There are two mental health teams at the institute; mental health team for 18 and over, and children's and youth team.
Mental health team
The mental health team of the Vestfjörður Health Foundation has been active since April 1, 2020 and is located at the institution's health center in Ísafjörður.
The service is for individuals aged 18 and over who struggle with mental distress and/or are diagnosed with mental illness and need professional help and close follow-up. Emphasis is placed on treatment for depression, anxiety and trauma where the problem is mild or moderate.
Applications are accepted from health and welfare workers.
Aims and purposes include:
- To promote and maintain recovery
- To ensure individualized service
- Ensuring continuity and integration in treatment
- To promote the psychological and social health of the individual and his family
- To encourage self-help and self-respect
- To support the individual in living a meaningful life
- To reduce the number of readmissions and strengthen adaptability after hospital discharge
The team's services are holistic and user-centered, with an emphasis on an integrated approach. The team's goal is to look at all factors that affect mental health. The individual comes first, his wishes, values and needs.
Evidence-based methods are used and results are evaluated regularly. Emphasis is placed on development and the ways in treatment that the individual needs each time.
We help individuals to:
- Promote strengths and interests as an empowering way to master recovery
- Increase knowledge regarding ways to improve well-being and balance
- Increase understanding, strength and ability to cope with mental difficulties
Available is:
- Individualized talk therapy
- Support to increase social functioning and restore social roles
- Regular education regarding various mental symptoms, the basic needs of the individual and the effects of trauma
- Group therapy in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Education and support for the individual and his family
- Assessment of mental and physical condition, residence and service needs
- Evaluation of drug therapy
- Recommendations on where to get further support or education
Mental health team members
The team currently includes Thelma Björk Guðmundsdóttir, team project manager and MA social worker and Guðrún Inga Guðmundsdóttir, psychologist. In addition, Sandra Borg Bjarnadóttir is an art therapist in position 35% and Georg Vougiouklakis, a doctor with a background in psychiatry, is in position 25%.
As appropriate, it is possible to refer the team's clients to certain teams within Landspítali. It is a collaborative project with the aim of increasing access to the specialized services of Landspítali in rural areas, but treatment is carried out remotely.
The teams in question are:
- Depression and Anxiety Team
- Eating Disorder Team
- DAM team
- Trauma team
- Bipolar team
- Trans team
The mental health team aims for interdisciplinary cooperation to provide more powerful services. The next steps are therefore to increase cooperation with other professions within the health institution; physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses and doctors, in addition to the upcoming cooperation with the Capital Region's Health Service regarding psychiatric services. Emphasis is placed on motivation in terms of activity and exercise, and Unnur Árnadóttir, exercise director of the Vestfjörður Health Institute, has been involved in the matter.
Price for the services of a mental health team
The services of the mental health team are free of charge to clients, but it is part of ensuring that everyone can use the resource.
Service on the southern side of the Vestfjörður
The mental health team of the health institute serves all residents of Vestfjörður and is therefore regularly present in Patreksfjörður, as well as remote interviews are available in between.
How to apply for services?
Referrals are accepted from health and welfare professionals.
Health care professionals send a referral electronically through Saga.
Other professionals use this form: Referral to the mental health team of the Vestfjörður Institute of Health.
It is important that the reference is well filled out so that its position can be taken. The form is filled out electronically, printed out and sent by registered post to the Mental Health Team of the Vestfjörður Health Institute, Torfnesi, 400 Ísafjörður.
If you have questions or if you want more information, you can contact Thelma Björk, project manager of the mental health team, by phone 862 7424 or to the email address thelma@hvest.is.
Telehealth solutions are well suited in many cases.
Children and youth team
The child and adolescent mental health team serves children and families with problems, such as emotional problems, social problems, developmental abnormalities and/or behavioral difficulties. The team leader is Helena Hrund Jónsdóttir, a nurse.
Meetings with the team are held every four weeks, with healthcare, school, child protection and social services taking part. The team is intended to formulate a plan that includes treatment, support or other resources to coordinate services and activities between agencies. Consultation meetings of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Team of the Vestfjörður Health Foundation and the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department of Landspítal are held once a month with a psychiatrist and social worker, and contact is made with psychiatrists and nurses there as needed.
Reference to the team
Health care, social services, child protection and school can send a referral to the team. Referrals should be sent to the team leader. Parents can contact health care if concerns arise about children.
Children's psychological services
Parents who want psychological services for children can contact the health care provider, doctor or nurse, who will refer the matter on.
Helena Hrund Jónsdóttir, nurse, takes care of referrals and bookings.
A child is allocated 5-10 hours with a psychologist and the situation is then re-evaluated by a psychologist, team leader of the child and adolescent mental health team in consultation with parents.
You are always welcome to contact the team manager of the children's and youth mental health team at the email address helena@hvest.is or call the health care by phone
450 4500 and leave a message.
Updated 16 November 2023 (HEP)