Halton mental health scheme has 43% success rate claims NHS

Sep 29 2011 by Oliver Clay, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

HEALTH officials say an anxiety scheme for Halton residents has treated more than 400 residents this year.

The NHS Halton and St Helens initiative, which is run in conjunction with charity Self Help Services, said that it helped 300 residents between April and June and more than 100 panic attack sufferers in the first quarter of 2011.

A spokeswoman for the initiative said 43% of treatments lead patients back to full health.

Case studies include ‘Keith’, of Runcorn, who was referred to the low intensity wellbeing service in August after a panic attack.

He said one-to-one sessions with a psychological wellbeing practitioner had an almost instant impact.

He said: “The panic attack was a complete shock to me as I’ve never suffered with anything like that before.

“Looking back I had been depressed and had lots of different things going on. I had just turned 50, my dad was in hospital and I had moved from being employed to self-employed.

“A doctor put me on some medication, which helped, but I really wanted to be able to talk to someone outside of my friends and family so I was referred to a psychological wellbeing practitioner.

“They talked to me about how to manage negative thoughts and be more positive. The difference was almost instant.”

Praising the coping strategies he was taught, Keith added: “I really concentrated on using the techniques in between the sessions because I wanted to get it sorted out.”

Jo Walby, Self Help Services head of operations, said: “We’re committed to delivering excellence in mental health services and are pleased to be making a difference to the mental wellbeing of Halton residents.

“We’re looking forward to delivering more services, including computerised cognitive behavioural therapy and a veterans course in the coming year.”