This section looks at the mental health services and other organisations in Milton Keynes that aim to support people who have had or are experiencing mental health issues. Please be aware that the mental health services are currently undergoing a lot of changes. The information within this section is correct at time of publication.
Milton Keynes Talking Therapies Service (IAPT)
Stantonbury Health Centre, Purbeck
Stantonbury Centre, Milton Keynes, MK14 6BL
Tel: 01908 725099 (Mon – Fri 8.30am – 4.30pm)
Outside normal hours urgent support: 0800 0234 650
Email: cnw-tr.iaptmiltonkeynes@nhs.net
Web: https://mktalkingtherapies.nhs.uk/about-us/what-we-offer
The Milton Keynes Talking Therapies Service (IAPT) is a free, confidential service providing talking therapies for low mood or depression and anxiety difficulties. It operates as part of a national Access to Psychologies (IAPT) programme.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Talking based intervention that aims to explore and adapt thought processes to improve symptoms of anxiety and depression. This can be carried out on a 1:1 basis with a trained NHS professional, in a group setting or via online guided self-help. Useful for:
- Stress & anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Self-esteem
- Postnatal depression
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Phobias
Counselling for Depression (CfD)
Counselling is a talking based intervention that aims to explore the underlying causes and factors that influence depression, in order to better treat the symptoms associated with this illness. It is usually offered to clients that have already explored alternative treatment options such as guided self-help.
Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT)
Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) is a talking based intervention that focuses on relationships to improve symptoms of mood disorders. This differs from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) by focusing more on unconscious feelings and previous experiences that are influencing the present moment.
Eye Movement Desensitisation Therapy (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitisation Therapy (EMDR) is a structured intervention that aims to re-process traumatic memories by reliving adverse life experiences in short, supervised doses. This treatment can be helpful for clients experiencing intrusive thoughts, nightmares, memories and flashbacks of traumatic events.
The website lists self-help and useful resources. There is also an on-line messaging system to access either general information or urgent help.
Milton Keynes Urgent Care Service (MKUCS)
The Urgent Care Centre, Hospital Campus
Standing Way, Milton Keynes, MK6 5NG
Tel: 01908 303 030
Web: https://miltonkeynesurgentcare.com/services/
MKUCS offers assessment and treatment of conditions which you think have an urgent need to be seen and therefore cannot wait until you can access your own GP. If you are uncertain, please call 111 to avoid making an unnecessary journey.
The service is provided by a Medical Team comprised of healthcare assistants, nurses, nurse prescribers and local GPs. MKUCS offers this service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Families in Milton Keynes can access the children’s primary care team. This team of specially trained and experienced children’s nurses work with local GPs to offer appointments for children suffering common illnesses. Appointments are held at Milton Keynes Urgent Care Centre.
Milton Keynes Community Mental Health Hub
Westcroft Health Centre, 1 Savill Lane,
Westcroft, Milton Keynes, MK4 4EN
Tel: 01908 725 800
Web: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/services/mental-health-services/milton-keynes-community-mental-health-hub
This brings together a range of mental health professionals working together as a multi-disciplinary team who can provide evidence-based health and social care interventions.
The service is for adults (over 18 years old) and resident in Milton Keynes or registered with a Milton Keynes GP with an enduring or long-standing mental health issue.
The role of the team includes:
- Assessing, treating and reviewing symptoms.
- Taking optimistic views about recovery-focused interventions.
- Providing a wide range of psycho-social interventions and support.
- Providing support and intervention for family and carers.
- Assessing social care needs and providing social care services through personalised budgets.
- Working in partnership with a range of statutory and non-statutory services.
- Working closely with local GPs to provide joined-up mental and physical healthcare
Referrals can be made by a GP, social services or other health professionals – self-referrals are not accepted.
If secondary mental health services appear to be the right place for you, you will receive an appointment for assessment with a practitioner. They aim is to assess within 28 days of referral although there may be provision for more urgent assessments within 7–14 days.
Open: 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday.
There is an Assertive Outreach Team which operates 9am – 9pm and 9am – 5pm at weekends.
Milton Keynes Specialist Memory Service
Stantonbury Health Centre, Purbeck, Stantonbury,
Milton Keynes, MK14 6BL
Tel: 01908 801 020
Web: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/services/mental-health-services/adult-and-older-adult/milton-keynes-specialist-memory-service
Milton Keynes Specialist Memory Service offers a comprehensive psychiatric and neuro-psychological assessment of an individual’s memory, ensuring that if a diagnosis of dementia is made, the diagnosis can be given as soon as possible. Following diagnosis, the service offers post-diagnostic support, which can include advice, information or guidance and is offered to the individual, loved ones, and carers.
The service provides therapeutic group work, including cognitive stimulation therapy and support for carers. Where required, the service will make referrals to any appropriate services that are identified or assist in signposting to relevant organisations.
The service also accepts referrals for individuals diagnosed with dementia who are experiencing behavioural or psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) or challenging or complex behaviour, and require advice, support, or management strategies.
This service will be provided at the individual’s home address, and appointments will be made at a time convenient to the individual, family, or carer. The service also offers support to a wide range of settings in the local community including care homes and primary care.
Referrals to the service are made via a GP.
CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
Eaglestone Health Centre, Standing Way,
Eaglestone, Milton Keynes, MK6 5AZ
Tel: 01908 724228 – Referrals and Advice
01908 724544 – Existing Patients
Urgent Help: 0800 0234 650
Email: cnw-tr.mkspcamhsspa@nhs.net
Web: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/camhs/our-services/specialist-camhs/milton-keynes-camhs-1
Milton Keynes Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is a multi-disciplinary team designed to support families and professionals who are concerned about children and young people experiencing mild, moderate, or severe mental health difficulties.
Help is available to those who are experiencing difficult thoughts, feelings and experiences, emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties in family life, school or the wider world. These include bullying, eating difficulties, family issues, anger, sadness, worry, finding it hard to concentrate or sit still, trouble with friends, unusual thoughts and more.
There is either:
- Inpatient care
- Collingham Inpatient Service (under 13’s)
Advice Line: 020 383 7816
- Lavender Walk (13 – 18 years old)
Contact: 020 3317 3753
Referrals – young people, families, and carers can call (numbers above).
Healthcare professionals, school staff, GPs and social workers can also make a referral.
- Crisis and urgent care service
- Help in a mental health crisis
Freephone: 0800 023 4650
Text relay: 18001 0800 0234
Single point of access (SPA) is a 24 hour telephone service for support, advice and signposting for those experiencing a mental health crisis
- CAMHS Urgent Care Team – works in conjunction with local hospitals and existing local CAMHS services to provide access for children and young people up to the age of 18 to a dedicated crisis and liaison service when they are experiencing an acute mental health or emotional crisis.
Reasons for urgent referral include:
- Following an overdose
- Incident of self-harm
- Acute anxiety
- Dramatic and unexplained change in mood or behaviour
New referrals: 01908 724228
Existing patients: 01908 724544
Mind BLMK
The Rufus Centre, Steppingly Road
Flitwick, MK45 1AH
National Helpline: 0300 330 0648
Email: hq@mind-blmk.org.uk
Crisis Cafes: crisiscafe@mind-blmk.org.uk
Web: www.mind-blmk.org.uk
Mind BLMK Milton Keynes is the local mental health charity working with adults in Milton Keynes providing a range of services that help support people who have experienced mental ill health.
Milton Keynes offers a number of services including:
- Complex emotional needs
- Crisis Cafe – 1:1 evening drop-in service, no appointment or referral required 226 Queensway, Fenny Stratford, MK2 2TE
- Bereavement by suicide support service
- Recovery service
- Peer support
- Young person’s sanctuary (Eaglestone Health Centre, Standing Way, MK6 5AZ)
Rethink Mental Illness
Recovery College Community Inclusion Service
Queensway Clinic, 226 Queensway
Bletchley, MK2 2TE
Tel: 01908 725351
Advice Service: 0808 801 0525
Email: mkds@rethink.org
Web: www.rethink.org
This is a recovery service for people experiencing mental health illness. The service is a collaboration between Recovery College and Rethink Mental Illness and funded by Milton Keynes Council.
They offer a structured or unstructured service which is individually adapted to meet someone’s needs. A Recovery Inclusion Coach works with clients to explore which service is best suited.
- structured support offers one-to-one support, strengths-based support assessment as well as building social capital.
- Unstructured support offers four wellbeing hub sessions and peer support volunteer sessions
P3 Link Worker+
c/o Milton Keynes Council, Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East,
Central Milton Keynes, MK8 3HG
Tel: 0808 164 1810 (option 3)
Mobile: 07966 083190
The P3 Link Worker+ Scheme works with adults with complex needs, in order to link them with services which can support them in the longer term.
Generally, P3 Link Workers will work with clients who have addiction issues, offending histories, ill-defined mental health difficulties, or a combination of all three. Clients will also typically have a history of struggling to engage with services appropriately and be people who do not have a social worker or care co-ordinator already in place.
People could be involved with P3 Link Workers for a range of reasons, from a simple one-off signposting enquiry to longer term work involving practical and emotional support, advocacy, and guidance.
Waythrough
19 Wolverton Road,
Milton Keynes, MK11 1EA
Tel: 01908 562139
Email: reptonhouse@waythrough.org.uk
Web: https://www.waythrough.org.uk/
Supported housing for people who require assistance in all aspects of daily living skills, as a result of long term and during mental health problems. Service is for those aged 18-65 and also those who are under the care of the community mental health team in Milton Keynes. Referrals are made via the priorities panel, consisting of commissioners, social works and other community mental health professionals.
Caraline – Eating Disorders Counselling and Support Service
Kline House, 13 George Street West, Luton, LU1 2BJ
Tel: 01582 457474
Email: hello@caraline.com
Web: www.caraline.com
Bedford, Luton, and Milton Keynes (BLMK) NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) fund Caraline to provide early intervention treatment to people living with eating disorders.
The Clinical Team are CBT trained therapists, assistant psychologists, counsellors and trainee CBT therapists who receive regular professional supervision – both in-house and externally.
Also offer one-to-one and group therapies dependant on clinical presentation.
CBT-e
Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, or CBT-e, treatment for those living with an eating disorder.
The treatment is a 1:1 treatment that primarily focuses on what is keeping the eating problem going. It is therefore mainly concerned with the present and future. How the problem originated will be addressed as necessary.
CBT-T
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Ten or CBT-T is a 10-session therapy for adults and adolescents with non-underweight eating disorders (including bulimia nervosa, atypical anorexia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and others).
Eating Behaviour Group (EBG)
Caraline’s Eating Behaviour Group (EBG) is a 12 session course, designed to target those areas known to be commonly associated with binge eating disorder.
Based on the techniques and theories of Professor Christopher G. Fairburn’s ‘Overcoming Binge Eating’ the thirteen-session course is followed by a period of maintenance. Support is given with a series of specialist workshops targeting factors that contribute to and maintain an eating disorder.
ARC Milton Keynes
33-37 Farthing Grove, Netherfield,
Milton Keynes, MK6 4JH
Tel: 01908 250730
Email: cnwl.arc-mk@nhs.net
Web: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/services/mental-health-services/addictions-and-substance-misuse/arc-milton-keynes
Addiction Recovery Community (ARC) is a free and confidential service for adult residents living in Milton Keynes with a drug and/or alcohol addiction, offering access to counselling, advice and information, residential rehabilitation, detoxification, needle exchange, substitute prescribing, groups, and keywork.
For anyone wishing to access the service, a self-referral is accepted, and each person is asked to complete an assessment form which has a series of questions relating to their drug or alcohol addiction.
If you would like advice, or if you would like to speak to a member of the team, then you can make an appointment by contacting ARC on the above number or via email.