Mental health

Speak to your GP first. Not only will your GP be familiar with your medical history, they will be able to discuss which therapies and treatments are available to you. Don’t feel worried about going: your GP is there to help with your mental as well as your physical health.

If anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress or obsessive compulsive disorder are starting to interfere with your life, there’s an initiative to help you.
Known as IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) the service focuses on practical techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to improve your day to day life. Your GP can refer you to the IAPT service. You will then be assessed and offered the right support for your needs.

We are putting much more focus on early intervention.
Patients tell us they want this because it helps to keep them well so they can carry on working and living at home.  Successful early interventions should mean that many fewer people need to be admitted to hospital.

We are working with people with dementia and other mental health needs to improve our services so they match what people want.  The majority of mental health services in West Kent are provided by the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT).