Several routes to psychological support are available after cardiac arrest.
Your GP is the first point of contact. They can assess your mental health, prescribe medication if appropriate, and refer you to talking therapy. In England, NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT) provides free CBT, counselling, and other therapies, usually without a long wait. You can also self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies online without going through your GP first.
Your cardiac team may also be able to refer you to a clinical psychologist or cardiac rehabilitation programme. Cardiac rehabilitation often includes a psychological component alongside exercise and education, and is recommended for cardiac arrest survivors.
For more specialist support — for example, if you have complex PTSD, severe depression, or significant cognitive impairment — your GP can refer you to community mental health services or a neuropsychologist.
Peer support — connecting with other survivors and co-survivors who understand the experience from the inside — is highly valued by many people after cardiac arrest. Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK can connect you with peer support resources and a community of people who have been through similar experiences.
For co-survivors, the same routes apply. You do not need to have been the patient to deserve psychological support.