North East Mental Health and Deafness Service

The North East Mental Health and Deafness Service is for Deaf and Deafblind people aged 18 years or older who mainly use BSL (British Sign Language) to communicate and who have mental health problems, for example depression or anxiety.

We work with the Community Treatment Team (the CTT) or Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) in your local area.

If you think you have a mental health problem and want our help:

• See a GP (family doctor)
• GP will write to us and your local community team
• We will see you together

The first time we will meet you at:

• A community clinic near to where you live, or
• Your GP surgery, or
• Your home, or
• Online via a videocall

We will:

• Book an interpreter if this is your choice
• Discuss your problems, past and now. This is the assessment. The assessment aims to help you understand your mental health and decide what would help you now. This may include medication and personal support.
• Talk to your family (if you want us to)
• Agree what to do next. If you need treatment we decide together what to do. This is called the Care Plan. You will be given a copy. This can be in English or BSL. Your care plan is reviewed regularly.
• We write to your GP and let them know the plan
• We might ask other teams or services to help
• You will have a key worker (we call them a care coordinator or lead professional) in your community team. We will work with you and your key worker to meet your needs.
• Together we complete ‘All About Me’ as part of plan for discharge. This is important because it helps you work out how to stay well and keep safe. We call this your ‘wellbeing and recovery’.

In a crisis you can also contact the Initial Response Team via short text messaging:

• North Tyneside or Northumberland – 07887 625 277
• Sunderland or South Tyneside – 07889 036 280
• Newcastle or Gateshead – 07919 228 548
• Cumbria – 07795 656 226
• Tees, Esk and Wear Valley: use UK Relay, first dial 18001 then 0800 0516 171. Please include your name and date of birth when you contact the team.

If you live outside the above areas, please check your care plan for contact details.

For further information contact:

North East Mental Health and Deafness Service
Walkergate Park
Benfield Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
Tyne and Wear
NE6 4QD

Mobile 07584 339 539 (text messages will be checked and replied regularly)

Email [email protected]

This leaflet is also available in BSL at www.cntw.nhs.uk/bsl

For mental health self help guides and other useful BSL resources visit:
www.cntw.nhs.uk/home/accessible-information/bsl/

Deaf friendly information e.g. deaf clubs in your area and organisations for Deaf people visit:
www.cntw.nhs.uk/services/north-east-mental-health-deafnessservice-walkergate-park/local-and-national-support/

Helpful tips and information day or night:

• Emergency SMS can be used to contact police, ambulance or fire in an emergency. You need to register your phone www.emergencysms.net
• SHOUT text service. If you are struggling to cope, Text DEAF to 85258
• Relay UK, Dial 18000 or, if using the app simply tap the 999 button for emergency services. www.relayuk.bt.com
• www.signhealth.org.uk – provide information and support
  including psychological therapy services for deaf people.
• North East Independent Complaints Advocacy (ICA) – deaf advocate. Contact us by text 07789 088 284 or BSL Whatsapp video on 07738 994 040.

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:

• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website
• telephone the Complaints Department on 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected]. Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk

We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention. You can provide feedback in the following ways:

• the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourvoice
• complete a Your Voice survey, available on wards, reception areas or from staff
• other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourfeedback

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.

We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.

North of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 032 0202
Email: [email protected]
Post: FREEPOST PALS

South of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 328 4397
Text: 07825 061 035
Email: [email protected]
Post: Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Garden Lodge, Hopewood Park, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0NB

9am – 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday

An answerphone is available at all times for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre by telephone on 0191 246 7288.

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2024 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref: PIC/114/0923 September 2023 V15

Website www.cntw.nhs.uk
Telephone 0191 246 7288

Review date 2026