Mental Health Team

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The key takeaways are the different roles and responsibilities of professionals in a mental health team including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, general practitioners and others.

The different professionals in a mental health team include psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, general practitioners, psychiatric clinical nurse specialists, psychiatric nurses, psychiatric social workers and others like occupational therapists, play therapists, art therapists, music therapists, recreational therapists, ECT technicians and dieticians.

A psychiatrist diagnoses and treats cases and is a leader of the team. A clinical psychologist assists in assessment and undertakes psychological therapies. A general practitioner is often the first point of contact and treats most patients, referring them to specialists if needed.

MENTAL HEALTH TEAM

1. Psychiatrists Possesses PG degree in psychiatry with 2-3 years of residential training Functions: Serves as a leader of the team. Diagnose & treats the cases. Involves actively in implementing preventive measures against psychiatric disorders. 2. Clinical psychologists A doctorate holder in clinical psychology and registered in Clinical Psychological Association. Functions:

Clinical psychologists work both in hospitals and within community mental health teams. Clinical psychologists assists in the assessment of the mental health needs of patients and undertaking psychological therapies with individuals and groups. 3. General practitioners Postgraduate in medicine. Role

GPs are often the first point of contact for people with mental illness and treat most patients themselves. Where they feel the patient needs further specialist help, GPs can refer the person to a number of different services such as a counsellor, community psychiatric nurse (CPN), psychologist or a consultant psychiatrist. . 4. Psychiatric clinical nurse specialist Possesses masters degree in nursing with psychiatric speciality. Functions: Conducts & assists in psychotherapeutic activities. Takes up the responsibility as a nurse leader Provides consultation to the nurses who require assistance in provision of care to the clients. 5. Psychiatric nurse Underwent diploma training or basic B.Sc/Post certificate B.Sc course/ diploma in psychiatry nursing. Functions:
Nurses assess all patients who attend inpatient wards to understand their nursing needs. Assists in therapeutic activities. Maintains one-to-one relationship.

6. Psychiatric social worker Graduate in social work & PG in psychiatric social work. Functions:
Skilled in interview techniques & group dynamics.

Assess the individual, family & community support system.

Carry out the counseling programmes & therapeutic activities. 7. Occupational therapist (OT) An occupational therapist has usually taken a degree in occupational therapy (BSc). Functions:
OTs may work in hospitals or in the community. They supervise and assess a person's ability to look after

themselves, eg self-care, cooking and housework


Assists the client to become skilled & independent in the area of choice.

8. Play therapist Obtained masters & specialized degree in child psychology. Functions: Observes the child during play behavior, i.e selection of toys, reaction of child during play, tries to identify the childs deviant behavior and encourages the child to modify behavior through proper training. 9. Art therapist Graduate in arts Functions: Helps in identifying the clients problem by identifying repressed feeling to conscious level. Utilizes the clients creative abilities & encourages to express their emotional feelings through art wo 10. Music therapist Functions: Encourages the client to express their feelings through music & playing instruments 11. Recreational therapist Functions: Plans the activities that stimulate the muscle coordination. Promotes socialization & makes the client to make interpersonal relationships. Assists the clients to spend their leisure time in a productive way by distracting mind from stress. 12. ECT technician Undergo training for 6-9months Functions: Keeps ready ECT machine & other articles required for procedure. Gives ECT under supervision of psychiatrist. 13. Dietician Graduate in home science Functions: Plans menu & distributes diet to the clients to meet nutritional needs

14. Clergy Religious personnel who identifies & meet spiritual needs of client & family.

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