In 2018, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Parkinson’s disease reported that for people with Parkinson’s mental health symptoms as often the most distressing aspect of the condition. Despite this, few receive psychological care suitable for their needs. This is because there are hardly any specialist psychological services around the UK dedicated to supporting people with Parkinson’s.
Established in 2019, the aim of the Mental Health Hub is to develop ways of improving mental health services for people affected by Parkinson’s. To date, we have organized two conferences for clinicians to come together to share examples of best mental health practice and improve services further. We have working groups focussed on: improving access to clozapine for treating Parkinson’s psychosis; and developing mental health workforce intelligence, by researching neuropsychology and neuropsychiatry services available to people affected by Parkinson’s across the UK. We are now working with the British Psychological Society to update recommendations for psychological services for people with Parkinson’s disease, and are helping Parkinson’s UK develop new educational courses on mental health.
If you are keen to know more and get involved in transforming mental health services for people affected by Parkinson’s, join the Mental Health Hub working by contacting excellence@parkinsons.org.uk.
You can also email me, Jennifer Foley, Highly Specialist Clinical Neuropsychologist & Honorary Lecturer, University College Hospitals London NHS Foundation Trust, and Mental Health Hub lead, at Jennifer.Foley@nhs.net or chat to me via direct message between 11am – 1pm.