An interview with Amie Roberts, Mental Health Lead at acuity care
Mental health is not an optional extra within neurorehabilitation—it is a fundamental part of recovery. As Mental Health Lead at acuity care, Amie Roberts focuses on promoting, protecting, and improving the emotional and psychological wellbeing of individuals living with an acquired brain injury (ABI).
Her work centres on embedding trauma-informed care, championing recovery-focused approaches, and supporting teams at acuity care to deliver truly person-centred care.
“In neurorehabilitation, we’re not just supporting cognition or mobility,” Amie explains. “We’re supporting identity, adjustment, and emotional recovery. Mental health has to be prioritised from the outset.”
Understanding Complexity Without Fear
Individuals with ABI in community settings often present with a combination of mental health conditions, neurodevelopmental differences, personality-related challenges, physical health needs, and social adversity. The interaction between neurological change and psychological distress can result in highly complex presentations.
At acuity care, a key priority is ensuring that this complexity is understood—never avoided.
“Complexity should never lead to avoidance,” Amie says. “Support must be proportionate, evidence-based, and grounded in formulation, not assumption.”
This approach includes:
- Strengthening staff capability
- Embedding robust risk management processes
- Promoting early intervention
Mental health screening and formulation are integrated early within assessment pathways at acuity care. This ensures emotional wellbeing, coping capacity, and pre-existing mental health needs are identified from the beginning—rather than at crisis point.
Mental health goals are also embedded into overall rehabilitation plans. Emotional regulation, psychological stability, adjustment to injury, and social recovery are treated as core outcomes alongside physical and cognitive progress.
The Interaction Between Brain Injury and Emotional Wellbeing
Effective mental health support in neurorehabilitation requires a deep understanding of how cognition, trauma, identity, and neurological change interact.
In early rehabilitation, low mood and depression are common. Fear of the unknown may present as anxiety, paranoia, or anger. Behaviour is often a form of communication—frequently linked to unmet needs, distress, or a loss of control.
“Behaviours are rarely random,” Amie notes. “They often represent unmet needs or attempts to regain control.”
At acuity care, consistent, clear communication plays a vital role in providing reassurance, particularly during periods of distress or adjustment. Delivering on agreed plans, maintaining predictable routines, and ensuring regular medication reviews all contribute to a sense of emotional safety.
acuity care promotes positive risk-taking and least restrictive practice, supporting individuals to regain autonomy wherever possible. Consistency across teams helps reduce anxiety and prevent escalation.
Trauma-Informed and Recovery-Focused Care
Trauma-informed practice underpins every aspect of care at acuity care. This means recognising that behaviours may be adaptive responses to past or present experiences, rather than simply symptoms to manage.
“Emotional safety comes first,” Amie explains. “Without that, recovery is limited.”
Therapeutic strategies such as:
- Distress tolerance
- Grounding techniques
- Mindfulness
are used to support emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience.
Consistency, predictability, and clear professional boundaries provide a stable framework for recovery. Awareness of relational dynamics also supports healthy therapeutic engagement and protects both individuals and staff.
The Importance of MDT Collaboration
Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) working is central to delivering effective mental health support at acuity care. Shared risk management, reflective practice, and collaborative formulation strengthen understanding and improve outcomes.
Ensuring a mental health perspective is consistently represented within MDT discussions allows teams to fully explore:
- Behavioural presentations
- Mood changes
- Engagement and motivation
Structured assessment is key. Functional Behaviour Assessments help identify triggers, maintaining factors, and the purpose of behaviours. These insights inform Positive Behaviour Support plans that are tailored, evidence-based, and responsive.
Proactive crisis planning is equally important. Identifying early warning signs, developing collaborative safety plans, and establishing clear escalation pathways helps prevent crises and ensures individuals feel supported and prepared.
An Integrated Vision
As Mental Health Lead at acuity care, Amie advocates for a fully integrated, person-centred approach where emotional recovery is valued as highly as physical rehabilitation.
By embedding trauma-informed principles, prioritising early intervention, promoting least restrictive practice, and strengthening MDT collaboration, acuity care ensures mental health is part of every stage of the rehabilitation journey.
In neurorehabilitation, recovery is not just about regaining function—it’s about rebuilding lives.
Find out more about our Mental Health Support.