People we support often worry that we might share information about personal dug use with the police. This is not how we work. Our priority is your health and well-being.
Confidentiality of your personal information is really important to us, and we will only consider contacting the police or social services when it is in your best interests.
Yes, we have a legal responsibility to protect your confidentiality. Only in very exceptional circumstances can the care team disclose information without your consent.
These exceptional circumstances include serious risk of harm to yourself or others. For example, if there is reason to believe someone might die if we don't intervene, or when there is a public or legal reason for disclosure without consent. Even in such cases, you will be informed about what information is shared and who will receive it.
At OASIS we take the confidentiality of your personal information very seriously!
Find more information on the NHS confidentiality policy.
For people referred or accepted to the OASIS service, we most frequently offer appointments at one of our offices in Lambeth, Lewisham or Croydon
You might prefer some meetings to take place in a different location. This is understandable as some people require time to feel confident enough to meet with a health team. Arrangements can be made to meet in a different location where you might feel more comfortable, including public places (like parks or cafes) or GP surgeries.
For your first assessment it's important to have a private, confidential space where you can speak openly about what you're struggling with. For that reason it's best to meet at one of our offices or at your GP surgery.
It’s so nice to see staff in normal clothes – not in white coats. It doesn’t feel “clinical”. I expected to be treated like I was some sort of danger to myself and others around me. I didn’t expect to be seen as much as I was and with such flexibility too, it really eased the pressure of the process knowing staff would make the time for me – OASIS service user
Everyone at OASIS is offered talking therapies. These are usually one-to-one meetings, but can also be with family members, or in a group.
Therapy sessions focus on what is important to you, in a confidential space. Therapy can help you learn new strategies to overcome barriers to achieving your goals.
Here are some common problems that psychologists help people with:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Relationship problems
- Difficulties managing emotion
- Unusual and distressing thoughts and experiences
- Alcohol and drug use
- Sleep problems
- Traumatic events in childhood or as an adult
Download our Psychological Therapy leaflet to learn more about talking therapies
No. Some people find medication useful, while others don't. Medication will be offered to you if we think it might be of help with anxiety, low mood or sleep difficulties.
OASIS will always respect your choice - you do not need to take medication if you don't want to.
At OASIS, we want to support those supporting the young people we see. They can be family or friends - we call these people 'carers'.
Sessions with carers are confidential and involve developing coping strategies for themselves as well as their loved one.
Additional information:
- Carers can be referred even if they are not accessing community mental health services themselves.
- Carers sessions are confidential in the same way that other healthcare meetings are.
- Carers can be referred even if they do not speak English, in which case an interpreter would be used.
