Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the increase in mental health problems by offering 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 assistance
One out of four of us will suffer from a mental health problem at some point in our lives. The good news is there are a variety of ways to seek assistance, and the majority of us will be able to recover with time. It is essential to know what assistance is available and who can provide it.
You can seek help from your doctor or your local health center, or a mental health team within your local area. These teams consist of nurses, occupational therapists psychotherapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work together with those who utilize the service. Based on the type of assistance you require you could receive individual or group therapy.
Your GP will usually 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 what kind of support you need. You will be consulted by members of an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals like psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In certain instances, your assessment and treatment will be conducted by a nurse specialist. You can call the NHS 111 helpline if you are in a crisis. If you're already being assisted by mental health services, it's best to try and contact your usual team first, unless it's outside of the normal hours, a weekend or on a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the community which are connected to primary care networks. These teams will improve the quality of mental health care provided to those in crisis, and will provide assistance to them in their homes and community rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aims to make crisis services more accessible by decreasing wait times and opening up more beds. It also proposes an ambulance for mental health and ensure that all ambulances are stocked with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to improve how people experiencing a mental crisis are assisted in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for mental health problems. GPs typically have the ability to treat milder illnesses, however more serious conditions will require an expert team. These teams operate across community and primary mental health services as well as the psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek help in a safe space should you be in a state of crisis.
Talking treatments for anxiety and depression are among the most popular treatments. These programs, formerly known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their number of referrals increase every year since they were launched in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has set the goal of expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric drugs are a different part of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by changing the way the brain's chemicals function. They can be used to lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you.
There are many kinds of talk therapies, such as individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these can be delivered in person, while others are available via a remote device. Some patients prefer treatment in person, but that is a personal preference. Mind is one of many charities that offer support groups and classes. The site is full of information that is trustworthy but you should be aware that there are a lot of false or misleading claims on the internet concerning mental health issues.
While the NHS is advancing its mental health services however, it is still struggling to cope with demand. There are 54 mental health trusts across the UK, and most of are funded by clinical commissioning groups to deliver their service. They usually are located in a particular region however, they may be commissioned to offer national services.
One of the main issues is the insufficient resources to meet the growing demand. There are also concerns about the quality of care and a shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by offering more training and introducing new ways of working. It also provides safer and more effective ways to help those who are in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams and safe spaces.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was first introduced 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. However, there is still much to be done.
People who are suffering from mental health issues should receive 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 them. By 2020/21 we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental-health liaison service that is available in A&E and on inpatient wards and that 70% will be in compliance with the core 24 standard by 2023/24. Then we will strive to achieve 100% coverage.
We will also extend services for people who need them in the community, including therapy for talking, which will give hundreds of thousands of patients with severe or common mental health conditions the support they need. mental health assessment online will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people are treated by trained therapists quicker.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines to anyone suffering from a mental health issue. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by trained volunteers. They offer a safe space to talk or provide advice and information on how to manage your mental health issues.
In addition there are a variety of local organizations that offer support and guidance for those with mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping strategies and other activities are all possible. Many of these organisations offer support groups that meet face-to-face to those who prefer it.
For students, there is the University's Open Door Team which offers the opportunity to visit a counselling center for those who feel depressed or stressed. Nightline is a student counseling service that provides confidential listening as well as information and support from knowledgeable volunteers. Charities such as Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information and can provide support in various forms, including online and through local groups. They offer a variety of activities and courses ranging from mindfulness to art classes that are beneficial for those with mental health issues.
Referrals
Mental health services are under strain and GPs are forced to make difficult choices regarding the best specialist services to refer their patients to. The GP will consider the medical history of the patient and recommend them to services they believe will be able aid. They may refer a patient to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health professional will examine the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral, they will call the GP and explain the reasons. They could request the GP to modify the referral or request additional details.
The ability to refer patients to the local Community Mental Health Team can be made using the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a preliminary 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.
private mental health assessment may also decide to refer a person to a specialist community mental health service (CMT). They are typically run by a large hospital or local healthcare organisation. CMTs can be a good option for those who want to see an experienced psychologist or psychiatrist, but don't need inpatient treatment. They also offer an early intervention service, where a psychiatrist works with the therapist to help a person overcome a crisis or increase their life quality.
One of the biggest challenges faced by a CMT is how to ensure that all suitable referrals are assigned within an appropriate time frame. Many referrals are deemed urgent, even if they may not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for those who aren't in a crisis.
To tackle this issue, certain CMHTs are working to establish more consistent standards for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was accomplished by using a standardised form which asks the referrer if they believe the situation is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer can tick if the referral is urgent.
