Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the rise in mental health issues by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made a renewed commitment to grow investment in mental health services more quickly than the NHS budget in general. This will include special suicide prevention services.
Helping yourself
One of four people will be affected by mental illness at one point during their lives. The good news is that there are a variety of different ways to seek help, and most people recover after a while. It is crucial to know the types of help available and who can provide it.
You can seek assistance from a variety of places, including your GP (primary care medical doctor) or your local health center or a community mental health team. These teams comprise of occupational and nurse speech therapists, and psychotherapists. They work with the clients who seek their services. Based on the kind of assistance you require you might be provided with individual or group therapy.
You will be asked to complete a form with your doctor so that they can refer you to a mental health professional in the community. They will also ask you to specify what kind of support you need. You will then be seen by a member of the mental health team that may include a psychiatrist, social worker or psychologist. In some cases, your assessment and treatment will be conducted by a specialist in clinical nursing. If you're in crisis, call the NHS 111 helpline for immediate assistance. If you're already being supported by mental health services, it's a good idea to try and contact your usual team first, unless it's outside of the normal hours, a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health set out plans to establish more place-based, multidisciplinary community mental health teams, with connections to primary care networks. These will help to improve the quality of care that is provided to those experiencing an illness of mental health and provide support within their communities and homes, rather than in hospital.
The plan also aims at making emergency services available by decreasing waiting times and opening more beds. mental health assessment online proposes an ambulance for mental health and ensure that all ambulances are stocked with a mental liaison nurse in the control room to improve how those who are experiencing mental distress are assisted in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a wide array of treatment options for mental health conditions. The less severe disorders are typically treated by GPs however more serious disorders require a specialist team. These teams operate across community and primary mental health services and also psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe places where you can get help if you are feeling in a crisis.
Talking therapies for depression and anxiety are among the main treatments. These programs, formerly known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their referral numbers increase each year since they were introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these services so that 1.9 million people will be able to access them by 2023/2024.
The use of psychiatric medication is also an important element of treatment. They can improve symptoms through altering the way chemicals work in your brain. They can also be used to lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you.
There are a variety of talk therapy, including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these are delivered in person, whereas others can be done via a remote device. Some patients prefer treatment in person, but that is a personal choice. Mind is one of many charities that offer support groups and classes. The website contains a wealth of information that is trustworthy however, be aware of the fact that there are a lot of false or misleading statements that are posted on the internet regarding mental health issues.
While the NHS is advancing its mental health care however, it is still struggling to meet the demands. In the UK there are 54 mental trusts. The majority of them receive funding for their services from the clinical commissioning groups. They are usually located in a specific area, but can be commissioned to provide national services.
The lack of resources is a major problem. There are 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 delivering more training. It also introduces more efficient and safer methods to treat people in crisis including mobile crisis teams and secure spaces.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago, there have been many positive developments for people suffering from mental health problems. The options for treatment have grown and social barriers have been smashed down. But there's still a lot to do.
Patients who are experiencing mental health problems must be able to get the help they require quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is working hard to improve the quality of services for those who need these services. We will ensure that no acute hospital is without the mental health liaison service in A&E departments and wards for inpatients by 2020/21. We will also ensure that 70 percent of these services will be in line with the "core 24" standard by 2023/24. We will work towards achieving 100% coverage afterward.
We will also increase services for the community, such as talking therapy, in order to provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of individuals suffering from mental health conditions, whether they are severe or common. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people are visited by therapists who are qualified, quicker.
The NHS offers free, confidential helplines to anyone suffering from mental health issues. These include the Samaritans and Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They provide a safe space to talk, or offer guidance and information on how to tackle your mental health concerns.
There are also local organizations that can offer help and advice to those who suffer from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping strategies and other activities are all possible. Many of these organisations provide support groups in person for those who prefer it.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students feeling down or stressed. There's also the Nightline student counselling service, which offers confidential listening and support from experienced volunteers, as well as information on other services. Charities like Mind and Rethink can provide many sources of information and support both on the internet and in local groups. They can also offer many courses and activities, from mindfulness to art classes, which may be useful for those living with mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
Mental health services are under strain and GPs must make difficult choices regarding the best specialist services to refer their 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 either to an NHS trust, or to an independent provider.
A mental health professional will then evaluate the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral they will contact the GP to discuss their decision and provide the reason. They could also ask the GP to modify the referral or ask for more details.
Requests for a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) may be made via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to send patients to either an initial clinical assessment for mental health or directly to an appointment. However there are some exceptions. CMHTs provide both options, and the system cannot be used for every type of mental health referral.
A GP may also refer patients to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). They are typically operated by a large local healthcare organization or hospital. CMTs are a great option for people who wish to consult a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist, but don't need inpatient treatment. They also offer an early intervention service, where a psychiatrist collaborates with a psychotherapist to help a patient overcome a problem or improve their life quality.
CMTs have the responsibility of ensuring that all referrals are made within a reasonable time frame. Many referrals are considered urgent even though 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 has been accomplished by using an established referral form that requires a referrer to decide if the situation is urgent. The form includes a box for the referrer to tick if they feel that the referral is urgent.