Should People Be Allocated A Lifelong Counsellor?

[Raidergal2022]

People are allocated a gp, so do you think that everyone should be allocated a counsellor from a young age through life?

I don’t mean that they should see them regular but maybe see them annually as like a mental health checkup and if any issues arise they could then have regular sessions/signposting to the correct mental health service.

I think this would allow a persons mental health to be monitored through their life and would help to identify safeguarding issues etc particularly in the young and elderly. It would also help to encourage self awareness from a young age as people tend to develop strong beliefs/biases without realising which can impact themselves and society.

[JimF]

"People are allocated a GP"

Are they? I see a different GP every time. Same practice, though, I'll give you that...

[jno]

JimF, I was surprised to find one of the half-dozen GPs at the surgery was supposed to be my allocated doctor. In fact he's the one I avoid because he damn near killed me with a stupid prescription.

[Maydup]

That would be lovely, but I just can’t decide which service we should cut out to pay for it?

[Raidergal2022]

Maydup while you are deciding keep in mind that 1 in 3 people experience a mental health issue and many of these require counselling/CBT courses anyway

Prevention of mental health relapses and less people slipping through nets can do a lot for cost:
Less sick leave/statutory sick pay
Less need for secondary care services and inpatient stays (several weeks in a mental health unit costs £20000

Costs surrounding child/adult safeguarding

10% of ambulance call outs are in relation to mental health

[barry1010]

My GP practice has counsellors and nurses for that sort of thing. I thought every practice did. If they believe you need more support than they can offer they refer you to outside specialists.

[douglas9401]

Would these counsellors have the power to boot people up the backside and tell them to stop whingeing on?

[1ozzy]

One can only hope

[youngmafbog]

Spot on Douglas.

And I wonder how this could be funded? More tax maybe?

[Old_Geezer]

No. The GP is the first port of call and so there's an argument in favour of registering with them so they know they have a reasonable number of citizens on their books and avoid being under-employed or overwhelmed. But citizens can be referred to specialist medical professionals by their GP as and when that's needed. There is no real benefit to registering with a mass of specialists.

[Redhelen72]

Be interested in seeing your where you get your stats from?

[Old_Geezer]

Yeah, these days it aways seems that you see a locum. I doubt one's registered GP knows much about you these days. IMO it's an indication of how lax services to the public have been allowed to go (in all areas of life for that matter).

[vulcan42]

Old Geezer, the problem that seems to be arising now is the GP's no longer want to be the first port of call. They have issued a list of complaints that should now be seen by a chemist and I foresee that list gradually getting longer. All it's doing is moving the queue from the surgery to the high street.

[lankeela]

Seems to me that mental health issues are the go to excuse for all sorts these days - as douglas says get yourselves sorted and stop whingeing and let those with real problems get the attention they deserve.

[Redhelen72]

Lankeela, mental health can be as dangerous as ‘ real problems’

[bednobs]

nah, going by your figures, 2/3 people wont need it

[naomi24]

No. In my experience some mental health workers need more help than their patients.

[bednobs]

^^^ you have a point there naomi!

[William51]

This is a good idea, perhaps create a mental health service as a place people can go for help.

[wolf63]

The comment at 09:19 shows the attitude to some about mental illness.

It is real and it is terrifying and ruins lives. I have first hand experience of it and was forced to give up work because of it.

I thought that such attitudes had disappeared last century.

[dave50]

Everyone and their dog seems to claim they have mental health problems these days. It's becoming a badge of honour, especially among the young, as is being transgender.