A new self referral system has been launched for people to tap directly into mental health well being services in Fenland.

The aim of the system is to help end mental health stigma by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.

People who want to improve their mental health can now refer themselves to services by the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies team (IAPT).

Previously, people could only use these services after being referred by their GP.

Treatments available include personal therapy, guided self-help and group sessions, including training in Mindfulness.

The news has been welcomed by MP Steve Barclay who said: “Increased access to mental health services has been a key priority of mine and I have raised this issue in Parliament.

“I was delighted to hear about the launch of this new service which will offer support to more people as well as ease pressure on GP services. Given that one in four people suffer from mental health, it is clear that this service was necessary and I now hope that it will be easier for people to come forward thus helping to end the stigma of mental health.”

Anyone registered with a GP in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area can access the Psychological Wellbeing Service by completing an online form that can be found on the Trust’s website at www.cpft.nhs.uk. They will then be contacted by someone from the Trust and talked through the options available to them.

Alternatively, the service can be contacted by calling 0300 300 0055. The lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.