FAQ

Do you have a question about our service or our website that you think should be featured on this page? Please let us know.

Can I refer myself?

Yes, call us on 0800 035 0396, or see the ‘I Need an Advocate‘ page for more details.

Can someone else refer me?

Yes, just ask them to ring us on 0800 035 0396, or see the I Want to Refer Someone Else‘ page for more details.

Can I refer someone else?

Yes, as long as you have their permission. Friends and family, carers can make referrals, as can professionals. Call us on 0800 035 0396 or see the ‘Need an Advocate‘ pages for more details.
Note: if you are a professional and your client lacks capacity to give permission to contact us, you can still refer them to our service in the usual way.

I don’t know if I am a ‘qualifying patient’ for your IMHA service. How do I find out?

The simplest way is to give us a ring, and we will be able to tell you. You can also visit our pages on our IMHA service, which give some information about qualifying patients Alternatively, you could ask your Consultant, Care Coordinator or a Nurse if you qualify.

Can you help me with my benefits or housing or problems with debt?

No, the advocacy service cannot help you with this. Please try our help yourself links, get help page or call our Advice Line.

 My GP doesn’t listen to me properly or take my problems seriously. Can you help me?

Yes. If you are struggling with your mental wellbeing and want to talk to your GP about it, we can support you with that. We could meet you beforehand to prepare, we could attend the appointment with you to support you in the meeting, or even speak for you if you wish. We can also provide information about what kinds of support your GP should be able to offer.

I need support with my mental health, but don’t want my family knowing about it. How do I know you won’t tell them?

The Advocacy service is a confidential service. That means that whatever you tell us, is confidential to our service. We will not tell anyone else that you are using our service, or give any information about you, without your permission, except in very specific circumstances – if you tell us you or someone else is at immediate risk of harm, we may want to talk to you about contacting your GP or a mental health professional who is responsible for your care. However, we would not tell family, friends or anyone else unless you told us you wanted us to do so.