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Mental Health Services

Mental Health Services is a multidisciplinary team based in the Balfour in Kirkwall, offering a community based service to the whole of Orkney. The team comprises of a visiting Psychiatrist, a Clinical Psychologist, an Occupational Therapist, Social Workers who are also Mental Health Officers, Community Mental Health Nurses, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practitioners, Support Workers, supporting Administrative staff, an Operational Manager and a Service Manager.

We provide an all age service for those experiencing problems with their mental health, substance misuse or memory. An open referral system is in operation and any referrals received by the team are triaged and allocated to the most appropriate worker for that case. Alternatively it may be appropriate for the referral to be signposted to other services that may best meet the needs of the individual.

Members of Mental Health Services work in partnership with the service user, their family and loved ones, where appropriate, to look at the problems or difficulties that they are experiencing, and to assess the effects that these mental health problems are having on their life.

Treatment packages are based on sound evidence based practice and may encompass social care, medical treatments, psychological therapies and practical help. The team works closely with other statutory and voluntary organisations to offer comprehensive packages of care.

Confidentiality is central to our work and in our relationships with those using the service. All team members undertake supervision sessions to monitor update and develop their practice. Ongoing training of the team members is encouraged to facilitate up to date care delivery to be provided.

The Orkney Mental Health Strategy 2020 – 2025

The Orkney Mental Health Strategy 2020 – 2025 provides a framework for the improvement and development of mental health and wellbeing supports across all our communities. This strategy reflects the vision, objectives and priorities within Planning for our Future: Orkney Strategic Plan 2019 - 2022. It recognises the complexities of providing a wide range of services to individuals, from birth to end of life, focusing on enabling people to access their own strengths and supports where possible; preventing onset of ill-health and providing early intervention and support for recovery; and developing personal and community resilience.

We all share a common factor, that being our health. Our mental and physical health is fundamentally linked and is influenced by factors such as living standards, education, employment and access to community local supports, as well as the way we think, behave, react to personal diversity and interact with those around us.

By working in close partnership with individuals, carers, communities, statutory and voluntary sector providers we are seeking to build upon existing services, to improve upon these and to develop additional supports through effective use of all resources available. Over the coming five years we will seek to achieve the following outcomes:

Improved quality of life for individuals experiencing mental health problems, through a strength based, prevention and recovery orientated mental health service provision.
Support for a professional workforce, including robust training and strong multi-disciplinary culture.
Provision of a range of community-based support services, which promotes prevention, self-management, self-reliance and resilience from birth to old age.
Decrease mental health inequality, stigma and discrimination through greater community awareness.
Improved access to information and communication.
Develop opportunities for developing more effective use of resources accessible through all stakeholder groups and across all communities, to enhance support services to individuals and carers.
Improved access to a range of supports for carers.