ACCIDENT and emergency staff are being trained to diagnose “emotional pain,” in what is thought to be the first scheme of its kind, world-wide.

Patients who turn up showing signs of mental distress, rather than a physical problem, are diverted to trained staff, contacted within 24-hours and offered face-to-face counselling.

A government trial, at Hairmyres Hospital in Lanarkshire, found that 70% of A&E patients accepted the offer of help and reported a significant boost to their mental wellbeing after moving on to the ‘level 2’ support offered by a therapist.

Dr Linda Findlay, who headed up the project, said: “We asked people to rate their distress level when they came in – with 10 being high and 0 low – and it averaged at 7. On completion, the average had more than halved to 3.”

The approach is not aimed at patients with long-term mental health problem, who are normally referred to dedicated psychiatric services, but patients who may be struggling due to life-stressors such as a relationship breakdown or financial worries.

Emergency staff said they have previously had nowhere to refer this group of patients, apart from advising them to contact their GP.

The approach is now being tested by police and paramedics and it is hoped it could lead to a reduction in necessary A&E admissions as well as averting a more serious mental breakdown amongst patients.

The Distress Brief Intervention Programme (DBI) is believed to be the first programme of its kind in the world with specialist training for emergency staff developed at the University of Glasgow, Institute of Health & Wellbeing.

Lise Axford, senior charge nurse at University Hospital Hairmyres emergency department said: “People can often present at the emergency department with an emotional pain which does not require a further emergency service response.

“It can be caused by factors such as relationship issues, loneliness, housing or financial worries, substance misuse and a general struggle to cope with life’s challenges.

“Sometimes mental pain can manifest itself in physical pain.

“Evidence shows these situations don’t always require specialist clinical mental health services, but they do need person centred, practical support, quickly.

“It’s not a huge group of patients, we are talking about two or three patients every week.

“DBI now addresses this gap and while staff can and still do refer individuals who require specialist mental health and addiction services, they now also have this additional more appropriate option.”

The pilot programme is being funded by the Scottish Government and will run initially until March 2021 and will then be independently evaluated. It is now being rolled out to other test sites in Aberdeen, Inverness and the borders.

Dr Linda Findlay, Lanarkshire lead for the DBI pilot, said: “We’re delighted with the findings from this pilot so far.

“Almost 70 per cent of the people who received the level 1 support, took up the offer of the level 2 support.

“Of those, 85 per cent successfully completed the programme with a finalised distress management plan agreed.”

Maureen Watt, Minister for Mental Health, visited Hairmyres Hospital yesterday to talk to emergency staff involved in the scheme.

She said: “It supports our broader aim to intervene early when people feel they need additional support to help them with a range of problems which might be affecting their mental health and wellbeing.”