Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been an enormous rise in people seeking help for mental health issues and the NHS has responded by offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made an unrepeatable commitment to increase the investment in mental health services faster than the NHS budget in general. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.
Helping yourself
One out of four people will suffer from mental illness at one time in their lives. The good news is that there are many ways to get assistance, and the majority of us will recover over time. It is essential to know what help is available and who can provide it.
You can get help from your doctor, your local health center or mental health service in your local area. These teams are comprised of occupational therapists, nurses psychotherapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work together with those who utilize the service. Depending on the type of help you need you could receive 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 ask you to specify what kind of support you need. You will be consulted by a member of the mental team which includes psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some instances the assessment and treatment will be performed by a nurse specialist. If you're in an emergency, you can call the NHS 111 helpline for urgent assistance. If you are already receiving support for your mental health it is recommended to call your usual team first, unless it's outside of hours, or on a weekend or bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to create multidisciplinary, community-based mental health teams that are linked to primary care networks. They will improve the quality of the care provided to those experiencing a mental health crisis. They will also offer support within their communities and homes rather than in hospitals.
The plan aims to make crisis services more accessible by reducing wait times and opening up more beds. It would also include an ambulance for mental health and ensure that all ambulances are outfitted with a mental liaison nurse in the control room to ensure that those who are experiencing mental distress are assisted in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a wide array of treatment options for people suffering from mental health problems. GPs typically have the ability to treat less severe illnesses, however more serious conditions will require an expert team. These teams are spread across primary and community mental health services and also psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a secure space if you feel in crisis.
Talking therapies are one of the most common types of treatment for anxiety and depression. Formerly known as IAPT These programs have seen referral numbers increase each 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.
The use of psychiatric medication is also an important part of treatment. They can improve symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals function. They can also be used to reduce the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will suggest a medicine that is right for you.
A wide range of talking therapy options are offered, including group therapy and individual 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 decision. Mind is one of many charities that offer support groups and courses. Their website is full of trustworthy information, but you should be aware that there is lots of misleading or false information available on the internet regarding mental health issues.
While the NHS is working to improve its mental health care, it still struggles to meet the demands. There are 54 mental health trusts in the UK, and most of they receive funding from clinical commissioning groups to deliver their services. They are usually located in a particular region however, they can also be commissioned to deliver national services.
The absence of resources is a major problem. There are concerns over the quality of care and the shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is working to improve the services by introducing new methods of work and providing more training. It is also introducing more efficient and safer methods to assist people in need including mobile crisis teams, as well as safe spaces.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago there are positive changes for those with mental health issues. The treatment options have gotten better and social barriers have been taken down. However, there is much to do.
People experiencing mental health issues require the ability to access the help they need quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve its services to ensure that those who need them can get assistance. In 2020/21, we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service that is available in A&E as well as on wards for patients and that 70% of these will meet the standard of 24 by 2023/24. Then we will work towards 100% coverage.
We will also extend services for those who require them in the community, including therapy for talking, which will give thousands of more patients with severe or common mental health conditions the support they need. We will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people are treated by trained therapists faster.
The NHS provides confidential, free helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated entirely by volunteers who offer the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or offer advice and guidance on how to manage your mental health concerns.
There are also a number local organisations that can provide help and advice to those who suffer from mental health issues. These include self-help guides, coping strategies, and activities to try. Many of these organizations also offer support groups that meet face-to-face for those who prefer this option.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students struggling or stressed. Nightline is a student counseling service that provides confidential listening, support and information from experienced volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink can provide many sources of information and support both on the internet and in local groups. They can also offer various courses and activities, from mindfulness to art classes that could be beneficial for people suffering from mental health issues.
Making a referral
Mental health services are under pressure and GPs have to make difficult choices about which specialist services to refer their patients to. private mental health diagnosis will look at the medical history of the patient and recommend them to services they believe will be able to assist. They may send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health professional will review the referral to determine if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral, they will contact the GP and explain why. They may request the GP to modify the referral or ask for more information.
Referrals to 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 send patients to either a preliminary clinical assessment for mental health or directly to an appointment. However there are some exceptions. CMHTs offer both options and the system isn't able to be used for every kind of mental health referral.
A GP can also refer a patient to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). These are usually run by a major local healthcare organisation or hospital. CMTs are a great option for those who require to see a psychiatrist or psychologist but don't require inpatient treatment. They also offer an early intervention service, where a psychiatrist will work with a counselor to help someone overcome a crisis or improve their quality of life.
CMTs face the challenge of ensuring that all referrals are received within a reasonable time frame. One of the issues is that a lot of referrals are deemed as urgent, despite the fact that they may not be. This can cause people who aren't experiencing a crisis to be rushed and suffer delays.
To combat this problem, a few CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was achieved through a standardised form which asks the referrer if the case is urgent. The proforma includes a box for the referrer to check in the event that they believe that the referral is urgent.