THIS week sees the opening of a facility in Bradford providing a groundbreaking treatment of patients with severe and complex mental health issues.

On Friday, within the grounds of Lynfield Mount psychiatric hospital, The new Daisy Hill Intensive Therapy Centre will officially open within the grounds of Lynfield Mount psychiatric hospital on Friday.

Costing close to £2million and funded by the Bradford District Care Foundation Trust, the new 12-bed centre is understood to be the first of its kind in the UK to provide integrated individual and group Schema Therapy to an inpatient population outside of the high secure hospital environment.

Such is the calibre of treatment, based on the international collaboration with recognised world leaders in the field, Professor Arnoud Arntz, Dr Joan Farrell and Ida Shaw, who are expected to attend Friday's launch, the centre is only one of three internationally to provide this innovative form of treatment and will link in with international trials.

Schema Therapy is a leading development in the treatment of personality disorders with a significant and growing evidence base as a remarkably potent treatment for borderline personality disorder and a range of complex mental health problems.

Developed to help people who suffer from severe problems with relationships, Schema Therapy provides opportunities for real relationships to form and is said to be most effective when people work through their problems as a member of a community where their peers really understand what they're going through.

Part of the therapy involves helping members feel accepted and understood. It also focuses on how they developed their difficulties in childhood and supports them to learn ways to cope better with life.

A diverse programme of activities, including music and art therapy, gardening, walking and crafts, can help members develop healthy relationships while having fun together.

The final part of the six month programme of intensive therapy involves encouraging members to apply what they've learned to move towards independent living.

A specialist multi-disciplinary team will be responsible for delivering the care including consultants, psychological therapists, support workers, occupational therapists, health care assistants and nurses.

The ITC is led by Patrick Harper, an Advanced Certified Schema Therapist, Supervisor and Trainer.

Patrick represents the UK on a committee of the International Society for Schema Therapy examining the certification of Schema Therapy Treatment Programmes.

He explains the centre was established as it was recognised for some patients, attending treatment in an outpatient setting can be challenging due to the high risks involved, for example, if they are self-harming.

"It is an opportunity for us to do something which is groundbreaking. We are bringing therapy, which has not been available to this population previously, and we have that in a brand new centre with a group of staff who are all trained to a high level."

The unit is initially for female occupants only and is available for patients within and out of the area. Referrals from all Mental Health Care providers and commissioners across the country will also be welcome.

"We know that the greatest need is within the female population," says Patrick.

Thirteen per cent of the population have personality disorders, and three quarters are women.

Allison Bingham, Deputy Director of Specialist Inpatient Services, explains should the demand change over time they have the flexibility to create a mixed gender unit within the purpose built unit which was previously used as ward facilities and offices.

Allison says the new unit, which will also house a new £2m dementia unit due to open in August, will enhance the outpatient services for people with personality disorders and other mental health issues already provided by the Helios Centre which opened in 1995 and is based within Lynfield Mount. "That is already established and has been running for some years but that is for outpatients only and the need for inpatient therapy has been under-served until now. We are creating a whole pathway," says Allison.

"We are taking this forward and it is a tremendously exciting opportunity for Bradford to have such a specialist service right on its doorstep."

An anonymous service user, who has been involved in the development of the centre, says: “It’s really important that service users are involved with the planning of new services. I feel it’s important to give my opinions and provide input. I’ve been able to give a patient perspective about what it would feel like walking into a new service.”

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