Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the rise in mental health issues by offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to invest more in mental health services more quickly than overall NHS budget. This will include specialist work in suicide prevention.
Get help
One in four people will be affected by mental illness at one time in their lives. The good news is that there are a variety of different ways to get assistance and the majority of us recover over time. It is important to know the types of help available and who can offer it.
You can seek assistance from a variety of sources like your doctor (primary medical doctor for primary care) as well as your local health centre, or a community mental health team. These teams consist of occupational therapists, nurses psychotherapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work together with people who use the service. You may receive individual or group therapy, based on the type of assistance you need.
You will be asked to complete a form with your doctor so that they can refer you to a mental health service in the community. They will also ask you to specify what kind of support you need. You will be seen by an individual from a mental team, such as psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some instances, a clinical nurse specialist will perform your assessment and treatment. You can contact the NHS 111 helpline for assistance if you're in crisis. If you're already being assisted by mental health services it's a good idea to contact your regular team first, unless it's outside of core hours, the weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the community which are connected to primary care networks. These teams will improve the quality of the mental health services delivered to people experiencing a crisis, and provide support to patients in their homes and community instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aims at making crisis services more accessible by decreasing wait times and allowing more beds. It would also include the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are outfitted with an individual who is a mental liaison nurse in the control room to make sure that those who are experiencing mental distress are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options to treat mental health problems. Less severe disorders are often treated by GPs however more serious conditions require a specialist team. These teams are located in both community and primary healthcare facilities and psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe places where you can get help for those who are in a state of crisis.
Talking therapies are one of the most commonly used forms of treatment for anxiety and depression. These programs, previously known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their number of referrals increase each year since they were introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to expanding these programs to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are also an important element of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering how chemicals in your brain work. They can also help reduce the effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medicine for you.
There are many kinds of talking therapies, including individual therapy and group therapy. Some of them are offered in person, while others are available via a remote device. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it is a matter of choice. Mind is one of many charities that offer support groups and classes. The site is full of reliable information, but be aware of the fact that there are numerous false or misleading statements on the internet concerning mental health issues.
While the NHS is working to improve its mental health care however, it is still struggling to keep up with demand. In the UK there are 54 mental trusts. Most of them receive funding from the clinical commissioning groups. They usually are located in a specific region however, they may be contracted to provide national services.
The main issue is the lack of resources to meet the growing demand. There are also concerns about the quality of care and the shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is working to improve the services by introducing new methods of work and providing more training. It also introduces safer and more effective ways to assist people in need like mobile crisis teams and secure places.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been a lot of positive developments for those suffering from mental health issues. Treatment options have expanded and social barriers are being taken down. But there is still more to be done.
People who are experiencing mental illness need to get the help they need quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is striving to improve services for people who need these services. We will ensure that every acute hospital is without a mental health liaison service in A&E departments and wards for inpatients by 2020/21, and that 70 percent of these services will meet the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24. Then we will work towards a 100% coverage rate after that.
We will also increase services for the community, such as talking therapy, to provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of individuals suffering from mental health conditions regardless of whether they are severe or common. We will continue to work on our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT) in order to ensure that more people suffering from mental health issues can be seen more quickly by qualified therapists.
The NHS offers confidential, free helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are run by trained volunteers. They provide an environment where you can talk in a safe manner, or offer information and advice on how to manage your mental health issues.
There are also a number local organizations that can offer help and advice to those who suffer from mental health issues. mental health assessment online -help guides, coping strategies and activities can be included. A lot of these organizations provide support groups in person for those who would prefer this type of support.
For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers an opportunity to consult with a counsellor at any time for those feeling depressed or stressed. Nightline is a student counselling service that provides confidential listening, support and information from knowledgeable volunteers. Charities such as Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information. They can offer support in many forms, including online and through local groups. They can also offer many classes and activities, from mindfulness to art classes that could be beneficial for those living with mental health problems.
Making a referral
With mental health services under pressure, GPs are having to make difficult decisions about which specialist services they can refer patients to. The GP will look at the medical history of the patient and refer them to services they believe can help. They may send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health professional will review the referral to determine if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral, they will contact the GP and explain their reasons. They can also ask the GP to provide more information or to alter the referral.
The referral to a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) may be made via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system allows GPs and other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a mental health assessment or directly to an outpatient appointment. However, not all CMHTs offer both options and the system cannot be used for every type of mental health referral.
A doctor may also decide to refer a person to a specialist community mental health service (CMT). They are typically run by an enormous hospital or a local healthcare organization. CMTs are a great alternative for those looking to consult with a seasoned psychiatrist or psychologist but don't require inpatient care. They can also provide an early intervention program, where a psychiatrist collaborates with a psychotherapist to help a patient overcome a crisis or increase their life quality.
CMTs are faced with the task of ensuring that all referrals are received within a reasonable time. One of the problems is that a large number of referrals are deemed as urgent, despite the fact that they may not be. This can lead people who aren't in crisis to be overwhelmed and suffer delays.
To tackle this issue, some CMHTs are trying to establish more uniform guidelines for what is considered an urgent referral. This was achieved by using an established form that asks the referrer if they believe the situation is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer can tick when they believe that the referral is urgent.