It helped me just to talk to someone who understood self harm. Harmless helped me become more confident – I now get out more and feel part of the community. You have been brilliant with how you have helped
You can make a referral into the service click here
Alternatively, please get in touch using the details below.
Email: info@harmless.org.uk
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire & Bassetlaw
Tel: 0115 880 0280
Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland
Tel: 0116 309 0171
Should I Go To My GP & Other FAQs?
Often, we are told to go to our GP if we are facing a health or mental health issue. This can be a useful source of support.
Our role at Harmless is to offer a balanced and informed perspective so that people can feel safe and supported.
Some clients have told us that their GP understood self harm and provided great support, but some clients have shared with us they have had negative experiences with their GP. We recommend knowing what you are hoping for when you attend a GP appointment, so you can be better able to ask for what you need. For example – are you going for advice? Support? A referral? Before you approach your GP (or any service, for that matter) it can be helpful to think about what it is that you hope to gain from speaking with them. The GP will have limited time, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t matter. You should expect a compassionate and helpful response.
Young People
If you are under the age of 18, your GP may make a referral to CAMHS (which stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), and is the NHS service for children and adolescent mental health. Your GP may also recommend a third sector service which might specialise in supporting children and young people with their mental health. It is important to know that just because a service isn’t delivered by the NHS, it does not mean that it is not as qualified a service. In the UK, a lot of helpful services are delivered by charities or similar. We recommend asking your GP for several options for support, so you have a full understanding of what your options are for support. You have choices.
Adults
The options available to adults are more complicated. Every geographical area will be slightly different for supporting adults with self harm.
Often, a referral to NHS Talking Therapies may be a GPs first port of call for mental health support. NHS Talking Therapies are run by different providers in different areas, but these services offer various types of counselling, psychotherapy, and self-help. In most areas you can make a referral directly to them yourself. Harmless’ understanding is that NHS Talking Therapies should not exclude you from their services due to your self harm alone, however, sometimes NHS Talking Therapies are not best-placed to support with severe self harm. It is worth asking your GP to check whether you will be excluded because of your self harm – checking this out beforehand can save the heartache of a rejected referral.
If you have accompanying mental health diagnoses, or would like further assessment for mental health diagnoses, the next stage of support above NHS Talking Therapies is often an NHS Local Mental Health Team. Only a GP can make a referral into these services, and a Local Mental Health Team can provide a range of long-term support for mental health conditions.
In some areas there may be third sector services that also provide support – it is important to know that just because a service isn’t delivered by the NHS, it does not mean that it is not as qualified a service. In the UK, a lot of helpful services are delivered by charities or similar. Your GP should know what alternative services are in your area, and can support you to access an appropriate service for you.
Managing Expectations
Many people think that a natural and sensible expectation is to go to your GP and then get referred onwards to a prompt and helpful service. As much as we hope that this is your experience, it can often be that there are few services on the ground to help and support you.
If you find that this is the case, please do get in touch with us and we will see if there is anything that we can do to improve things or help you.
Don’t despair! There is always something that can be done to help and we will do our best to help you find what you need.
Confidentiality
It can be a worry when we start talking about our mental health, that people will talk about us. The principle of confidentiality is about privacy and respecting someone’s wishes. It means that professionals shouldn’t share personal details about someone with others, unless that person has said they can or it’s absolutely necessary. An example of when this might happen is if a professional was worried about you attempting suicide or if there is suspected abuse occurring.
If you are under 18, different services will behave in different ways with regards to your confidentiality. A school, for instance, is almost always likely to speak to your parents if it is brought to their attention that you are self harming however they should inform you of this and involve you in the process so that you feel in control.
People often ask us if their GP will tell their workplace, or somewhere else; in most cases the answer to this should be no, unless there is a significant risk to yourself or to someone else.
If you are looking to get insurance or a mortgage to buy a property then the company may contact your GP and in these cases the GP will need to tell them about your health needs. Having a history of self harm and mental health struggles will be considered in such applications and may have an implication on things, however, you should always be treated fairly in this process.
It helped me just to talk to someone who understood self harm. Harmless helped me become more confident – I now get out more and feel part of the community. You have been brilliant with how you have helped
You can make a referral into the service click here
Alternatively, please get in touch using the details below.
Email: info@harmless.org.uk
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire & Bassetlaw
Tel: 0115 880 0280
Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland
Tel: 0116 309 0171