Social psychiatric service

Whether difficulties in old age or in need of care, mental problems or addictive behavior: The district's social psychiatric service supports those affected and their relatives in the event of mental or social problems.

The social psychiatric service supports:

• in the search for ways to continue living in their own home despite illness
• with financial worries and problems in old age
• Family members who are concerned about an elderly relative
• Family members seeking advice because affected persons can no longer handle certain matters independently
• People who want to point out a plight of older people

The social psychiatric service advises:

• People who for some time have lacked the desire to be with other people
• Affected people who lack the energy to take action and who withdraw
• People who perceive familiar things differently than before and realize that they are in a crisis
• Relatives, neighbors, friends who are concerned about a person who may have a mental illness
• on all questions concerning support and therapy options
• People with an addiction problem or people who are concerned about another person in this regard
• Affected persons in problem situations with a need to talk

The counseling services are voluntary and free of charge. The employees do not offer therapy, treatment or legal advice. A doctor, specialists from social work and social pedagogy, nursing and social medicine are available as contact persons.

Confidentiality
All employees in the social psychiatric service are subject to confidentiality and handle information responsibly. In the case of a release from the duty of confidentiality, contact can be made with other institutions at the client's request, if this appears to be professionally sensible. Exceptional situations can arise when a person is mentally ill and therefore helpless, but is unable to see the clinical picture for himself. In such cases, the social psychiatric service can request legal guardianship from the district court, which will review the need and decide accordingly. In absolute emergencies - i.e. when a person is in acute danger to himself or herself or to others - the district is obliged to work towards placement in a psychiatric hospital. This only applies if all measures on a voluntary basis have failed.