Help for those suffering anxiety or depression in Doncaster

It’s thanks to the launch of a 24-hour online self-referral service for patients registered with a Doncaster GP who are suffering from common mental health problems like anxiety and depression.

Now anyone with access to the internet via a smartphone or computer can make a self-referral via the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) website - www.iapt.rdash.nhs.uk - at any time of the day or night.

The current pandemic has seen a huge increase in people accessing mental health services for support, as Tim Godley, from Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Doncaster service, explains: “We are constantly striving to improve the service and this is one way of making it simpler for people who, for various reasons, are not able to ring us during the day.

“IAPT services deliver psychological therapy for the one in four people who experience common mental health problems, such as low mood, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and other debilitating conditions. These can show in various ways, including feeling stressed or worried, having a poor appetite, lack of interest, and sleep problems.

“There is still the opportunity to ring us as well, on 01302 565556. People who refer themselves to our service can access a variety of treatment options to help them understand and manage their psychological difficulties now and in the future.”

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