Mental health diagnosis
Mental Health Services
Mental health services in Enfield are provided by the North London Mental Health Trust.
Community mental health teams provide support to adults between 18 and 65 with a range of mental health issues including schizophrenia or other complex mental health issues.
Mental Health Services for adults over the age of 65 years old are provided by the Enfield Older People Community Mental Health Team (Enfield OPCMHT)
Where to go for help
You can find information on improving your mental health and wellbeing by visiting the Mental Health pages in Mylife.
You can also get help from your doctor. Do not feel worried about going, as they are there to help with your mental health as well as your physical health.
They may refer you to a local organisation that can help, or provide you with medication if they agree it is the best option.
You can also ask your doctor to be referred for Talking Therapies, such as counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), psychiatry, or family, couples and group therapy.
You can also make a self-referral to Let's Talk IAPT
When a Service User has a more serious mental health issue, they may require further assessment under the Mental Health Act to look into how you can be supported.
Emergencies
In an emergency, contact North London Mental Health NHS Trust - Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team – Enfield on 0300 0200 500 who are a multi-skilled team of mental health professionals providing intensive care and support in patients homes as an alternative to acute inpatient admission.
You can also reach our out-of-hours service on 020 8379 1000. A trained social worker will speak to you over the phone to assess the situation and decide the best course of action.
The Samaritans provide confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. You can contact them on Samaritans freephone number 116 123 0r 0330 094 5717 (local rate)
In an extreme emergency, phone 999 for immediate help from the ambulance, fire department or police.
Dementia
Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning. This may include problems with:
- memory loss
- thinking speed
- mental sharpness and quickness
- language
- understanding
- judgement
- mood
- movement
- difficulties carrying out daily activities
There are many different causes of dementia. People often get confused about the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Information about dementia, including symptoms and causes, can be found by visiting NHS Choices dementia guide.
Worried about someone?
If you are worried that you or a loved one may have dementia, you should talk to your doctor. They may be able to diagnose it or make a referral to a Specialist Team.
Your doctor can refer you to the Older people's Mental Health Service (North London Mental Health Trust) for an assessment. If they diagnose dementia, they will offer you and your family advice about support and treatment available.
Sometimes, people with dementia need specialist assessments and support at different stages of their illness. This is available from a range of different professionals such as psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers. Your doctor will be able to refer you to the appropriate mental health professional.
Support in the community: activities and resources
Some of the activities and resources which might be helpful to you:
- Alzheimer's Society – Offers a range of guidance and support for people with dementia and their families:
- Memory clubs are a way of meeting other people and engaging in activities in a relaxed environment.
- There is the support of memory care navigators who support people with a diagnosis of dementia and their carers
- Memory Café s provide a drop in, social environment for people living with dementia, accompanied by their carers
- Singing for the Brain Enfield is a singing group based around the principles of music therapy, which include vocal warm-ups and singing a huge range of familiar old and new songs for everyone’s taste
- Alzheimer's Society - National Dementia Helpline
- Age UK Enfield – Offers a range of services and support for older people and their carers:
- Dementia Centre supports people aged 50 plus who have early memory problems, though to those with advanced dementia.
Memory clubs
- iCan Service is a project aimed at supporting vulnerable adults to remain living healthily and independently in the community, it is aimed at adults of all ages and not just older people.
- My House of Memories app – This allows you to explore objects from the past and share memories together. It can be used by anyone, but has been designed for, and with, people living with dementia and their carers.
- Young Dementia UK – This is a charity that exists for one reason – to help people whose lives are affected by young onset dementia to adapt and live life. Dementia is considered ‘young onset’ when it affects people under 65 years of age.
Parkinson's
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.
The 3 main symptoms of Parkinson's disease are:
- involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body (tremor)
- slow movement
- stiff and inflexible muscles
A person with Parkinson's disease can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms.
These include:
- depression and anxiety
- balance problems (this may increase the chances of a fall)
- loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
- problems sleeping (insomnia)
- memory problems
Support
Parkinson's UK is the main Parkinson's support and research charity in the UK.
Parkinson’s UK Enfield branch meets at Gentleman’s Row fortnightly on a Tuesday.
Motor Neuron
What is Motor Neurone Disease?
Motor neurone disease (MND) is a rare condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time.
There's no cure for MND, but there are treatments to help reduce the impact it has on a person's daily life. Some people live with the condition for many years.
When to see a GP
See a GP if:
- you think you may have early symptoms of motor neurone disease – they'll consider other possible conditions and can refer you to a specialist, called a neurologist, if necessary
- a close relative has motor neurone disease or frontotemporal dementia and you're worried you may be at risk of it – they may refer you for genetic counselling to talk about your risk and the tests you can have
It's unlikely you have motor neurone disease, but getting a correct diagnosis as early as possible can help you get the care and support you need.
Tests and diagnosis
It can be difficult to diagnose motor neurone disease in the early stages.
There's no single test for it and several conditions cause similar symptoms.
To help rule out other conditions, a neurologist may arrange:
- blood tests
- a scan of your brain and spine
- tests to measure the electrical activity in your muscles and nerves
- a lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap) – when a thin needle is used to remove and test the fluid from within your spine
More information and support
Having motor neurone disease can be very challenging for you, your friends and your family.
Speak to a GP or your care team if you're struggling to cope and need more support.
You may also find it useful to read more information and advice from the Motor Neurone Disease Association on:
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
What is MS?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition - that means it affects your nerves. You get it when your immune system isn’t working properly.
Your immune system normally protects you by fighting off infection, but in MS it attacks your nerves by mistake. Your nerves control lots of different parts of your body. That’s why you can get MS symptoms in many parts of your body. It’s also why everyone’s MS is different.
Information on living with MS can be found on the NHS website.
Local Support
The MS Society Enfield group offers support and information on living with MS as well as having a network of trained volunteers to support your needs and monthly socials.
Diabetes
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the body loses its ability to convert glucose into energy. This is because the hormone insulin (a chemical messenger) is either not being produced in sufficient quantity or cannot work efficiently. Insulin is manufactured in the pancreas and is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in your bloodstream.
Diabetes diagnosis
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you will receive the majority of your care at your GP practice.
If you need more care you may be referred to the community based intermediate diabetes service or to your local hospital.
Patients can access more support by joining the Enfield Diabetes Group.
Support and Information
The Enfield Diabetes Support Group and Diabetes UK have created this leaflet with all you need to know about living with Diabetes.
COPD and respiratory diseases
Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are diseases of the airways and other structures of the lung. Some of the most common are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension. In addition to tobacco smoke, other risk factors include air pollution, occupational chemicals and dusts, and frequent lower respiratory infections during childhood.
Asthma
Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties.
The main symptoms of asthma are:
- a whistling sound when breathing (wheezing)
- breathlessness
- a tight chest, which may feel like a band is tightening around it
- coughing
The symptoms can sometimes get temporarily worse. This is known as an asthma attack.
Asthma is caused by swelling (inflammation) of the breathing tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. This makes the tubes highly sensitive, so they temporarily narrow.
It may occur randomly or after exposure to a trigger.
Common asthma triggers include:
- allergies (to house dust mites, animal fur or pollen, for example)
- smoke, pollution and cold air
- exercise
- infections like colds or flu
- Identifying and avoiding your asthma triggers can help you keep your symptoms under control.
COPD
The main symptoms of COPD are:
- increasing breathlessness, particularly when you're active
- a persistent chesty cough with phlegm – some people may dismiss this as just a "smoker's cough"
- frequent chest infections
- persistent wheezing
Without treatment, the symptoms usually get progressively worse. There may also be periods when they get suddenly worse, known as a flare-up or exacerbation.
COPD happens when the lungs become inflamed, damaged and narrowed. The main cause is smoking, although the condition can sometimes affect people who have never smoked.
The likelihood of developing COPD increases the more you smoke and the longer you've smoked.
The damage to the lungs caused by COPD is permanent, but treatment can help slow down the progression of the condition.
Treatments include:
- stopping smoking – if you have COPD and you smoke, this is the most important thing you can do
- inhalers and medicines – to help make breathing easier
- pulmonary rehabilitation – a specialised programme of exercise and education
- surgery or a lung transplant – although this is only an option for a very small number of people
High blood pressure
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries – the vessels that carry your blood from your heart to your brain and the rest of your body. You need a certain amount of pressure to get the blood moving round your body.
Your blood pressure naturally goes up and down throughout the day and night, and it’s normal for it to go up while you’re moving about. It’s when your overall blood pressure is consistently high, even when you are resting, that you need to do something about it.
High blood pressure is serious. If you ignore it, it can lead to heart and circulatory diseases like heart attack or stroke. It can also cause kidney failure, heart failure, problems with your sight and vascular dementia.
What causes high blood pressure?
These can all increase your risk of getting high blood pressure:
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Not doing enough exercise
- Eating too much salt
Where can I get my blood pressure measured or tested?
High blood pressure has no symptoms. So it’s important to measure your blood pressure regularly.
You can get your blood pressure checked at:
- GP surgeries
- some pharmacies
- some workplaces
- an NHS health check
Cancer
What is cancer?
Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs.
Cancer sometimes begins in one part of the body before spreading to other areas. This process is known as metastasis.
1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. In the UK, the 4 most common types of cancer are:
- breast cancer
- lung cancer
- prostate cancer
- bowel cancer
Spotting sings of cancer
Changes to your body's normal processes or unusual, unexplained symptoms can sometimes be an early sign of cancer.
Symptoms that need to be checked by a doctor include:
- a lump that suddenly appears on your body
- unexplained bleeding
- changes to your bowel habits
But in many cases your symptoms will not be related to cancer and will be caused by other, non-cancerous health conditions.
Reducing your risk of cancer
Making some simple changes to your lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk of developing cancer.
For example:
- healthy eating
- taking regular exercise
- not smoking
Local support
There are several local and national charities offering support and information to people diagnosed with cancer in Enfield:
Useful links
Public Health England - Active at home booklet
See more ideas on activities and things to do in Enfield.