A new way to access mental health care and support via your GP surgery
This service will help and support you with your mental health and wellbeing.
We offer appointments with our Neighbourhood Mental Health Team who are based at your GP practice.
We can help you with your mental and physical health, as well as helping you resolve issues affecting your wellbeing such as money, work, housing, relationships, trauma, abuse, or addiction.
This new service makes it quicker and easier for people to get the right support by bringing together a range of services available from the NHS and from your community.
Who is this service for?
We welcome anyone aged 18 or over who is experiencing new or ongoing mental health symptoms such as depression or anxiety, as well as people who have an existing mental health diagnosis such as Bipolar, Personality Disorder, Eating Disorder etc.
Where is this service available?
The service is currently available to patients registered at selected GP practices across Birmingham and Solihull. We’re working hard to roll out the service across all surgeries and hope everyone will be able to access the service before the end of 2023.
Speak to your GP surgery to see if the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is available at your practice.
What will happen at my appointment?
Appointments with a mental health care professional take place in person at you GP practice, over the phone or by video call. Our team may also be able visit you at home if needed.
Your first appointment is called an Initial Review. In this appointment we’ll ask you to talk about how you’re feeling, your symptoms and what is happening in your life.
We will listen to you and your experiences and will recommend options to help you to manage your situation and take the next steps to getting further treatment and support.
This may include things like:
- getting a therapy or counselling appointment
- being prescribed medication
- being supported by a Mental Health Connector to help you access local services and personalised support.
- helping you connect with services available in your local community to get support with issues affecting your wellbeing such as housing, money, or relationships.
How is this appointment different to a GP appointment?
Your appointment will be with a mental health expert, who has specialist experience helping people with mental health conditions as well as with issues affecting their wellbeing such as money, housing, and relationships.
Our new service makes it quicker and easier to get access to mental health support and brings together a range of support services from across your local community, helping you access the help you need to improve your mental health and wellbeing. You can see a list of some of the community organisations we work with here.
This service does not replace an appointment with your doctor, so you’ll still be able to see your GP or Psychiatrist if you want to.
Who are the Neighbourhood Mental Health Team?
We are a group of mental health care professionals based at local GP practices across Birmingham and Solihull. This includes specially trained nurses, care navigators, social workers, occupational therapists etc.
How do I book an appointment?
Please contact your GP surgery and ask about the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.
Please note, this service is not appropriate for everyone. The receptionist may recommend you speak with your GP first to find out if it’s right for you.
I need help right now
If you need emergency support with your mental health, there is always someone to talk to.
You can call the Birmingham and Solihull Urgent Mental Health Helpline (managed by Birmingham Mind) 24 hours 7 days a week for advice and support on 0121 262 3555 or 0800 915 9292
You can speak to Samaritans right now, or any time day or night by calling 116 123
Or email jo@samaritans.org for a response within 24 hours.
If you are an immediate danger to yourself or others call 999 or go to your nearest A&E department.
