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Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

Who can I talk to about my options? 

Local support groups

People who have successfully come off medication usually say that the most helpful advice comes from other people who have themselves successfully come off. Look for local self-help, peer support or ‘coming off’ groups and programmes. 

Coming off medication may form part of what’s called the ‘Recovery approach’ to mental health problems. Support in this may be available from Recovery and Wellbeing centres or Recovery Colleges, if you have any in your area.

These groups can help you with the practical side of dose reduction as well as: 

  • Low self confidence, especially if you have been taking medication for a long time. This may be due to your mental health problem or the side effects of the drug. 
  • Helping you decide to try coming off, and then stick to it. You may feel quite anxious about whether you will actually be able to manage without your medication, for example. 
  • Understanding the withdrawal effects and how you might be feeling. 

Mental health professionals

Ideally the best person to talk to about stopping or continuing your medication would be your GP or psychiatrist. However, some doctors are reluctant to agree to withdrawal. They may not have much experience or knowledge about the best way to go about it. 

Guidance published for doctors tends to suggest that drug withdrawal is easier and can be done more quickly than is often the case. But if you want to change your prescription in order to help you come off, you will need to discuss this with the doctor or psychiatrist who writes your prescriptions to get their agreement. 

If you are taking more than one drug, you need to check with a professional (such as a doctor/psychiatrist) to see whether altering the dose of one will affect the action of another. If you come off one drug, the doses of others may need adjusting. If you are planning to come off more than one drug, you may also need to discuss which drug to come off first. 

You might also find help is available from a local drug dependency team. Although you may not feel comfortable using a service primarily aimed at street drug users, the actual process of coming off is not very different. 

”My GP took the possibility of withdrawal symptoms very seriously. He gave me the confidence that I could manage the reduction myself and helped me with practical issues about how a very gradual reduction of medication can be administered.” 

Online support groups

You may find useful support and information online – particularly for withdrawal from SSRI antidepressants and benzodiazepines. There is less information on coming off antipsychotics or mood stabilisers. 

Always remember that there is a lot of unreliable information on the internet. Try to use websites from well-known sources; don’t rely on opinions from personal posts. 

“Whatever you do, whether you choose to stay on your meds or come off them, DON’T go through it alone. You might feel alone at times, but there is an intricate web of people who are so connected to you, you just have to reach out to them.”

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

Who can I talk to about my options? 

Who can I talk to about my options? 

Local support groups

People who have successfully come off medication usually say that the most helpful advice comes from other people who have themselves successfully come off. Look for local self-help, peer support or ‘coming off’ groups and programmes. 

Coming off medication may form part of what’s called the ‘Recovery approach’ to mental health problems. Support in this may be available from Recovery and Wellbeing centres or Recovery Colleges, if you have any in your area.

These groups can help you with the practical side of dose reduction as well as: 

  • Low self confidence, especially if you have been taking medication for a long time. This may be due to your mental health problem or the side effects of the drug. 
  • Helping you decide to try coming off, and then stick to it. You may feel quite anxious about whether you will actually be able to manage without your medication, for example. 
  • Understanding the withdrawal effects and how you might be feeling. 

Mental health professionals

Ideally the best person to talk to about stopping or continuing your medication would be your GP or psychiatrist. However, some doctors are reluctant to agree to withdrawal. They may not have much experience or knowledge about the best way to go about it. 

Guidance published for doctors tends to suggest that drug withdrawal is easier and can be done more quickly than is often the case. But if you want to change your prescription in order to help you come off, you will need to discuss this with the doctor or psychiatrist who writes your prescriptions to get their agreement. 

If you are taking more than one drug, you need to check with a professional (such as a doctor/psychiatrist) to see whether altering the dose of one will affect the action of another. If you come off one drug, the doses of others may need adjusting. If you are planning to come off more than one drug, you may also need to discuss which drug to come off first. 

You might also find help is available from a local drug dependency team. Although you may not feel comfortable using a service primarily aimed at street drug users, the actual process of coming off is not very different. 

”My GP took the possibility of withdrawal symptoms very seriously. He gave me the confidence that I could manage the reduction myself and helped me with practical issues about how a very gradual reduction of medication can be administered.” 

Online support groups

You may find useful support and information online – particularly for withdrawal from SSRI antidepressants and benzodiazepines. There is less information on coming off antipsychotics or mood stabilisers. 

Always remember that there is a lot of unreliable information on the internet. Try to use websites from well-known sources; don’t rely on opinions from personal posts. 

“Whatever you do, whether you choose to stay on your meds or come off them, DON’T go through it alone. You might feel alone at times, but there is an intricate web of people who are so connected to you, you just have to reach out to them.”