Psychological Healthcare Practitioner service

Are you currently struggling with your mental health or wellbeing?

Have you been feeling lower in mood, more anxious or stressed recently?

Has COVID-19 increased your isolation, left you feeling panicked when leaving the house or mean you have lost someone that you care about?

If any of the above applies to you, then please consider reaching out to Risca Surgery and booking an appointment to speak with a professional. Reception staff may ask you to briefly summarise the nature of your concerns, you will then be directed to either speak with either a GP or your local PHP*.

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PHPs) are trained mental health professionals, who help support adults (over 18’s) with low-moderate mental health difficulties. They will complete a 45 minute mental health assessment with you. In this assessment, you can expect the following; a brief mental health questionnaire, followed by a more in-depth conversation about your current wellbeing and ending with some support options* that fit your individual needs.

 *Please note: If you are not interested in accessing alternative support for your wellbeing but would like to discuss medication, or get a fit note for work, please book in to see a GP.

*Please note: this is not a counselling service. Your PHP will have a conversation with you about available support options and the steps you can start taking to live the life you want to live. Counselling is just one of many possible support options available but alternatives will also be discussed.

Maybe you are not quite ready to take that first step and book an appointment?

It is completely normal to feel nervous, anxious or scared when taking that first step in talking about your mental health. Whilst we would love to support you, you may prefer reading a bit about mental health yourself, to understand the problems you are experiencing. Please see the below resources:

Melo (Melo Cymru - Mental Wellbeing Resources, Courses + Advice Gwent Wales): Resources to help you develop knowledge and skills around your mental health.

Self Help Leaflets (Aneurin Bevan University Health Board - Self Help Guides (ntw.nhs.uk)): More in-depth reading specific to your mental health difficulties, not just explaining why we might be feeling a particular way but also giving you some ideas on how to manage this.

Books on Mental Health (Mental health | Reading Well booklists | Books | Reading Well (reading-well.org.uk)): If you have read the self-help leaflets and would like to continue learning more by yourself, please see this reading list. These books are all available in your local library.

MIND (Information & Support | Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health problems): MIND are the UK’s leading mental health charity. Their website has lots of information on understanding and managing your mental health.

Dewis Cymru (https://www.dewis.wales): Directory of all the wellbeing services across Wales. When we talk about your well-being, we don’t just mean your health. We mean things like where you live, how safe and secure you feel, getting out and about, and keeping in touch with family and friends. No two people are the same and well-being means different things to different people. If you are interested in a specific service but not sure how to find it, try looking on Dewis Cymru.

Feeling like you have no one to talk to right now? Need some more immediate support and a confidential space to talk openly? Pick up the phone and call:

Samaritans (Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen) - If you are really struggling to cope with your mental health, pick up the phone and call Samaritans.

A.L.L. (C.A.L.L. Mental Health Helpline - Community Advice and Listening Line (callhelpline.org.uk)) - Anyone concerned about their own mental health or someone else’s, please call C.A.L.L. They are a Welsh Listening Service, who can be here when you just need that person to talk to.

SHOUT 24/7 Texting Service (Free, 24/7 mental health text support in the UK | Shout 85258 (giveusashout.org)) - If you are not comfortable speaking over the phone, text SHOUT to 85258. This will start a text conversation with a trained volunteer, to give you space to talk.