Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been a huge increase in people seeking treatment for mental health issues, and the NHS has responded by offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to increase investment in mental health services more quickly than the overall NHS budget. This will include special suicide prevention services.
Get assistance
One in four of us will have mental health issues at some time in our lives. The good news is that there are many avenues to seek help, and many of us will be able to recover over time. However, it is important to know what assistance is available, and who can provide it.
You can seek assistance from your doctor, your local health center or mental health service in your area. These teams are comprised of occupational and nurse speech therapists, and psychotherapists. They collaborate with clients who seek their services. Depending on the type of help you need you might be provided with individual or group therapy.
You will be asked to fill out a form by your doctor so that they can refer you to a mental health service in the community. They will also ask what kind of support you need. You will then be seen by a member of a mental health team, which may include a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some instances your evaluation and treatment will be performed by a clinical nurse specialist. If what is mental health assessment in crisis, contact the NHS 111 helpline for urgent assistance. If you're already being assisted by mental health services it's a good idea try and contact your usual team first, unless it's outside of normal hours, on a weekend or on a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary, community-based mental health teams that are linked to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of mental health care provided to those in crisis, and provide support to those in their own homes and communities rather than in hospitals.
The plan aims to make emergency services available by cutting down wait times and opening up more beds. It would also include an ambulance for mental health and ensure that all ambulances are outfitted with an individual who is a mental liaison nurse in the control room to make sure that people experiencing a mental crisis are supported during emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for mental health conditions. Less severe disorders are often treated by GPs however more serious disorders require an expert team. These teams are located in community and primary mental healthcare services, as well psychiatric hospital. There are also safe spaces where you can seek assistance for those who are in crisis.
Talking therapies are one of the most commonly used forms 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 committed to expanding these programs to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medicines are also a vital element of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by changing the way the brain's chemicals work. They can also help lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medicine for you.
There are a variety of talk therapies, such as group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these are delivered in person, whereas others can be delivered via a remote device. Some patients prefer treatment in person, but that is a personal preference. There are also a lot of charities that offer support groups and courses, such as Mind. Their website is full of reliable information, but you must be aware that there is plenty of inaccurate or misleading information on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is advancing its mental health care however, it is still struggling to keep up with demand. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. Most of them receive funding for their services from clinical commissioning group. They typically are located in a particular region however they can also be commissioned to provide national services.
The lack of resources is a major problem. There are also concerns about the quality of care, and a shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is trying to improve these services by providing more training and developing new ways of working. It also provides more efficient and safer ways to help people who are in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams and secure space.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago, there are positive changes for those suffering from mental health issues. The treatment options have gotten better and social barriers have been smashed down. However, there is still much to be done.
People who are in mental illness need to get the help they need quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is striving to improve the quality of services for those who require these services. We will ensure that no acute hospital does not have a mental health liaison service in A&E departments and wards for inpatients by 2020/21. 70% of these services will meet the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24, working towards achieving 100% coverage afterward.
We will also expand services for people who require them in the community, such as therapy for talking, which will give hundreds of thousands more patients with severe or common mental health conditions the support they require. We will continue to work on our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT) to ensure that more people suffering from mental health issues can be seen quicker by trained therapists.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines for anyone who is struggling with a mental health issue. These include the Samaritans and Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated entirely by volunteers who offer a safe place to talk or offer advice and guidance on how to manage your mental health concerns.
There are also local organisations that can provide support and guidance to people suffering from mental health issues. These include self-help guides, coping strategies, and activities to try. A lot of these organizations offer support groups that meet face-to-face for those who prefer this method.
For students, there is the University's Open Door Team which offers the opportunity to visit a counselling center for those who feel low or stressed. There is also the Nightline student counselling service, which offers confidential listening and support from knowledgeable volunteers, or details on other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink are a great source of information and provide support in various forms such as online and through local groups. They can offer a range of classes and activities, including mindfulness classes to art classes, which can be beneficial for those suffering from mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
Mental health services are under strain and GPs must make difficult choices regarding the best specialist services to refer their patients to. The doctor will take the patient's medical history into account and then refer them to a specialist they think will be able to help. They can send a referral to an NHS trust, or to an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will assess the referral to determine if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral, they will call the GP and explain their reasons. They may also request the GP for more information or to modify the referral.
The ability to refer patients to the local Community Mental Health Team can be made via the NHS e-Referral Service. The system lets doctors and other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a preliminary clinical assessment for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system is not able to be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A GP can also refer a patient to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). They are typically run by a major local healthcare organisation or hospital. CMTs are a good choice for those who need to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention program, where a psychiatrist will work with an counselor to help someone overcome a crisis or improve their life quality.
One of the major challenges faced by CMTs CMT is ensuring that all referrals are made within the proper time frame. Many referrals are considered urgent, even if they may not be. This can cause people who aren't in a crisis to be rushed and suffer delays.
To tackle this issue, certain CMHTs are working to establish more uniform standards for what constitutes an urgent referral. This has been accomplished by using an established referral form that requires the referrer to determine 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.