Mental Health guidelines

We are writing guidelines to encourage the development of integrated health in NHS mental health services. They are aimed at health professionals, service providers, purchasers and policy makers.  We hope to offer the inspiration, understanding and practical tools they need to transform outcomes for users of mental health services. They will be published a chapter at a time online during 2010.

The guidelines look at therapeutic methods that could be integrated into mental health services to support recovery from acute, chronic and/or severe mental health problems and to generate self-help and long-term well-being.

An integrated approach means bringing together mainstream medical science with the best of other traditions.

The chapters are:

  •  Nutrition
  • Movement
  • Bodywork
  • Homeopathy
  • Acupuncture
  • Herbal medicine
  • Governance
  • Service development

 

Good practice and case studies will be included. A literature review will set out the evidence base.

The Foundation’s partners in this project are the Mental Health Foundation, Mind and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Funding is from the Department of Health and Lloyds TSB.

Completed chapters have gone out for review.  The guidelines are being piloted by a mental health NHS Trust and a mental health unit.

Purley garden view
The Women's Service in Purley, Greater London, houses women who are going through a mental health crisis.