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Paranoia

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.

What treatment is available? 

If your paranoid thoughts are causing you distress then you may want to seek treatment. You may also be offered treatment for paranoia as part of your treatment for a mental health problem. 

The first step is usually to visit your GP. Our information on seeking help for a mental health problem can help you speak to your doctor about your mental health.

Talking therapy

Talking therapy can help you understand your experiences and develop coping strategies to deal with them. 

Cognitive behavioural therapy 

The most common form of talking treatment for paranoia is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). During CBT, you will examine the way you think and the evidence for your beliefs and look for different possible interpretations. CBT can also help reduce worry and anxiety that may influence and increase feelings of paranoia. 

“I did a lot of CBT, examining negative thoughts and trying to compare them with evidence to the contrary. It helped to talk through this process with others who were more able to see alternative ‘evidence’ or ways of looking at things.”

Other talking therapies 

Many other forms of talking therapy are available, including: 

  • psychodynamic therapy 
  • counselling 
  • family (or systemic) therapy. 

Finding a therapist you trust 

Paranoid thoughts might make it more difficult to trust your therapist or to talk about how you feel. This can sometimes make therapy more difficult. It’s important to try to find a therapist who you feel comfortable with. Our information on finding a therapist might help. It can also help if you feel able to tell them about your concerns. You may also find it useful to agree with your therapist what you will do if your paranoia gets worse. For example, you may decide to pause sessions until you feel able to start again.

Arts and creative therapies 

Arts and creative therapies use arts-based activities to help you express how you are feeling, in a therapeutic environment. These types of therapy can be helpful if you are having difficulty talking about your experience.

Medication 

If you have a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia or delusional disorder, you are likely to be offered an antipsychotic drug to reduce your symptoms. Antipsychotics may reduce paranoid thoughts or make you feel less threatened by them. 

If you have anxiety or depression, your GP may offer you antidepressants or minor tranquillisers. These can help you feel less worried about the thoughts and may stop them getting worse. See our pages on medication for more general information.

Paranoia and treatment using virtual reality 

If you feel paranoid, you may avoid places or people that make you feel threatened – or use techniques to help you feel safe. New research is investigating whether virtual reality can be combined with cognitive therapy to help you to practise entering situations you are scared about and find out what happens if you don’t use your usual techniques to help you feel safe.

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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.

What treatment is available?

What treatment is available? 

If your paranoid thoughts are causing you distress then you may want to seek treatment. You may also be offered treatment for paranoia as part of your treatment for a mental health problem. 

The first step is usually to visit your GP. Our information on seeking help for a mental health problem can help you speak to your doctor about your mental health.

Talking therapy

Talking therapy can help you understand your experiences and develop coping strategies to deal with them. 

Cognitive behavioural therapy 

The most common form of talking treatment for paranoia is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). During CBT, you will examine the way you think and the evidence for your beliefs and look for different possible interpretations. CBT can also help reduce worry and anxiety that may influence and increase feelings of paranoia. 

“I did a lot of CBT, examining negative thoughts and trying to compare them with evidence to the contrary. It helped to talk through this process with others who were more able to see alternative 'evidence' or ways of looking at things.”

Other talking therapies 

Many other forms of talking therapy are available, including: 

  • psychodynamic therapy 
  • counselling 
  • family (or systemic) therapy. 

Finding a therapist you trust 

Paranoid thoughts might make it more difficult to trust your therapist or to talk about how you feel. This can sometimes make therapy more difficult. It's important to try to find a therapist who you feel comfortable with. Our information on finding a therapist might help. It can also help if you feel able to tell them about your concerns. You may also find it useful to agree with your therapist what you will do if your paranoia gets worse. For example, you may decide to pause sessions until you feel able to start again.

Arts and creative therapies 

Arts and creative therapies use arts-based activities to help you express how you are feeling, in a therapeutic environment. These types of therapy can be helpful if you are having difficulty talking about your experience.

Medication 

If you have a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia or delusional disorder, you are likely to be offered an antipsychotic drug to reduce your symptoms. Antipsychotics may reduce paranoid thoughts or make you feel less threatened by them. 

If you have anxiety or depression, your GP may offer you antidepressants or minor tranquillisers. These can help you feel less worried about the thoughts and may stop them getting worse. See our pages on medication for more general information.

Paranoia and treatment using virtual reality 

If you feel paranoid, you may avoid places or people that make you feel threatened – or use techniques to help you feel safe. New research is investigating whether virtual reality can be combined with cognitive therapy to help you to practise entering situations you are scared about and find out what happens if you don't use your usual techniques to help you feel safe.