCG, said her surgery is already referring
fewer patients to the hospital-based Community Mental Health Recovery Service.
She
explains: “People are under increasing stress from pressures at work, home and
financial concerns and we see a growing need for different ways of providing
treatment.
“PsychologyOnline
is a huge benefit as you can access the treatment from home, there is no
travelling involved, no need to take time off work and you can have the same
therapist every week so there is continuity.”
Sarah
Bateup, PsychologyOnline’s clinical lead, agrees that quick and early
intervention can prevent mental health problems from “snowballing”.
“It is a gradual process, people begin to feel overloaded and
unable to cope, they cut back on pleasurable activities and over time problems
build up. Without help,
things just get worse and worse and sufferers try to work harder and harder to
stay on top of things. The earlier
someone seeks help, the better”.
PsychologyOnline
is now available on prescription in Surrey and
via our private service Thinkwell™. For
more information, please visit www.psychologyonline.co.uk.
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