Help and Support for People with Mental Ill Health

'Mental ill health' or 'mental illness' are broad terms used to describe a wide range of psychiatric illnesses, from anxiety and depression to eating disorders and schizophrenia. Everyone has times in their life when they feel depressed, anxious, or under stress. For some people these feelings become so overwhelming they produce physical or behavioural symptoms that affect the person's ability to go about their day to day life. Mental ill health can include problems with:

Mental health is just as important to us as physical health. Mental illness can affect any of us at any time of life, and it is estimated that about one in four people in this country have mental ill health. This could be stress-related anxiety or depression, or a more serious illness such as dementia or schizophrenia.

Most Mental Health problems are usually treated by GPs in primary care, and any concerns about mental health matters (your own, or a friend’s or relative’s) should first be discussed with your GP. GP’s have access to a wide range of resources, or for more serious problems may refer you to the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

Leicestershire County Council can provide a number of services for people with mental ill health and services for their carers.

Services are provided through our Community Mental Health Teams around the County and in partnership with the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

Other support programmes are also available from local voluntary organisations like MIND and self help groups.  Information about local sources of support can be found on the LAMP website at www.lampdirect.org.uk.

If you have concerns that someone with mental ill health is being abused, see Safeguarding Adults.