ABSTRACT
Support is the cornerstone of recovery from severe mental health problems. If someone has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, National Health Service support will be provided by a multidisciplinary team, known as the community mental health team (CMHT), although the first person people tend to contact with concerns about their mental health is a general practitioner (GP). Although GPs have a role in a person’s care, essentially it is the CMHT’s responsibility to arrange ongoing treatment and support. Psychiatrists are doctors who have qualified in medicine before undertaking additional training in mental health. Anyone who is involuntarily detained in a psychiatric unit—rather than receiving treatment as a voluntary patient—will be assigned a psychiatric social worker. Approved Social Workers carry out independent assessments of people’s psycho-social needs. Care coordinators are responsible for implementing the plan; for example, by encouraging people to participate in activities outside their home or to take advantage of appropriate training and employment opportunities.
