Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the rising number of 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 includes special suicide prevention services.
Get assistance
One out of four people will be affected by mental illness at some point during their lives. The good news is there are many ways to get help, and most of us will be able to recover with time. It is essential to know what assistance is available and who is able to provide it.
You can seek assistance from a variety places such as your GP (primary medical doctor who treats patients), your local health centre, or a community mental health team. These teams are comprised of nurses, occupational and speech therapists, and psychotherapists. They collaborate with clients who seek their services. You may receive individual or group therapy based on the kind of help you need.
You will be asked to complete a form with your GP so they can refer you to a mental health team in the community. They will also speak to you about the type of help you require. Then, you will be viewed by someone from a mental health team that could include a psychiatrist, social worker or psychologist. In some cases the clinical nurse specialist will carry out your assessment and treatment. If you are experiencing crisis, contact the NHS 111 helpline for urgent assistance. If you are already receiving mental health services, it is best to call your usual team first, unless it is out of hours, on a 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 that are linked to primary care networks. These plans will aid in improving the quality of care that is given to those suffering from a mental health crisis and offer support within their communities and homes rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aimed at help make crisis services more accessible by reducing waiting times and opening more beds. It would also include the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are outfitted with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to ensure that people experiencing a mental crisis are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options for mental health issues. The less severe disorders are typically treated by GPs however more severe conditions require a specialist team. These teams are located in community and primary health services for mental health and psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe spaces where you can get help if you are feeling in a crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most commonly used forms of treatment for depression and anxiety. These programs, formerly known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their referral numbers increase every year since they were first introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has set the goal of expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are also a crucial element of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering the way chemicals work in your brain. They can also be used to ease side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will suggest a medicine that is right for you.
There are many different types of talk therapy, including individual therapy and group therapy. Some of them are offered in person, but others are available online. Some patients prefer to receive treatment in person, but that is a personal preference. There are also a number of charities that offer classes and support groups like Mind. The site is full of information that is reliable, but be aware that there are numerous false or misleading statements that are posted on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is improving its mental health services, it still struggles to cope with demand. There are 54 mental health trusts in the UK and the majority of they receive funding from clinical commissioning groups to deliver their service. They are usually located in a specific area however, they are also able to be commissioned to provide national services.
The absence of resources is a major problem. There are this contact form about the quality and availability of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is working to improve these services by offering more training and introducing new methods of working. It also introduces more secure and efficient methods to treat people in crisis, such as mobile crisis teams, as well as safe areas.
Helping you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been a lot of positive developments for people suffering from mental health problems. Treatment options have expanded and social barriers are being taken down. But there is still more to do.
People experiencing a mental health crisis require the ability to get the assistance they require quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is putting in the effort to improve services for people who require them. We will ensure that no acute hospital does not have the mental health liaison service in A&E departments and wards for patients by 2020/21. 70% of these services will meet the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24, working towards a 100% coverage rate after that.
We will also enhance services for the community, such as talking therapy, in order to provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of people with mental health conditions, whether they are serious or common. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people can be visited by therapists who are qualified, more quickly.
The NHS offers confidential, no-cost helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. These include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They offer a safe space to talk, or offer information and advice on how to tackle your mental health concerns.
There are also local organizations that provide support and guidance to people suffering from mental health issues. Self-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.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students who are feeling down or stressed. Nightline is a student counselling service that offers confidential listening as well as information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a great source of information and can offer support in many forms, including online and through local groups. They offer a variety of courses and activities from mindfulness to art classes that are beneficial for those with mental health issues.
Referrals
With mental health services under pressure, GPs have to make difficult choices about the services they will refer patients to. The doctor will take a patient's medical history into consideration and then refer them to a specialist they think will be able to help. They may send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health specialist will assess the referral to determine if it is appropriate or not. If the specialist doesn't like the referral, they will call the GP and explain the reasons. They can also request the GP for more information or to change the referral.
Referrals to the local Community Mental Health Team can be made via the NHS e-Referral Service. The system permits GPs and other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a pre-mental health clinical assessment or directly to an appointment with an outpatient. However, not all CMHTs offer both options and the system isn't able to be used for every type of mental health referral.
A GP may also refer a patient to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). They are usually managed by an extensive hospital or a local healthcare organization. CMTs are a great option for those who want to see an experienced psychologist or psychiatrist, but don't require inpatient care. They can also provide an early intervention service where a psychiatrist will work with a therapist to help a person overcome a problem or improve their life quality.
One of the major challenges faced by CMTs CMT is ensuring that all suitable referrals are allocated within the proper time frame. One of the problems is that a lot of referrals are deemed urgent, despite the fact that they might not be. This can cause people who aren't in crisis to be overwhelmed and suffer delays.
To combat this problem, some CMHTs have attempted to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes a referral urgent. This was achieved through a standardised form that asks the referrer if the situation is urgent. The form includes a box that the referrer can tick if they feel that the referral is urgent.