What to expect at your appointment:
Dr Younge’s focus is to help you manage your symptoms, and maintain or improve your quality of life and independence and will discuss: your current concerns and symptoms, including mental health and physical health conditions (which may impact on mental health); daily function; medication and social and family life. She will complete an assessment of mental health and memory (as appropriate), including some standard questionnaires and possibly a short discussion with your relative or carer, with your agreement.
It is important to rule out physical causes for memory problems and mental health conditions so blood screening (FBP, AP, TFTs, B12 and folate) results should be included with GP referral. A short focussed physical examination may be needed in some cases to help rule out physical conditions which can impact memory.
Dr Younge will discuss possible diagnosis, recommend further investigation, as necessary, and agree a treatment plan with you, which may include medication, psychological therapy, lifestyle changes or referral to other professionals. You can expect a confidential, respectful environment, with a doctor who always endeavours to understand and address your concerns, in partnership with you.
Follow up can be arranged, as required.
Dr Younge qualified from QUB medical school in 1996 and is an Associate Specialist in Old Age Psychiatry with over 25 years of experience in this field within Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland, providing person-centred mental health assessments for older adults (>65 years) with either memory concerns or difficulties with low mood, anxiety, OCD or PTSD, on receipt of a GP referral.
As a trained BABCP accredited Cognitive Psychotherapist of 20 years’ experience, she is also in the unique position of being able to offer ongoing treatment with CBT, as appropriate, following psychiatric assessment for mental health conditions.
She is currently Trust Clinical Lead for the Towards Zero Suicide initiative, driving improvements in suicide prevention and patient safety. For five years, she served as SAS (Specialist, Specialty Doctor and Associate Specialist) Lead, responsible for ensuring development opportunities for over 150 doctors in the Trust and contributing to developing a bespoke SAS regional leadership and professional development programme for over 600 doctors, which was a finalist in the Healthcare People Management Awards in 2022.
She has provided training for doctors and other healthcare professionals regionally and internationally and has had nationally recognised audits and quality improvement projects published by NICE and the HSCQI websites, co-authored a CBT text book and has had research published, highlighting her dedication to high clinical standards and quality care.
Appointments may be arranged via Medical Associates: 028 9038 2202
