We operate 13 community mental health teams (CMHTs) across Dorset (including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) to support people at home and prevent unnecessary admissions into hospital.
The CMHTs provide care, advice and information for people aged 18 and over with significant mental health problems, including:
- schizophrenia and psychotic or delusional disorders
- affective disorders such as mania, manic depression and moderate/severe depression
- eating disorders
- organic mental disorder
- significant mental health problems following childbirth
- phobias, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder
- personality disorders that cause significant distress or risk to the individual or others.
Our goal is to help people manage, or recover from, their conditions and lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Our friendly, specialist CMHT staff offer support with accessing housing and employment opportunities, as well as physical healthcare services, and can also advise on specialist treatment options available. They work in partnership with individuals, and their relatives/carers, to tailor care to a person’s own specific needs and aspirations.
CMHTs work closely with GPs, day hospitals, social care day centres and care homes. They provide care in accessible, safe locations, and treat people with dignity and respect.
Access Mental Health - supporting you in a crisis
If you are struggling to cope or feel yourself nearing a breakdown, visit our Access Mental Health to learn about a range of services which provide support at times and places when people need it the most.
Key information about this service
Adults
If you or your loved one would like to see your local CMHT and have not used the service before, please ask your GP – or any other local health/social care professional – to make a referral.
16-17 years of age
If aged 16 or 17, you can self refer to our child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). To do this, complete this self-referral form.
Under 16s
Children under 16, who require urgent mental health support, can call Connection or seek information and advice on the CAMHS website.
Healthcare professionals
Healthcare professionals using SystmOne should use the referral form available on the software. Referrals from other healthcare professionals can be made via letter, telephone or email, provided they contain the relevant clinical information. Please contact the service locations listed below.
All referrals received will be screened and triaged by appropriate clinician to ascertain if the referral meets the service criteria.
WiFi: No
Parking: Limited
Disabled Access: Yes
Opening times: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm (Bank holidays and weekends closed)
Oakley House
The Milldown Unit
dhc.milldownunit.blandfordadultcmht@nhs.net
Wi-Fi: Yes
Parking: Yes
Disabled access: Yes
If you provide regular and substantial support to someone with mental health problems, you are entitled to an assessment of your own needs. CMHTs employ carers officers, who can help to arrange this – simply contact the team which is supporting the person you care for.
More general information about the support available to carers is available on our carers page.