Do I need formal psychological support?
Many people manage perfectly well without formal psychological support but there may be times when you may need to speak to a professional.
When to get help
Psychological support for patients and carers can be helpful at all stages of the illness journey. Seek help if:
- you are finding it difficult to cope with your thoughts and feelings
- your thoughts and feelings are having a negative impact on your day to day life e.g. you are so anxious you can’t concentrate
- your thoughts and feelings are stopping you from engaging with the management of your PSC
How to get help
GP
Speak to your GP about accessing psychological support for dealing with PSC (which is a long-term condition). There may be a wait, but they will be able to refer you for this service.
Liver Unit
Your liver unit: your liver unit may have access to a psychology/counselling team, although at the moment this tends to be restricted to liver transplant patients only.
NHS
- Find out how to access NHS mental health services and where to get urgent help: NHS mental health services.
- If you live in England and are aged 18 or over, you can access NHS psychological therapies (IAPT) services.
- A GP can refer you, or you can refer yourself directly without a referral.
- IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) services offer:
- talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies, and guided self-help
help for common mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.
- talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies, and guided self-help
- Find an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT): NHS psychological therapies service
- If you are still struggling after several weeks and it is affecting your daily life, please contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111.
PSC Support
- PSC Support Helpline
- The PSC Support Facebook Group is a wonderful source of emotional support and information about PSC.
Other Non-Profit Organisations
- Every Mind Matters provides simple tips and advice to start taking better care of your mental health.
- The charity, Anxiety UK, has resources and support available for people experiencing anxiety relating to COVID-19.
- MIND provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
Private Sector
Seeking help privately can be expensive and it is important to see someone who is appropriately qualified. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) website has information on how to find a therapist and a therapist directory. You can also find register of Accredited BABCP Cognitive Behavioural Therapists on the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP) website, has a register of accredited CBT therapists.