Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been an enormous increase in people seeking treatment for mental health issues, and the NHS has responded by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made a renewed commitment to grow the investment in mental health services quicker than the NHS budget in general. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.
Get assistance
One in four people will suffer from mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is that there are a variety of ways to seek help, and many of us will be able to recover with time. However, it is important to know what help is available, and who can provide it.
You can seek help from a variety places, including your doctor (primary medical doctor for primary care), 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 patients who require their services. Based on the type of assistance you require, you may be offered individual or group therapy.
Your doctor will typically request you to fill out the form so that they can refer you to a community mental health team. They will also talk with you about the kind of assistance you require. You will then be seen by a member of the mental health team that may comprise a psychiatrist social worker or psychologist. In certain instances, a clinical nurse specialist will perform your assessment and treatment. You can call the NHS 111 helpline when you're in crisis. If you already receive support for your mental health It is recommended to contact your regular team first, unless it is out of hours, on a weekend or bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health outlined plans to create more multidisciplinary, community-based, place-based mental health teams that have links to primary care networks. These plans will aid in improving the quality of the care provided to those experiencing a mental health crisis. They will also provide support within their communities and homes, rather than in hospital.
The plan also aims to make emergency services available by cutting down wait times and allowing more beds. It also proposed to introduce mental health transport vehicles and make sure that every ambulance has a mental health liaison nurse in their control rooms to improve the way that people who are having mental health issues are supported in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for mental health conditions. GPs are often able to treat less severe conditions, but more severe illnesses will require the assistance of a specialist team. These teams work in primary and community health services for mental health as well as psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a safe space should you be 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 numbers of clients increase every 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 a crucial part of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering the way that chemicals function in your brain. They can also be used to ease side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication for you.
There are many different types of talking therapies, including individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these therapies are offered in person, while other can be done remotely. Some patients prefer to receive treatment in person, but that is a personal decision. Mind is one of the charities that offer support groups and classes. The site contains a wealth of reliable information, but be aware of the fact that there are many false or misleading claims on the internet concerning mental health issues.
While the NHS is advancing its mental health care, it still struggles to cope with demand. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. They receive the majority of funding for their services from the clinical commissioning groups. They are usually located in a particular region however, they may be contracted to provide national services.
The lack of resources is a major problem. There are concerns over the quality and shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by providing more training and introducing new methods of working. It also introduces more secure and efficient ways to help people who are in crisis. mental health assessments include mobile crisis teams and secure spaces.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago, there have been positive changes for those suffering from mental health issues. Treatment options have increased and social barriers are being broken down. But there is more to be done.
People experiencing mental health issues need to be able to access the help they need quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve services so that people in need receive help. By 2020/21 we will ensure that all acute hospitals offer a mental health liaison service that is available in A&E and on wards for inpatients and that 70% of them will meet the standard of 24 by 2023/24. We will then strive to achieve 100% coverage.
We will also increase services for people who need them in the community, including psychotherapy, in order to provide hundreds of thousands of patients with severe or common mental health conditions the support they require. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people can be treated by trained therapists faster.
The NHS offers confidential, free assistance to anyone suffering from mental health issues. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They offer a safe space to talk or provide advice and information on how to tackle your mental health issues.
There are a variety of local organizations that provide assistance and support to those suffering from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping techniques and other activities are available. Many of these organisations also provide support groups in person for those who prefer this option.
For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers an opportunity to consult with a counsellor at any time for those who are feeling down or stressed. There is also the Nightline student counselling service that provides confidential listening and support from skilled volunteers, or details about other services. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information and provide support in various forms, including online and through local groups. They offer a variety of courses and activities including mindfulness classes to art classes, which are beneficial for those with mental health issues.
Referrals
With mental health services under pressure, doctors are forced to make difficult choices about the services they will refer patients to. The doctor will take into consideration the patient's medical background and recommend 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 specialist will examine the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral, they'll contact the GP and explain the reasons. They may also ask the GP for more information or to modify the referral.
The ability to refer patients to a local Community Mental Health Team can be made using the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows GPs as well as 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 can't be used for every kind of mental health referral.
A GP may also decide to refer a person to a specialized community mental health service (CMT). They are usually managed by a large hospital or local health care organization. CMTs are a great alternative for those looking to consult with a seasoned psychiatrist or psychologist but do not require inpatient treatment. They also offer an early intervention service, where a psychiatrist works with an psychotherapist to help a patient overcome a crisis or improve their life quality.
One of the biggest challenges faced by a CMT is to ensure that all appropriate referrals are allocated within an appropriate time frame. One of the challenges is that a large number of referrals are deemed urgent, despite the fact that they may not be. This can lead people who aren't experiencing a crisis to be overwhelmed and suffer delays.
To address this issue, some CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes a referral urgent. This is being achieved by using the standardised referral forma that requires a referrer to decide if the situation is urgent. The form includes a box that the referrer is able to tick when the request is urgent.