Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the rising number of mental health issues by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to invest more in mental health services faster than overall NHS budget. This includes specialist work in suicide prevention.
Get help
One in four people will suffer from a mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is that there are plenty of different ways to get help and most of us recover over time. It is important to know what help is available and who can offer it.
You can seek help from your doctor, your local health center, or a mental health team in your community. These teams are comprised of occupational and nurse psychotherapists, as well as speech therapists. They work with clients who seek their services. Based on the type of assistance you require, you may be offered individual or group therapy.
Your doctor will typically require you to fill out a form so that they can send you a referral to a local mental health team. They will also ask you to specify what type of assistance you require. You will then be seen by a member of a mental health team that may comprise a psychiatrist social worker or psychologist. In some cases, a clinical nurse specialist will perform your assessment and treatment. You can contact the NHS 111 helpline when you're in crisis. If you already receive support for your mental health it is recommended to contact your primary team first, unless it is out of hours, on a weekend or bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to create multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the community which are connected to primary care networks. These teams will increase the quality of mental health care that is provided to those who are in a crisis, and provide support to patients in their homes and community instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aimed at make crisis services more accessible by reducing waiting times and allowing more beds. It would also introduce the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are equipped with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to make sure that people experiencing a mental crisis are assisted in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options to treat mental health problems. GPs are often able to treat minor disorders, but more serious issues will require the assistance of a specialist team. These teams are spread across primary and community mental health services, and also the psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a secure environment if you feel in crisis.
Talking therapies for depression and anxiety are among the most popular kinds of treatment. These programs, previously referred to as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their number of referrals increase each year since they launched in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these programs so that 1.9 million people will be able to use them by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric drugs are a different part of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by altering the way that chemicals function in your brain. They can be used to lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the best medication for you.
A wide range of talking therapy options are offered which include group therapy as well as individual therapy. Some of these therapies can be delivered in person, while others are available online. Some patients prefer face to face treatment, but it's the choice of the patient. Mind is one of the organizations that offer support groups and classes. Their website is full of reliable information, but you should be aware that there's lots of false or misleading information available on the internet regarding mental health issues.
The NHS is working to improve the mental health system, but it's struggling to meet the demands. In the UK there are 54 mental trusts. The majority of them receive funding for their services from clinical commissioning groups. They usually are located in a particular region however, they may be commissioned to offer national services.
The main issue is the lack of resources to meet the growing demand. There are concerns about the quality of care and the shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. assess mental health is working to improve these services by offering more training and developing new ways of working. It also offers more secure and efficient methods to treat people who are in crisis. These include mobile crisis teams and safe spaces.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was first introduced 70 years ago there have been positive developments for those suffering from mental health issues. The treatment options have increased and social barriers have been broken down. However, there is much to be done.
People who are suffering from mental health issues should get the help they need quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is putting in the effort to improve the quality of services for those who require these services. In 2020/21, we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service, both in A&E and on inpatient wards, and that 70% of them will be in compliance with the core 24 standard by 2023/24. We will then strive for 100% coverage.
We will also increase community services, including talking therapy, to provide support for hundreds of thousands of individuals suffering from mental health issues, 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 can be seen by qualified therapists, more quickly.
The NHS provides confidential, free helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. These include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They provide an environment where you can talk in a safe manner or give information and advice on how to deal with your mental health issues.
There are a variety of local organisations that can provide support and guidance to people who suffer from mental health issues. These include self-help guides, coping strategies and activities to try. Many of these organisations offer face-toface support groups to those who would prefer it.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students experiencing stress or depression. Nightline is a student counseling service that provides confidential listening assistance, information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information. They can provide support in a variety of ways that include online and through local groups. They can also offer various courses and activities, from mindfulness to art groups, which may be useful for those living with mental health issues.
Making a referral
With mental health services under pressure, doctors are forced to make difficult decisions regarding which specialist services they can refer patients to. The GP will consider the patient's medical background and recommend them to services they believe will be able assist. They may send a referral either to an NHS trust, or to an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will review the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral they will call the GP to discuss their decision and provide the reasons. They may also request the GP for more information or to modify the referral.
The ability to refer patients to the local Community Mental Health Team can be made via the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals refer patients to either an initial clinical assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. 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 can also refer a patient to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). They are typically run by an enormous hospital or a local healthcare organisation. CMTs are a great option for those who require to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist but don't require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention service, where a psychiatrist collaborates with a therapist to help a person overcome a crisis or improve their life quality.
CMTs face the challenge of ensuring that all referrals are made within a reasonable time. Many referrals are deemed urgent, even if they may not be. This can cause patients who aren't in a crisis to be rushed 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 by using a standardised form that asks the referrer if they believe the situation is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer can tick if the request is urgent.