Mental Health

Mental health is how people look at themselves, their lives and other people: how they deal with problems, explore choices, handle stress, relate to others and make decisions.

Most mental health problems, though distressing for the person at the time, are relatively mild and, if recognised, can be alleviated with support and perhaps professional help.

For some, however, mental health problems are more severe, long lasting and disabling. Mental health problems can occur at any age.

If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health problems, first contact your GP who can refer people for social care support provided by Community Mental Health Services in partnership with City and Hackney Primary Care Trust and East London Foundation NHS Trust or a specialist centre.

Hackney has a range of services for people with mental health problems depending on age and need.

For children and young people -

First Steps
Child and Family Consultation Centres
Learning Trust (for educational psychology and special educational needs services)

For adults -

The North and South Hackney Community Mental Health Teams provide comprehensive health and social care services for people with long-term mental health problems living in the community including assessment, brief treatment, continuing care and advice.

For vulnerable adults

Hackney Adult Placement Service (HAPS) recruits and trains people from the local community to care for vulnerable adults with mental health and learning difficulties in carers’ homes.

For older people

Mental health services for older people helpline

For people with depression

East London Foundation NHS Trust and a variety of voluntary and other organisations in Hackney provide a wide range of services for people facing depression

For adults needing 24-hour support

Upper Clapton Prout Road Supported Housing Project also known as Prout Road Hostel, provides self-contained studio flats with 24-hour care and support to people with mental health problems through a partnership between Hackney Community Services and the Peabody Trust.

For people affected by alcohol and/or drugs

Hackney Substance Misuse Team Assessment and care management for people whose lives are affected by alcohol or drug use with scope for referral to a range of community based self help organisations.

For rehabilitation

Lee House Rehabilitation and Employment Centre Rehabilitation, employment training and support for people who have experienced mental ill-health. Visit the Lee House web page produced by Lee House members.

For people in secure provision

The Forensic Social Work Team at the John Howard Centre provides specialist social care to service users within East London Foundation NHS Trust’s forensic directorate. The John Howard Centre also incorporates specialist secure provision commissioned by the Department of Health for mentally disordered offenders with Personality Disorder.

For emergencies

Contact the Emergency Duty Team -

emergency assessment of children in need including children under the 1889 Children’s Act
help and advice to families in acute distress
emergency assessment of people with mental health problems
assessment support and advice to people with learning and physical difficulties
older people
young people under 17
vulnerable people in police custody

The team assesses immediate needs, offers advice and guidance and takes emergency action under the Local Authority Child Protection procedure or under mental health legislation where necessary to protect service users and the community.

Approved Social Worker Team

Duty social work service for agencies and GPs needing assessments carried out under the Mental Health Act 1983. Referrals not accepted from the general public. Locality mental health teams or main providers such as older people’s services should be contacted first.

Page updated: 5 Nov 2008