National roll out for 'Living Life' Guided Self Help Service |
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Tuesday, 20 September 2011 |
A new service which aims to help people with low mood or depression to access self help materials is being rolled out across Scotland.
 Following a successful three-year pilot project, NHS 24 is extending its specialist support service - NHS Living Life Guided Self Help - to the whole of Scotland.
With support from the Scottish Government, this is a free, confidential service based on a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approach. It is available to anyone suffering low mood, mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety.
Patients from all GP practices across the NHS Western Isles and NHS Shetland participated in the pilot, with patients from a selection of practices across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, NHS Highland and NHS Borders also taking part.
The service takes the form of Guided Self Help (GSH), whereby self-help coaches 'guide' individuals through a series of self-help workbooks, in a structured format based on a CBT approach, to help them understand some of the reasons why they are feeling low, depressed or anxious. The workbooks serve to remind individuals about coping mechanisms they may have forgotten and help teach individuals new ways of coping in their life. The sessions are fortnightly over a period of approximately six to twelve weeks at a time suitable to the individual.
NHS 24 Medical Director, Dr George Crooks, said: "With around 300,000 patients seeking help from their GP for depressive symptoms annually in Scotland, this service is an empowering and practical way for patients to get information, access resources and learn coping skills with a self-help coach. Being able to access this type of support in the privacy of your own home at a time that suits you brings real benefits to the people of Scotland."
The Living Life team includes self help coaches from a wide range of professional backgrounds, coupled with support staff, who arrange appointments for patients. Living Life is part of a range of person centred services provided by NHS 24 to improve access to mental health services to the people of Scotland.
The service is available to anyone over the age of 16 and can be accessed either by GP referral or by phoning the Living Life team directly on 0800 328 9655. The service is available Monday to Friday 1pm - 9pm. Callers are asked to provide some details and then arrangements are made to receive an assessment appointment to discuss the service and how help can be provided.
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