Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the increase in mental health issues by offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to invest more in mental health services faster than the overall NHS budget. This will include specialist work in suicide prevention.
Helping yourself
One of four of us will have a mental health problem at some point in our lives. The good news is that there are plenty of different ways to seek assistance and the majority of us recover over time. But it's important to know what assistance is available and who can provide it.
You can seek help from your physician or your local health center, or a mental health service in your area. These teams are comprised of nurses, occupational therapists psychotherapists, psychotherapists, and speech and language therapists who work with those who utilize the service. Based on the type of assistance you require, you may be offered individual or group therapy.
You will be asked to complete a form with your GP so they can refer you to a mental health service in the community. They will also speak to you about the kind of help you need. You will be consulted by members of an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals like psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In certain instances the clinical nurse specialist will carry out your assessment and treatment. You can call the NHS 111 helpline when you're in crisis. If you're already being supported by mental health services, it's best to call your usual team first, unless it's outside of normal hours, on a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health set out plans to establish more multidisciplinary, place-based community mental health teams that have links to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of mental health care that is provided to those who are in a crisis, and provide support to those within their communities and at home instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aimed at provide crisis services to more people by reducing wait times and allowing more beds. It also 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 people experiencing a mental crisis are supported during emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for mental health conditions. Disorders that are less severe are usually treated by GPs and more serious disorders require a specialist team. These teams are located in both community and primary healthcare facilities and psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe spaces where you can get help when you're in crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most common types of treatment for anxiety and depression. Previously known as IAPT, these programs have seen referral numbers increase every year since their introduction in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has set the goal of expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medicines are another important part of treatment. They can improve symptoms through altering the way that chemicals function in your brain. They can also be used to reduce the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you.
There are many different types of talk therapy, including individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these therapies can be delivered in person, while others can be done via remote access. Some patients prefer face-to face treatment, but it is the choice of the patient. Mind is one of the organizations that offer support groups and courses. The site contains a wealth of information that is reliable, but be aware that there are many false or misleading claims on the internet concerning mental health issues.
While the NHS is working to improve its mental health care but it's still struggling to meet the demands. There are 54 mental health trusts across the UK and the majority of they receive funding from clinical commissioning organizations to deliver their service. They are typically located in a specific area, but can be commissioned to deliver national services.
A key issue is the lack of resources to meet the growing demand. There are concerns about the quality and shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is working to improve these services by providing more training and introducing new ways of working. It also provides more efficient and safer ways to help people in crisis. Iampsychiatry includes mobile crisis teams and secure space.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS launched 70 years ago, there have been many positive developments for people suffering from mental health issues. Treatment options have increased and social barriers are being taken down. But there is more to be done.
People who are in mental illness need to get the help they need quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is striving to improve the services available to those who require these services. We will ensure that every acute hospital does not have a mental health liaison service in A&E departments and inpatient wards by 2020/21. 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 support for hundreds of thousands of people with mental health issues, whether they are common or severe. We will continue to work on our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT), so that more people suffering from mental health issues are seen faster by trained therapists.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines for anyone who is struggling with mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are run by volunteers who offer the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or provide advice and information on how to manage your mental health concerns.
There are also a number local organizations that provide assistance and support to those suffering from mental health issues. These can 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 who are struggling or stressed. There's also the Nightline student counselling service that provides confidential listening and support from experienced volunteers, as well as information on other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide many sources of information and support both online and in local groups. They can offer a range of activities and courses ranging from mindfulness to art classes, which are beneficial for those with mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
With mental health services under pressure, GPs are having to make difficult decisions about what specialist services they should refer patients to. The doctor will take the patient's medical history into consideration and then refer them to a specialist they believe can assist. They may send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health specialist will then assess the referral and decide if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral, they'll contact the GP to discuss their decision and explain the reason. They might also ask the GP to modify the referral or request 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 refer patients to either an initial clinical assessment for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system cannot be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A GP might decide to refer a patient to a specialized community mental health service (CMT). They are typically run by a large local healthcare organisation or hospital. CMTs can be a good option for those who want to consult a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention program where a psychiatrist works with a psychotherapist to assist someone in overcoming an issue or improve the quality of their lives.
One of the challenges faced by CMTs CMT is how to ensure that all suitable referrals are assigned within the appropriate timeframe. Many referrals are considered urgent, even though they might not be. This can cause patients who aren't experiencing a crisis to be overwhelmed and suffer delays.
To combat this problem, a few CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform standards for what constitutes a referral urgent. This was accomplished by using an established form that asks the referrer to indicate if the case is urgent. The form includes a box for the referrer to check when they believe the referral is urgent.