What is complex mental health?

Complex mental health refers to situations where a person is living with a severe mental illness, learning disability, or autism and has additional challenges that affect their wellbeing and recovery - such as trauma, substance abuse, other mental health conditions or a history with the criminal justice system.

With a "complex" diagnosis, additional considerations need to be taken into account around the combination of that diagnosis with other factors that require more specialised, co-ordinated care. These overlapping needs may require specialist inpatient care, alongside ongoing community support to help individuals recover and thrive. 

Why 'complex' matters

“Complex” doesn’t mean difficult - it means layered. Everyone deserves thoughtful, compassionate care, no matter the obstacles they face.

People with complex mental health needs often face barriers to accessing consistent, compassionate care. At St Andrew's Healthcare we offer both inpatient treatment and community support, bridging the gaps and helping individuals, each step of the way, to move forward with their lives.

When is mental health considered “complex”?

To be considered complex, a person must experience:

1. A Severe Mental Illness (SMI)

These are long-term, serious conditions that significantly impact daily life. Examples include:

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Psychotic disorders

1. Additional challenges that complicate care

These may include:

• Substance misuse
• History of trauma or abuse
• Autism or learning disabilities
• Involvement with the criminal justice system
• Homelessness or housing instability
• Other mental health conditions

It’s the combination of these factors that makes care more complex and often requires specialist services, multi-agency co-ordination, and long-term support.