Every GP surgery in England should hire a mental health expert to tackle depression, experts say

Every GP surgery in England should hire a mental health expert to tackle depression that makes physical illnesses worse, experts say

• NHS England is encouraging GPs to bring in therapists to combat depression 
• Plan would focus on people with long-term physical ilnesses like diabetes 
• It aims to bring mental and physical health services under one roof after a survey found two in five patient appointments are now for mental health

Every doctor’s surgery in England is being encouraged to employ mental health therapists.

The therapists will focus on common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, particularly in people with long-term physical illnesses like diabetes and heart conditions.

NHS England is encouraging GPs to bring mental and physical health services under one roof after a survey found two in five patient appointments are now for mental health.

Every doctor’s surgery in England is being encouraged to employ mental health therapists (file image)

Bringing therapists into surgeries prevents patients having to travel for treatment, which can put them off seeking help.

Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national director for mental health, said: ‘Joining up talking therapy services in primary care settings is another big step forward for our patients and a key plank in putting mental health at the centre of the long-term plan for the NHS.’

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Dr Nikita Kanani, NHS England’s acting director of primary care, said: ‘General practice is the front door of the NHS. We continue to support the expansion of the workforce so patients have access to a range of different health professionals so that we can better support both their physical and mental health needs.’

Every week one in six adults in England suffers a common mental health disorder like depression, with one in five having considered taking their own life.

A survey of more than 1,000 GPs by mental health charity Mind found two in five appointments were for mental health, with two out of three doctors saying the proportion of people needing help with mental health had risen in the past year.

Bringing therapists into surgeries prevents patients having to travel for treatment, which can put them off seeking help (file image)

In-house therapists receive patients directly or through doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and pharmacists canadianpharmtabs.com.

Geoff Heyes, head of Health Policy and Influencing at Mind, said: ‘It is essential that these therapists are fully integrated into the primary care team and that GPs feel confident about how to access them. I

‘t’s also important that GPs and other primary care staff receive improved training in mental health.’ The NHS has been accused by critics of decades of neglect and underinvestment in mental health.

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