Adult Mental Health

Nikki HarrisonConsultant Clinical Psychologist

Belfast Health & Social Care Trust

What got me interested?

• Some mental ill-health in the family

• 1 in 4 people will experience mental health problem in course of a year

• Family member worked in social work & occupational psychology

• General curiosity/interest

Mental Health in Cinema/TV

Cont’d

Mental Health in Cinema/TV

In Books/Poetry

My route into• Undergraduate degree in psychology – UUJ • Msc in applied psychology- UUJ • Assistant Psychologist post- learning disability• 3 year clinical training- Psychological society of Ireland

(PSI)• First clinical post- working with Looked after Children

(LAC) in Health Service Executive (HSE) • BPS statement of Equivalence• Second post- AMH- Belfast City Hospital, Windsor house-

6 years• Current post ( 2012-) Consultant Clinical Psychologist,

Primary Care, Belfast Trust

My job:

• Individual work • Family work• Group work • Consultation• Supervision• Management• Teaching e.g. on the DClinPsy training course

Services I work into

• Primary Community Mental Health Teams (PCMHT)

• Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPN), Social Workers, Psychiatrists, Psychologists

• Referrals to team from GP’s• Moderate/ Complex Mental Health

Difficulties- not Severe Mental Illness (SMI)

Clinical work- Typical referrals to Clinical Psychology

• Complex/ Chronic Anxiety Disorders• Depressive disorders• Trauma- Type II ( including childhood trauma)• Adjustment/ Loss• Attachment/ Interpersonal difficulties• Often with associated difficulties such as Self

harm/ Risk/ Eating Disorder/ Personality Disorder

Individual work

Assessment

Psychological formulation

Psychological interventions/ Psychological therapies

Family therapy

• Helping family members support someone with a MH problem, reducing isolation

• Improving communication in family relationships particularly during times of stress

• Improving understanding of mental health • Identifying helpful and unhelpful family

patterns

Group Work

Self-EsteemACT 4 mood

OthersMindfulnessChildhood trauma groupBipolar awareness group

Other parts of my job:-

• Consultation

• Supervision

• Management/ Service Development

• Teaching/ Training

Other roles for psychology in AMH

• Cognitive assessments/ IQ• Assessment of ASD & ADHD• Neuropsychology• Behavioural work• Working with staff teams (reflective practice)• Research• Working with SMI- Psychosis & Bipolar• Can work on acute Psychiatric wards, or in

community settings ( e.g. Health centres)

Skills for the job

• Empathy• Patience• Good communication skills ( verbal, written &

listening skills)• Curiosity• Critical thinking skills• Time Management

IssuesChallenges

• Too few clinical psychology training places• Too few funded posts in Health Service• Other disciplines claiming to do the same/ similar work Positives• Can be fascinating work• Can change peoples’ lives• Can specialise how you like, to quite an extent; in terms of

area, research, approach• No two days ever the same, always learning