Severe mental illness in primary care : a companion guide for counsellors, psychotherapists, and other professionals

There is increasing development and use of care pathways and a growing demand for guidance and advice on how to develop them. This practical guide meets this demand. It reflects the latest experience and incorporates best practice with contributions from highly experienced members of the National Pathways Association. It links well with the coming National Service Frameworks and National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance. Case studies legal questions and common difficulties are all included and examined. Developing Care Pathways is in two parts: the handbook which defines and describes pathways and the roles of healthcare professionals involved with them and the tool kit which provides a detailed step-by-step guide to developing a care pathway. This work is essential reading for managers and clinicians in organisations developing care pathways throughout secondary and primary care. Content: Front Cover Contents Preface About the Authors Abbreviations Chapter 1: Living with Chronic Schizophrenia: Is there Life After Schizophrenia? Chapter 2: Counselling Individuals with Severe and Enduring Mental Illness Chapter 3: Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness Chapter 4: Individuals with Severe and Enduring Mental Illness, and the Role of Primary Care Chapter 5: Filling the Gap: Creating Models of Care for People with long-term, Complex, Non-psychotic Mental Health Problems. Chapter 6: Severe and Enduring Mental Illness in Relation to Discrimination, Racism, Prejudice, Ethnicity and CultureChapter 7: Political and Philosophical Dimensions of Severe and Enduring Mental Illness Chapter 8: The Association Between Pain and Mental Ill-health Chapter 9: Serious Mental Illness and Dual Diagnosis Chapter 10: Critical Appraisal: How to Find the Evidence on Severe and Enduring Mental Illness Chapter 11: End Piece and Last Word Back Cover. Managing patients with severe mental illness in the primary care setting is often a daunting prospect to even the most experienced of healthcare professionals. The stigma associated with mental illness can be difficult to overcome, and many practitioners are unprepared for dealing with the mentally ill. Even counsellors can be left without proper training in severe mental health matters. This is a practical guide to managing mentally ill patients, focussing on the role between general practitioners and counsellors within the primary care setting. The proactive approach encourages a positive outlook and a 'can do' approach. This guide is ideal for general practitioners and all primary healthcare professionals, particularly counsellors and therapists