Primary Care Mental Health Treatment Requirement Service (MHTR)

The Primary Care Mental Health Treatment Requirement Service (MHTR) service aims to provide a meaningful alternative to short custodial sentences by helping to address some of the underlying causes of offending behaviour. Supporting people to address their health and social needs that may contribute toward offending behaviour can significantly reduce the risk of reoffending.

Who is the service for?

• Adults aged 18 years or above;
• Have been found / pleaded guilty of an offence that falls within the Community or Suspended Sentence Order range;
• Have provided informed consent to be assessed and engage with the MHTR service;
• Have mental health difficulties that may benefit from low intensity psychological interventions over 10-12 sessions.

We offer an assessment to people prior to their sentencing date to support them in better understanding their mental health difficulties and think collaboratively about whether low intensity psychological support would likely benefit them. We can then make a recommendation to court as to whether a primary care MHTR is appropriate to consider.  

If the MHTR is sentenced in court, we would offer 10-12 sessions of low intensity psychological support. 

Appointments may be offered in probation offices, women’s centres, wellbeing hubs, identified GMMH bases or via video link to meet individual needs.  

The MHTR can be sentenced on its own or alongside the Drugs Rehabilitation requirement (DRR) or Alcohol Treatment requirement (ATR).

We work closely with probation and other service providers to ensure a coordinated package of support is provided.