CBT
Within the practice we have access to time limited CBT (cognitive Behavioral Therapy) which is aimed at helping patients manage mild depressive illness, patients who are suitable for this therapy will be referred by the GP and will receive up to 8 sessions of CBT from our counsellor Loretta Collins.
Insomnia (sleep problems)
Sleep problems are a frequently a source of distress for patients, useful information can be accessed on the Patient.info website.
There is mounting evidence of the long term potential harm of sleeping tablets. New ways of thinking about aiding sleep in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBTi). We are unable to provide this on the NHS however useful articles are available to read from the Sleepio website. You can elect to purchase online CBT from this site. Evidence suggests a 76% improvement in the quality of sleep at the end of the treatment period and 60% at one year.
the Teen Sleep Hub is an online resource to hely younger patients who suffer sleep disorder but has relevance for all!
Sleeping tablets are associated with a number of complications so are best avoided for long term use, for more information see : the NI Formulary on hypnotics and self help
Mental health medication
If you are are on medication, or are considering starting or stopping medication, we recommend you visit “Choiceandmedication“.
Mental Health Services
There are a range of services including voluntary services at the Minding Your Head website.
Locally the charity MYMY (Mind Yourself and Your Mate) has has opened a new office in Newcastle. Read more about MYMY’s services on their website.
Drug and Alcohol Misuse
Drug and alcohol use/misuse can be a significant worry for parents and cause of significant harm both mentally, psychologically and physically, the charity ASCERT, can give you information on the types of drugs available “on the street”, the problems they can cause and where to seek help.
Another local agency you can approach for help managing issues relating to Drug or Alcohol is the Simon Community Outreach team.
Crisis/counselling
Contact NI is a voluntary organisation which can provide support and counselling to people suffering mental health issues, you can be referred by your GP or can self refer on their website, if you are in need of counselling and do self refer, please grant permission to the counsellor to let the practice know.
Depression support group
There is a local support group which meets every fortnight in the Newcastle centre; please find details on the Aware NI website.
Self help Leaflets
NHS Cumbria have produced a number of leaflets; Please visit the following page: https://selfhelp.cntw.nhs.uk/
South Eastern Trust Recovery College
The SE trust offers a series of courses aiming to address aspects of mental health with the aim of providing students with the skills to help them take control of their life. Read about the range of courses and modules available. Living with health problems can put strain on your resilience and ability to cope, there is often no “quick fix” but rather a range of measures you can adopt to help you succeed. If you are willing to invest some time and effort to develop your abilities, please consider enrolling in a course.