Mental Health

All of our GP’s are trained to provide support on mental health, eating disorders, addictions, and much more. Alongside the practice staff, the Primary Care Network Team based at Leeds Student Medical Practice includes a team of Mental Health Advisors, who are able to provide longer appointments for patients struggling with anxiety or depression. You can get help with the practice here.

Mental Health Advisors – Appointment Information

In order to have an appointment with a Mental Health Advisor, you need to speak to a GP first to ensure that this service is suitable for you.

Please note, all appointments with a Mental Health Advisor will be via telephone – the Mental Health Advisor will call you.  

In advance of the appointment with a Mental Health Advisor, we ask that you to please complete the following questionnaires and have your results ready to share with your Mental Health Advisor at the beginning of your telephone appointment;

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7)

Call 999

If you are feeling very distressed or hopeless it’s important to know that you are not alone. Talking to someone can help you see beyond how you are feeling right now. You could try talking to a family member or friend, or if this doesn’t feel right, there are people who want to talk to you and help:

• Call the Connect helpline on 0808 800 1212 (freephone) which gives emotional support and information to people in Leeds every night of the year (6pm-2am)
• Talk to the Samaritans on 116 123 (freephone, open 24 hours per day) if you need someone to listen at any time of the day or night
• Call 111 (freephone, 24 hours a day) – a trained adviser will ask you questions and immediately direct you to the best service to support your needs

1 in 4 British adults experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any one year, sometimes when faced with mental health problems it can be hard to find the right help

For information on mental health services explore

• Mindwell

Mindwell is a single point of information about mental health in Leeds. It provides easy,direct access and up to date information about mental health in Leeds https://www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk/

MindWell have also recently created a new section on their website dedicated to students in Leeds that contains self-care information and mental wellbeing support specifically for students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as crisis contacts, please visit, www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk/students

• There are award-winning online resources published by Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation trust. They offer video and audio information as well as written supporting materials on a wide range of mental health topics
• If you are a student at the University of Leeds you can self-refer to the Student Counselling Centre. The service is private, confidential, and focused on supporting students. To make initial contact complete a self-referral form accessed from the hypertext link on their home page
• If you are a student at Leeds Beckett University they offer counseling through the Student Wellbeing Team. You can arrange your first appointment by completing the online registration form
• To find out more about the health and wellbeing events taking place at Leeds University Union – please see www.luu.org.uk/ents/
• The Leeds Primary Care Mental Wellbeing Partnership provides short-term psychological therapy for people experiencing common mental health problems such as depression, stress and anxiety. The service is available to people who are aged 17 and above and registered with a Leeds GP. Stress, anxiety, depression and emotional problems affect people in different ways.  We can help you to develop methods of coping so you’re more in control and offer ways to overcome stress, anxiety and low mood. Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service provides a range of talking therapies including stress and mood management courses and seminars, guided self-help, cognitive behavioural therapy and other evidence based therapies.

What to expect when you call

Ensure you have 45 minutes to speak to our team. Ideally you should be in a place where you are free to speak about confidential matters (if you are concerned about the cost of the call just ask us to call you back) alternatively go to Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust to complete an online assessment. Once the assessment has been completed our team will then discuss treatment options with you, this could be attending one of our classes/seminars, a webinar, online therapy, face to face therapy or guided self-help. Call 0113 843 4388.Call 0113 843 4388.  Our teams are on hand to answer your call between 8am and 6pm Monday and Thursday and 8am – 4pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Not sure which way to turn? You can contact our Reception Team on 0113 295 4488, and we will discuss the next steps with you.

If you are worried about an eating disorder you can see one of our GPs. They have experience in caring for students with problem eating and can provide regular support if needed, or arrange further care. Below are eating disorder support organisations in Leeds:

Due to the recent outbreak of Coronavirus, there may be changes for the format of the meetings and support available. Please get in touch with the contact numbers for each group to ask for the most up to date information.

Connect – The West Yorkshire and Harrogate Eating disorders Service– Offers inpatient and outpatient treatment for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa (referral by GP only)

EATING DISORDERS GROUP – Meetings held on alternate Monday evenings between 18:30 and 20:00 at Delacey House, Abbey Road, Kirkstall, Leeds 5. For more information contact Gillian on 0113 278 8434

Connect Hub  support group meets every Wednesday at 6-7.30pm. It is an Informal drop-in group where individuals experiencing eating difficulties can meet and talk about their eating struggles. The group is facilitated by staff from the Connect.  Venue  -The Mount, 44 Hyde Terrace, Woodhouse, leeds, LS2 9LN. 0113 8556400. THE CARERS GROUP -Currently provides a monthly support group for carers. Meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 7pm – 8.30pm, at the Newsam Centre, Seacroft Hospital, York Road, Leeds, LS14 6WB. Tel: 0113 8556400. To view the HUB Flyer please click here.

Connect have several on-line resources. They have a two social media platforms; Instagram and Twitter: @lypft_connect where you can follow daily motivational and supportive posts and where you can join in with Instagram ‘Live lunches’ where members of the team are available for questions and support. You can also check out the self help pages on their website: https://www.leedsandyorkpft.nhs.uk/our-services/services-list/connect/

BEATING EATING DISORDERS is a National organisation whose web site we recommend

SELF HELP BOOKS

• OVERCOMING BINGE EATING, Christopher Fairburn, Guildford Press (1995)
• BULIMIA NERVOSA: A Guide to Recovery, Peter Cooper, Robinson Publishing (1993)
• GETTING BETTER BIT(E) BY BIT(E), Ulrike Schmidt & Janet Treasure, Lawrence Earlbaum Associates (1994)
• ANOREXIA NERVOSA & BULIMIA: How to Help, Marilyn Duker & Roger Slade, Open University Press (1994)
• ANOREXIA NERVOSA, A Survival Guide for Families, Friends & Sufferers, Janet Treasure, Psychology Press (1997)

Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) have launched workshops that patients can book directly onto without having to complete the full self-referral form for Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service . Topics include; stress control, sleep well and wellbeing in the workplace. To see more information about the workshops and to book a place, please see: Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust – Online Group Classes