More help for depression and anxiety

People in the Borough with depression and anxiety disorders will soon be offered more talking treatments after a joint bid for funding by NHS Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale and Rochdale Council was successful.

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme will provide funding for 12 new therapists and will be available from April to develop a full service of treatments for the more vulnerable members of the local population.
These new trainees will be in post by October when they will commence a 12 month programme of clinical and University training.

Karen Hurley, lead commissioner for mental health and well-being at NHS HMR said: “This new funding will help us to provide the services people suffering from depression and anxiety need, when it is most needed.

“Although we have already made significant progress -working with RMBC and other partners such as Rochdale and District MIND - it will also help us to significantly reduce waiting times for one to one therapies.

“Our aim is to make sure that these people can get the support they need, from the right person at the right time and the funding will help us to achieve this.”

The Operational Manager Psychological Services at NHS HMR, Liz Woodings said: “This is massively exciting for us and will create a step-change in the services we can provide to people who are often stigmatised.

“We know that hospital is often the last place most people with depression or anxiety need to go – so having a large therapy team in the community will ensure that we can prevent that happening in most circumstances.

"We already have fantastic purpose built new facilities in Nye Bevan House and the feedback from clients who come to us say they have a very positive experience.

“We already have groups and classes (such as Computerised Cognitive Therapy, Beating the Blues and Stressclass) with almost no waiting times and this funding will help us develop our services even further.

“We will be making sure that patients are well informed about what choices are available to them as well as giving advice on what service or treatment would best meet their needs.”

Barry Windle, the Senior Joint Commissioning Manager for Mental Health in the Borough who works across health and social care said: “Our joint bid was built on the good progress we have made over the last couple of years in developing a community based service for people with anxiety and depression.

“This funding will help us to fully develop a “stepped care” approach for the treatment of depressive illnesses – that means sufferers get the right treatment, from the right person at the right time.

“The successful bid will significantly increase our ability to better meet people’s needs.”

The service will be fully live in late 2010 when all staff have been recruited and trained.

The IAPT team will consist of:

Eight high intensity therapists - trained in cognitive behavioural therapy for people with moderate and severe depression and anxiety disorders

Four low intensity therapy workers trained in cognitive behavioral approaches for people with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. These approaches include guided self help and delivering psycho-educational groups.

The team will also have administrative staff, employment advisors, a GP advisor and links with other services such as housing, drugs advice and benefits

Regular updates on the roll-out of the new services will be provided over the coming months.