Response Early Intervention and Assessment in Community Mental Health (REACH) for Students
REACH for students is a mobile multidisciplinary mental health team that works closely with school clusters to:
- Improve mental health of children and adolescents in schools
- Provide early interventions, support and training to school counsellors on mental health disorders
- Develop a mental health network for children and adolescents in the community involving:
- General practitioners (Family doctors and community paediatricians)
- Full-time School Counsellors (FTFC), and/or
- Voluntary Welfare Organisations and Family Services Centre
For Adults
Adult Community Mental Health Team Service
The Adult Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) is funded by Ministry of Health under the National Mental Health Blueprint. The primary aim of the CMHT service is to maintain adult persons with mental illness (18 to 65 years old) in the community for as long as possible and reduce hospital readmissions and length of stay. The CMHT is a multidisciplinary team (consists of psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, medical social workers, community nurses and counsellors) and provides the following services:
- Assertive Care Management
(psycho-social rehabilitation of patients who are high users of inpatient services)
This team provides community-based treatment to IMH patients with severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses (such as schizophrenia, delusional disorder and manic-depressive psychosis), so that they may continue to live in the community while working towards recovery.
The team comprises a multi-disciplinary team of mental health care professionals which includes psychiatrists, medical officers, medical social workers, community psychiatric nurses and occupational therapists. Services by the team are individualised, and the intensity will depend on the needs of each patient. The team is mobile and will mostly treat patients in their homes.
- Standard Care Management
(medication compliance and psycho-education)
- Mobile Crisis Team
(via Helpline and home visit intervention so as to reduce the impact of mental health emergencies through immediate response to crisis at community level)
IMH patients and their caregivers in crisis situations can call a Mobile Crisis hotline for help. The hotline puts them through to a qualified counsellor for immediate assistance and advice. In critical situations, they will be put in touch with the Mobile Crisis Team who will accompany the patient for admission to IMH if necessary.
There is also a greater focus on supporting our patients in the community and networking with the community partners. These partners include the Family Service Centres, Police and Voluntary Welfare Organisations etc. The aims of the networking session are:
- To identify needs of IMH patients within the community
- To identify service gaps
- To identify training needs of our community partners
- Community Psychiatric Nursing Service
A team of Community Psychiatric Nurses helps to provide continuity of care for discharged patients in their homes and counsel patients on compliance with medication. The team also provides psychological support to caregivers. During home visits, the Community Psychiatric Nurse assesses the mental state of the patient and observes the therapeutic effects and any side effects of medications. Feedback gathered from the patient is shared with caregivers to help them with their care management. This service caters to patients of all age groups.
For Elderly
Aged Psychiatry Community Assessment and Treatment Service (APCATS)
Aged Psychiatry Community Assessment and Treatment Service (APCATS) is a community-oriented psycho-geriatric outreach service. It has two programmes: Clinical Service (CS) and Regional Eldercare Agencies Partnership (REAP).
APCATS Clinical Service (CS) provides assessment and treatment for homebound elderly patients. It also provides education and support for patients and caregivers.
APCATS Regional Eldercare Agencies Partnership (REAP) is a newly launched initiative in 2008 where APCATS partner community eldercare agencies and family physicians for training, consultation and support. The team also assists in the coordination of services to improve the continuity of care for the elderly with mental illnesses.
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