Manx Care is extending its Mental Health First Contact Practitioner (FCPMH) service to a further nine GP practices across the Isle of Man, following a successful pilot at Peel Medical Centre and Southern Group Practice.
The expansion builds on positive early outcomes from the pilot, which aimed to improve access to timely mental health support within primary care and reduce pressure on GP appointments.
First Contact Practitioners Mental Health work directly within GP practices and Primary Care/Locality Health and Care Communities, providing specialist mental health support, assessments and advice for people experiencing concerns such as anxiety, low mood and stress. Patients can access the service directly through their GP surgery, without needing to see a GP first.
Ross Bailey, Divisional General Manager, Integrated Mental Health Service, said:
'The success of the pilot has shown the real difference that Mental Health First Contact Practitioners can make for people accessing support through their GP practice. By providing timely assessments, advice and short‑term interventions within primary care, we are helping people get the right support earlier, while ensuring specialist mental health services remain available for those with more complex needs.'
By embedding mental health expertise within primary care, the service supports earlier intervention, quicker access to advice and more appropriate onward referrals where needed.
How the service works
Patients can request an appointment with a Mental Health First Contact Practitioner by contacting their GP practice reception team. Appointments may be offered by telephone or face‑to‑face, depending on individual need.
The practitioners provide:
- One‑to‑one consultations and expert mental health assessments
- Advice and support for common mental health concerns
- Brief, short‑term psychological interventions where appropriate
- Medication reviews and care planning
- Signposting to community‑based mental health support or referral to specialist secondary services if required
The service also supports GP practices by helping manage increasing demand for mental health‑related appointments, ensuring patients are seen by the right professional at the right time.
Annmarie Cubbon, General Manager, Integrated Primary and Community Care, commented:
'This service is an important step in strengthening mental health support within primary care. Embedding Mental Health First Contact Practitioners in GP practices improves access for patients and helps GP teams manage growing demand, ensuring people are seen by the most appropriate professional at the right time and closer to home.'
GP practices currently offering the service
The Mental Health First Contact Practitioner service is now available at the following locations across the Island:
Monday
AM
- Peel Medical Centre
- Ballasalla Group Practice
- Ramsey Group Practice
PM
- Peel Medical Centre
- Castletown Medical Centre
- Kensington Health Centre
- Ramsey Group Practice
Tuesday
AM
- Palatine Group Practice
- Southern Group Practice
- Northern Wellbeing Partnership
PM
- Laxey Health Centre
- Palatine Group Practice
- Southern Group Practice
- Northern Wellbeing Partnership
Wednesday
AM
- Ramsey Group Practice
PM
- Hailwood Medical Centre
- Ramsey Group Practice
Thursday
AM
- Peel Medical Centre
- Palatine Group Practice
- Kensington Health Centre
PM
- Peel Medical Centre
- Palatine Group Practice
- Kensington Health Centre
Friday
AM
- Laxey Health Centre
- Snaefell Surgery
- Southern Group Practice
PM
- Laxey Health Centre
- Snaefell Surgery
- Southern Group Practice
Appointments are offered at different locations throughout the week to ensure wider access across the Island.
Manx Care will continue to monitor the impact of the expanded service as part of its ongoing commitment to improving access to mental health support within the community and strengthening care delivered closer to home.
