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Introduction
What is this guide?
Delivering for Health published in October 2005 stated that an evidence based practice guide on depression for primary care would be produced in 2006. This guide is an interactive practical approach to setting up supported self-help services for the treatment of psychological problems in a primary care/community-based setting. It has been taken from the learning and the evaluation of the Doing Well by People with Depression programme funded by the former Centre for Change and Innovation (now the Improvement and Support Team).
The learning from this programme and other initiatives are being taken forward within the context of the delivery plan for mental health - Delivering for Mental Health, published on the 5th December 2006. Within the content of the delivery plan there are commitments to
- do more work with General Practitioners around the need to assess all new patients who may have depression or anxiety by using a standard assessment tool and then providing a treatment plan that fits their needs.
- identify people who have coronary heart disease and diabetes who might also have depression and anxiety
- develop standards for integrated care pathway ( ICPs) for depression. This work is being taken forward by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and will be complete by the end of 2007.
As well as these initiatives, a new NHS Key Performance Management ( HEAT) target has been set for reducing the increase in the prescribing of antidepressants to zero by 2009/10. In order to achieve this target, alternatives to prescribing should be made available to clinicians and managers in primary and community care. To this end, and in addition to the above, NHS Education for Scotland are taking forward a national initiative to increase the number of people within the current workforce who are able to deliver evidence-based psychological interventions within community settings. This guide will complement this initiative.
Who is this guide for?
This guide is for any organisation that is considering setting up supported self help services for mild to moderate psychological problems and in particular, Community Health Partnership ( CHP) Managers, General Practitioners ( GPs), Practice Managers, Primary Care Mental Health Managers and Team Leaders, Community Mental Health Team Managers, Health Board Operational Managers, Mental Health Service Development Managers and Community-based Services.
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