Older People’s Mental Health

Mental health difficulties can affect us at any age. In later life, they may be linked to changes in health, independence, relationships, bereavement or memory, or they may be conditions someone has lived with for many years.

You do not need to know which team or service you need before asking for help.

Where to start

If you are worried about your or a loved one’s mental health, memory or changes in the way you are coping, speaking to your GP is a good place to start.

They can talk to you about what you are experiencing and help identify what support may be right for you. Depending on your needs, this may include community mental health support, memory assessment, help at home or referral to a more specialist service.

Specialist support for older people

Our Older People’s Mental Health Services support people with a wide range of needs, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, dementia and other changes in mental health or memory.

Support may include:

• Community mental health teams: offering assessment, treatment and ongoing support in clinics, at home or in care settings.

• Memory and dementia support: including assessment and specialist care.

• Crisis and intensive home treatment: providing short-term, more intensive support when someone’s mental health has deteriorated.

• Inpatient care: where someone needs additional assessment, treatment or support in hospital.

• Liaison psychiatry: supporting older people whose mental health needs are identified while they are receiving care in hospital.

• Specialist support in care homes.

Our teams also work with families and carers, recognising the important role they can play in someone’s care and recovery.

If you need urgent help

If you or someone you care about has an urgent mental health need that is not immediately life-threatening, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.

If there is an immediate risk to life, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.

Find out more about Older People’s Mental Health Services and the specialist support available across Hull and the East Riding.