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Referral
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Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression NHS Plymouth - Delivered by Plymouth Options
Scope
Plymouth Options provides free NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression, within Livewell Southwest.
The service is suitable for -
People 16yrs and over, no upper age limit.
Registered with a Plymouth GP.
People experiencing Depression and/or Anxiety Disorders (generalised anxiety disorder, simple phobia, health anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobia, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia). See Assessment for further details.
Our Goals -
- To Improve access to early help support for people with common mental health problems in the community.
- Providing support at the appropriate level for their needs. We work within the stepped care framework to identify appropriate therapy for their needs.
- Promote wellness and prevent deterioration in problems.
Out of scope
Urgent referrals
If urgent or crisis intervention is required, patients can be directed to contact First Response by calling 111 or attending their nearest Emergency Department.
GPs & Professionals can also contact First Response if advice is required by calling the professional line on 01752 434135. GPs can also refer to First Response via e-Referrals marked as urgent.
If patients are presenting with any of the below, please consider referral to either the Community Mental Health Service (CMHS) or the Mental Health Assessment & Intervention Service (MAIS) Check e-referrals for further details.
- Risk of suicide:
- People with current risk of suicide indicated by either/or
- Suicidal ideation, with evidence of intent &/or plans
- Recent suicide attempt or self-harm event, within the past 3 months
- People with current risk of suicide indicated by either/or
- Risk of self-harm:
- Self-harming behaviours that would require medical attention. Or resulting from marked emotional dysregulation as a primary treatment need.
- Risk of harm to others:
- Presenting current risk of harm to others.
- Involvement in safeguarding actions will not exclude if risks are reduced and person well engaged. Those with involvement with probation service will not be excluded if assessed low risk.
- People who have Anger problems without signs of anxiety and depression.
- Risk of neglect:
- Current self-neglect significantly impacting on daily life and safety – refer to Adult Social Care.
- Risk of harm from others:
- Living in an abusive or unstable home environment, as psychological therapy is unlikely to meet their needs – consider safeguarding referral, PDAS.
People under the age of 16yrs
- Refer to CAMHS
Patients who are not registered with a Plymouth GP
- Refer to Devon TalkWorks
People who have long term psychiatric & emotional disorders.
For example, bipolar disorder, psychosis, uncontrolled substance use disorder, eating disorder or personality disorder having an impact on therapy – refer to the Community Mental Health Service (CMHS).
Severity & complexity:
We are unable to accept people:
- Currently receiving care from specialist mental health services.
- In a current mental health crisis or distress.
- With a history of recurrent treatment failure &/or recurrent lack of engagement with treatment services.
- With long-standing problems or severe symptoms or with multiple life problems having an impact on everyday functioning which reduces ability to engage in therapy. Refer to the CMHS if risk is present, if there is no risk then refer to Mental health Assessment and Intervention Service (MAIS).
- Who use alcohol and drugs leading to unstable and chaotic lives. Refer to Harbour
Signs and Symptoms of common mental health disorders
Depression causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness, apathy and low self-esteem. You can also lose interest in things you used to enjoy and become quite tearful. There can be physical symptoms too, such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive, and complaining of various aches and pains. People with mild to moderate depression can also suffer with symptoms of anxiety.
Anxiety can present in many ways and there are different forms of Anxiety:
Generalised Anxiety Disorder is sometimes difficult to diagnose. Symptoms can often look like depression. Symptoms may include worrying to an extent that it affects daily life, job and social life.
Worrying about all sorts of things and tend to think the worst which is extremely stressful and upsetting. Feeling worried nearly every day for at least six months and can't seem to stop.
Simple Phobias or fears - a phobia is an overwhelming and exhausting fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal. Phobias are more extreme than fears. They develop when a person has an exaggerated or unrealistic sense of danger about a situation or object. If a phobia becomes very severe, a person may organise their life around avoiding the thing that's causing them anxiety. As well as restricting their day-to-day life, it can also cause them considerable distress.
Health Anxiety - worrying that simple health problems are serious problems, often with frequent trips to see the GP, or searching for explanations on the internet. Many people become involved in checking behaviour, for example checking moles, or marks, or feeling for lumps and ask people close to them to check as well. This in turn can increase physical symptoms of anxiety (such as an increased heart rate, chest pain or tightness in the chest, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, dry mouth or sweating).
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - obsession is a sudden thought, image or urge to do something this in turn causes feelings of anxiety. The anxiety leads to a pattern of behaviour/compulsion which may bring temporary relief. Some common obsessions that affect people with OCD include:
- fear of deliberately harming yourself or others - for example, fear you may attack someone else, even though this type of behaviour disgusts you
- fear of harming yourself or others by mistake or accident - for example, fear you may set the house on fire by accidentally leaving the cooker on
- fear of contamination by disease, infection or an unpleasant substance
Post-Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD) - people who suffer flashbacks and/or nightmares to events that have been very stressful and traumatic. Sometimes this can start months or years after the event. Such events could include serious road accidents, violent personal assaults, witnessing violent death, incidents from serving in the Military, or being involved in a natural disaster such as floods or earthquakes. Sometimes people with PTSD will have problems with Insomnia (trouble sleeping) and concentration.
Social Phobia - Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is a persistent and overwhelming fear of social situations. It's one of the most common anxiety disorders.
Social anxiety disorder is much more than "shyness". It can be intense fear and anxiety over simple everyday activities, such as shopping or speaking on the phone. Adults with social anxiety disorder may dread meeting strangers, talking in groups, working, eating or drinking with company, shopping etc.
Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia (which is a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult, or help wouldn't be available if things go wrong)
Common Symptoms of Anxiety include:
- Feeling of losing control or going crazy.
- Heart palpitations (pounding) or chest pain.
- Feeling like you're going to pass out.
- Trouble breathing or choking sensation.
- Hyperventilation (taking your breath in and out too quickly).
- Hot flushes or chills.
- Trembling or shaking.
- Stomach upset.
Plymouth Talking Therapies (Plymouth Options) does not operate an emergency or out of hours service.
For example, patients exhibiting suicidal thoughts with intent and/or plans to end their life, patients with severe and enduring mental health difficulties (i.e. psychosis/schizophrenia).
If urgent help is required, patients can be directed to contact First Response by calling 111 or attending their nearest Emergency Department in a crisis.
GPs & Professionals can also contact First Response if advice is required by calling the professionals line on 01752 434135.
Please refer to the “Out of scope” section above.
Plymouth Talking Therapies do not accept urgent referrals. Urgent referrals should be directed through First Response Service.
Plymouth Talking Therapies (Plymouth Options) accept self-referrals from individuals using the online referral form on the website.
GPs can refer via the e-referral system directly to Plymouth Options for those in scope. Written supported information can be attached via e-referrals.
Other Professionals (e.g. probation, social prescribers, the perinatal team and mental health nurses) can refer via a professional referral form, available by contacting livewell.plymouthoptions@nhs.net
Referral Criteria
Primary Diagnosis of Depression and /or anxiety disorders to include:
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder
- Simple phobia
- Health Anxiety
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Obsessive compulsive Disorder
- Social Phobia
- Panic Disorder with or without agoraphobia
Long-term Condition Self-Management Programme
Plymouth NHS Talking Therapies provide treatment for Depression and/or Anxiety disorders relating to specific long-term health conditions. Treatment through Plymouth Talking Therapies help patients understand the interaction between their physical health and mental health, enabling patients to manage their symptoms and improve quality of life.
The individual should meet the criteria for Talking Therapies and can access this service via referral through the different long term conditions teams below:
- Cardiac and Respiratory Team
- Diabetes Specialised Nurses within the Primary Care Network or the Diabetes team, UHP
- Mustard Tree, UHP
- Immunology, UHP
For further information regarding Long Term conditions in NHS Talking Therapies please contact us via livewell.plymouthoptions@nhs.net
Helpful information to include in the referral
- Description of current symptoms and duration
- Risk to self and others – past and present
- Details around any previous psychological treatment and/or diagnosis
- Personalised care requirements and adjustments required by the patient.
- Any barriers to engagement
- If a person has had symptoms for a long time and they seem complex it may be appropriate for their GP to attach written information to support the e-referral.
- Please refer to the “Out of scope” section above.
Referral Instructions
For Patient Self-Referral
Patients can self-refer by accessing the link on our website for the referral form.
Alternatively, patients can telephone/email Plymouth Talking Therapies.
T : 01752 435419 (M, W, Th and Fri- 0900-1700. Tues- 0900-2000)
E: livewell.plymouthoptions@nhs.net
GP referral via e-RS
Refer to Plymouth Talking Therapies via e-Referrals unless the person has had symptoms for a long time and they seem complicated/complex, in these cases it may be more appropriate to refer to a different Mental Health Service such as the CMHS, based on the patient’s locality.
- e-Referral service selection:
- Specialty: Mental Health
- Clinic type: Not otherwise specified
- Service: PLYMOUTH Talking Therapies (IAPT)-Mental Health-Livewell SW
Queries can be forwarded to:-
NHS Plymouth Talking Therapies
Centre Court
73 Exeter Street
Plymouth
PL4 0AH
E- livewell.plymouthoptions@nhs.net
Patient Information
NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression | Livewell Southwest
Evidence
NHS England » NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression
Disorder specific NICE Guidance:
Overview | Depression in adults: treatment and management | Guidance | NICE
Overview | Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management | Guidance | NICE
Overview | Obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder: treatment | Guidance | NICE
Overview | Social anxiety disorder: recognition, assessment and treatment | Guidance | NICE
Overview | Post-traumatic stress disorder | Guidance | NICE
Pathway Group
This guideline has been signed off by the Western Locality Psychological Therapies Strategic & Implementation Group on behalf of NHS Devon.
Publication date: October 2024
Updated: April 2025
