Primary Mental Health

Pegasus Mental Health team is made up of two areas, Primary Brief Intervention Talking Therapy and Health Improvement Practitioners.

The primary Brief Intervention Talking Therapy (BITT) team is made up of people from backgrounds in nursing and allied health professionals with significant talking therapy and mental health and addiction experience.

The BITT service provides access for the population enrolled in general practices for up to 5 sessions of talking therapy to support their mental health and wellbeing. BITT is primarily based on Focused Acceptance and Commitment therapy, which offers a behavioural intervention for people. First sessions are typically 45 – 60 minutes, with subsequent sessions at 30 minutes. This model utilises a strengths-based approach and aligns with a person’s values.

The Health Improvement Practitioners, (HIP’s) are part of a new integrated model of mental health and addiction service into General Practice. People are offered support on the day they present to their General Practice with any level of distress related to their health and wellbeing. HIPS are either nurses or allied health professionals with extensive experience in talking therapies and mental health. The roles typically see 8 – 10 people a day, for up to 30 minutes, using a behavioural health approach.