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 has made an unrepeatable commitment to increase investment in mental health services faster than the NHS budget overall. This will include the work of a specialist in suicide prevention.
Get assistance
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 help, and many of us will improve over time. But it's important to know what assistance is available, and who is able to provide it.
You can seek assistance from a variety places such as your doctor (primary care medical doctor) or your local health centre or a community mental health team. These teams consist of occupational therapists, nurses psychotherapists, psychotherapists, and speech and language therapists who work with the people who utilize the service. Based on the type of help you require you might be provided with individual or group therapy.
Your GP will usually ask you to fill in a form so that they can refer you to a community mental health team. mental health assessments will also ask what type of assistance you require. You will be assessed by members of a mental team like psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some cases the clinical nurse specialist will conduct your assessment and treatment. You can call the NHS 111 helpline for assistance if you're in an emergency. If you are already receiving support for your mental health It is recommended to contact your primary team first, unless it's out of office hours, on a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to create multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the community that are connected to primary care networks. These teams will improve the quality of the mental health services that is provided to those who are in a crisis, and offer support to them in their homes and community rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aimed to make crisis services more accessible by reducing wait times and opening more beds. It would also introduce a mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are outfitted with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to ensure that people experiencing a mental crisis are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS provides a wide range of treatment options for people suffering from mental health problems. GPs are usually able to treat less severe illnesses, however more serious conditions will require a specialist team. These teams work across primary and community mental health services, and psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe places where you can seek help for those who are in a 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 referral numbers increase each year since they were first introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these services so that 1.9 million people will be able to access them by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medicines are also an important element of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by altering the way the brain's chemicals function. They can also be used to alleviate the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the best medicine for you.
There are many kinds of talk therapy, including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these can be delivered in person, but others are available via a remote device. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it is the choice of the patient. Mind is one of many charities that provide support groups and courses. Their website is full of information that is reliable, however you should be aware that there is lots of misleading or false information on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is improving its mental health services, it still struggles to cope with demand. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. The majority of them receive funding for their services from the clinical commissioning groups. They are usually located in a specific area, but they can be contracted to provide national services.
The lack of resources is a major issue. There are also concerns about the quality of care and there is a shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by delivering more training and developing new ways of working. It also provides more efficient and safer methods of treating people in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams and safe spaces.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been positive developments for those suffering from mental health issues. The treatment options have gotten better and social barriers have been smashed down. But there is much more to be done.
People who are suffering from a mental health crisis require the ability to access the assistance they require quickly and easily. private healthcare mental health is why the NHS is working hard to improve services for people who require these services. We will ensure that no acute hospital does not have a mental health liaison in A&E departments and wards for patients by 2020/21. 70 percent of these services will be in line with the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24, working towards achieving 100% coverage afterward.
We will also enhance community services, including talking therapy, to offer support for hundreds of thousands of people with mental health problems regardless of whether they are severe or common. We will continue to develop our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies program (IAPT) to ensure that more people suffering from mental health issues are seen faster by therapists who are qualified.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines for anyone suffering from mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are run entirely by volunteers who offer the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or give advice and information on how to deal your mental health concerns.
In addition there are a variety of local organisations which can offer support and guidance for those with mental health issues. These include self-help guides, strategies for coping and activities to try. A lot of these organizations offer face-to-face support groups for those who prefer this option.
For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers the opportunity to visit a counselling center for those feeling low or stressed. Nightline is a student counselling service that provides confidential listening, support and information from knowledgeable volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a great source of information and provide support in various forms that include online and through local groups. They also provide many classes and activities, ranging from mindfulness to art groups which can be helpful for people who suffer from mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
With mental health services under pressure, GPs have to make difficult choices about which specialist services they can refer patients to. The GP will look at the medical history of the patient and recommend them to services they believe can aid. They may refer a patient to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will then assess the referral and decide if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist doesn't like the referral, they'll contact the GP and explain why. They may also request the GP for more details or to modify the referral.
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 send patients to either a preliminary clinical assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs offer both options and the system can't be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A doctor may also refer a patient to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). These are usually operated by a large local healthcare organisation or a hospital. CMTs are a great option for those who need to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist but don't require inpatient treatment. They also provide an early intervention service in which psychiatrists collaborate with psychotherapist to assist a person overcome an issue or improve the quality of their life.
CMTs are faced with the task of making sure that all referrals are made within a reasonable amount of time. One of the challenges is that a lot of referrals are deemed urgent, even though they might not be. This can result in delays and over-working for those who are not in crisis.
To address this issue, a few CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was accomplished by using a standardised form which asks the referrer if the case is urgent. The proforma has a box that the referrer is able to tick when the referral is urgent.