Adult MH services, cpn's and support workers

[Puck]

What the hell are they, i mean i know what they are but im not sure as in what they do?

I am now under an intensive community care team after being discharged from camhs ip. I've only been seen once and that seemed to be them talking at me and about voluntary work. They didnt even ask how i was. Im very out of control at the minute as well. Also some of the things they did say just seemed unproffessional. But is this how it is.. are they only for practical reasons? Or can you talk to them about how things are etc because im confused i thought they'd monitor mental health more closely considering i came out of a unit still on high risk even though id been there 8 months. Also according to my day whos worked in ip services says that discharge increases your risk anyway?? I dont know what im trying to say.

Im just confused...

[Katiee]

I'm in exactly the same situation... I've been discharged from CAMHS and waiting to go to Adult MH services... so I'd kinda like to know more about it :] I'm sorry I can't help more :P However, you can always PM me. <3

[Mrs Sam]

Cpns are generally more prqctical from what I found but she did used to ask how I was. She also used to talk to my gp too. I never had a support worker.

Oh cpns can also help you get referrals to other services.

[MissAnonymous]

Adult services in England comprise usually of;
-Community mental health teams, for outpatient support of people with MH problems
-Inpatient units for acute and severe mental health problems that cannot be treated within the community
-Crisis and/or home treatment teams, which are designed to support people within a crisis to prevent an admission to hospital environments. They come to your home for visits and provide telephone support 24/7
-Eating disorder teams, for those with an eating disorder, some counties have their own inpatient unit for severe EDs, but many counties sadly have small outpatient teams only.
-Early intervention/psychosis service designed for people with a psychotic disorder

There can be other teams for people with specific diagnoses such as personality disorders but these are often only found in large cites.

The best thing to do is look on your county council website or google your county's name and adult mental health services and there should be a website that explains all the services your area offers, and what they do.

CPNs are psychiatric nurses that work within the community to support people under a community outpatient mental health team.

Support workers provide informal support to people under a community team and often support patients to go out, do shopping, get exercise for example.

Often CPNs and Support workers roles can overlap, it all depends on what your care plan states your needs as.

[xlaurenx]

My CPN used to provide support and i could also ring her whenever, weather if it was to change an appointment or something came up which meant i had to see her sooner. She would also sort out an appointment if i needed to see the psych. My mum has called her in the past about me when she was worried, or found some pills etc. Erm.. she would also be the first to find out out of the team at CAMHS if i was in A&E etc. Though she was amazing and eventhough am discharged she said i can still ring her.

[Puck]

I havent been given a care plan yet. The doctor who im under was meant to do an assessment a few weeks ago but they didnt they just said hey and i'll see you in feb. (im still 17 18 in feb so thats probably why) but i actually want this assessment... would it be wrong to ask for it via my cpn if i see her before then? It says that when referred they do an assessment but i havent had one i dont trust the information that my unit gave them as they were very weird with what i gave them... like they would dismiss symptoms or not listen. One being my main example that they said i heard voices because of my memories and trauma and yet my trauma happened a year or so later after the voices started.. they wouldnt listen to this though. I told the doctor i didnt trust their information.

I dont know... i am actually under a team so have no waiting lists they just havent really seen me. I need someone to let me talk otherwise i will stew up and explode.. which is already happening i have closed up to the point im not even talking in general (im not mute i do say some things just not much at all) I didnt expect a quick deterioration like this. Im very unstable im just scared that i wont tell them and i'll wind up dead or thrown in hospital again.

I dont know how to communicate this to them because im scared that its not the right thing to do.

Also i noticed that my teams webpage has crisis numbers on it.. does this mean service users can just use it or do you need refering or is it only for parents/ carers.

Sorry for all that...

[Hollz]

I have both a CPN and Support Worker, obviously it will depend on your individual needs, as to what they will offer you.

With my CPN we generally just talk, working through all the indivdual issues I have, providing practical support if I need it, she is there on the phone should I need to call her, in charge of my care plan and stuff and to be honest is like my rock.

My SW is for more practical things, I don't have any issues being out and about or anything, but SW can come round to the house, basically give you and offer you support where you need that, whether that is going out for a cup of coffee and a chat, someone to play tennis with or someone to talk to in your house, it really depends on individual needs.

Good luck with them both, hopefully they will both be able to help you x