Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been a huge rise in people seeking help 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 healthcare services faster than overall NHS budget. This will include special suicide prevention services.
Get help
One out of four people will be affected by a mental illness at some point during their lives. The good news is there are many ways to get help, and many of us will improve over time. But it's important to know what help is available, and who can offer it.
You can seek help from your doctor or the local health center or a mental health service in your area. These teams are made up of occupational therapists, nurses, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who collaborate with the people who utilize the service. Based on the kind of help you require you could receive individual or group therapy.
You will be asked to complete a form with your doctor so that they can refer you to a mental health professional in the community. They will also speak to you about the kind of help you need. You will be assessed by members of a mental team, such as psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In certain instances, your assessment and treatment will be performed by a clinical nurse specialist. If you're experiencing crisis, call the NHS 111 helpline for urgent support. If you're already supported by mental health services, it's a good idea to try and contact your usual team first, unless it's out of core hours, the weekend or on a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health outlined plans to create more multidisciplinary, community-based, place-based mental health teams, with connections to primary care networks. They will improve the quality of care that is delivered to people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. They will also offer support in their homes and communities instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aims at making emergency services available by reducing wait times and allowing more beds. It would also introduce mental health transport vehicles and make sure that all ambulances have an official who is a mental health liaison in their control rooms to ensure people suffering from mental health issues are supported in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS provides a variety of treatment options to treat mental health problems. GPs are usually able to treat milder disorders, but more serious conditions will require the assistance of a specialist team. These teams work in both community and primary mental healthcare services, as well psychiatric hospital. There are also safe spaces where you can seek assistance when you're in a crisis.
Talking treatments for anxiety and depression are among the main kinds of treatment. These programs, previously referred to as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their number of referrals increase each year since they were introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these services to ensure that 1.9 million people will be able to use them in 2023/2024.
The use of psychiatric medication is also an important element of treatment. They can improve symptoms by altering the way chemicals in your brain work. They can also help alleviate the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the right medication for you.
A variety of talk therapy options are offered including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these therapies can be delivered in-person, while others are available online. Some patients prefer to receive treatment in person, but that is a personal choice. Mind is one of the organizations that offer support groups and classes. The site is full of information that is reliable but you should be aware of the fact that there are numerous false or misleading claims on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is improving its mental health services however, it is still struggling to keep up with demand. There are 54 mental health trusts across the UK, and most of are funded by clinical commissioning groups to provide their service. They are usually located in a specific 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 and availability of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is working to improve the quality of care by delivering more training and introducing new ways of working. It also introduces more secure and efficient ways to help people in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams and safe space.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS launched 70 years ago there have been numerous positive changes for people with mental health problems. The treatment options have gotten better and social barriers have been smashed down. But there's still a lot to do.
People who are experiencing mental illness need to receive the help they require quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is striving to improve services for people who require them. By 2020/21 we will ensure that all acute hospitals offer a mental health liaison service, both in A&E and on wards for inpatients 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 enhance community services, including talk therapy, to offer support for hundreds of thousands of people suffering from mental health issues, whether they are severe or common. We will continue to develop our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT) to ensure that more people with mental health problems are seen faster by trained therapists.
The NHS offers confidential, no-cost helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. These include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run entirely by volunteers who provide the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or give advice and information on how to manage your mental health issues.
In addition to that, there are a lot of local organizations that can offer support and guidance for those suffering from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping techniques and activities can be included. 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. There's also the Nightline student counselling service that provides confidential listening and support from skilled volunteers, as well as information on other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide a wealth of information and assistance, both on the internet and in local groups. They can provide a variety of activities and courses ranging from mindfulness to art classes that are beneficial for those with mental health issues.
Referrals
With mental health services under pressure, GPs are having to make difficult choices about which specialist services they can refer patients to. The GP will consider the patient's medical background and refer them to services they believe will be able to aid. mental assessment near me may send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will then evaluate the referral and decide if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral, they will call the GP and explain why. They can also request the GP for more information or to alter the referral.
Referrals to a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) may be made via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system permits GPs and other healthcare professionals to refer people to either a preliminary mental health clinical assessment service or directly to an appointment with an outpatient. However, not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system can't be used for every kind of mental health referral.
A GP may also decide to refer a patient to a specialist community mental health service (CMT). They are usually managed by a large hospital or local health care organization. CMTs are a good choice for those who have to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention service in which psychiatrists work with a psychotherapist to help someone overcome an issue or improve the quality of their lives.
One of the challenges faced by CMTs CMT is ensuring that all suitable referrals are assigned within the appropriate timeframe. Many referrals are deemed urgent, even if they may not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for people who aren't in a crisis.
To tackle this issue, some CMHTs are trying to establish more uniform standards for what is an urgent referral. This has been accomplished by using a standardised referral proforma that requires a referrer determine if the case is urgent. The form has a checkbox for the referrer to check in the event that they believe that the referral is urgent.