Why physiotherapy in mental health?

With Natalie Evatt and Andrea Brown, Physiotherapists, Inpatient Mental Health

Physiotherapists make a difference in all sorts of different settings at CWPT, including in our inpatient mental health wards. In this blog, Natalie and Andrea tell us why they find the role so rewarding.

Some might say that working in inpatient mental health is a strange choice for a physiotherapist. They might say it’s not really physiotherapy, that there are not quick enough results to get any job satisfaction, or that it’s too intimidating to appeal to them. And while it is certainly an area that comes with unique challenges, we know just how rewarding it can be. We are Natalie and Andrea, two qualified physiotherapists covering all of CWPT’s inpatient mental health units, and this is why we have chosen to specialise in mental health.

Our patients are often an inpatient for an extended stay, and while they are with us they can suffer from any of the normal aches, pains, conditions and injuries. Between us, we have had varied experiences in our careers and this has given us a breadth of knowledge to draw upon when treating someone; an elderly dementia patient for recurrent falls, a depressed middle-aged builder for knee pain, a 60-something schizophrenic with parkinsonian side effects of life long antipsychotic, and a young university student with anorexia and back pain.

Our experience in mental health has meant that we are often instrumental in differentiating between presentations that may be physical in nature, a symptom of their mental health or a result of the medication they are taking.

Unlike in outpatients or on acute wards we are fortunate enough to see our patients for weeks and sometimes months at a time. With this comes the opportunity to build the best rapport and get some great rehabilitation results as well.

We have developed two brilliantly equipped gyms and are in the process of expanding our team, creating new roles to help reduce the length of stay through greater opportunities for exercise.

Our work is varied and exciting but best of all we know what a difference we can make!

There are lots of opportunities for allied health professionals (AHPs) at CWPT, whether you’re experienced or at the very beginning of your career.

Want to join us? Search our current roles or see how we can support you to get started in your AHP career.

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