mental health assessments 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 has made the commitment to increase the investment in mental health services quicker than the NHS budget overall. This includes special suicide prevention services.
Getting help
One in four people will be affected by mental illness at some point during their lives. The good news is that there are many different ways to get help and most of us recover with time. It is important to know what assistance is available and who can provide it.
You can seek help from a variety places, including your doctor (primary medical doctor who treats patients), your local health centre, or a community mental health team. These teams are made up of nurses, occupational therapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work with the people who utilize the service. You can get individual or group therapy, based on the kind of help you require.
Your GP will usually require you to fill out a form to make a referral to a community mental health team. They will also talk with you about the kind of help you require. You will be consulted by an individual from an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In some cases a clinical nurse specialist will carry out your assessment and treatment. If you're in an emergency, you can call the NHS 111 helpline for immediate support. If you're already being supported by mental health services it's best to call your usual team first unless it's out of the normal hours, a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health included plans to establish more multidisciplinary, place-based community mental health teams that have links to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of mental health care that is provided to those who are in a crisis, and provide support to them in their own homes and communities rather than in hospitals.
The plan aims to make emergency services available by reducing waiting times and opening more beds. It would also introduce mental health transport vehicles and ensure that every ambulance has an official who is a mental health liaison in their control rooms to improve the way that those suffering from an illness of mental health are assisted in emergencies.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for mental health issues. The less severe disorders are typically treated by GPs and more severe conditions require an expert team. These teams operate in both community and primary mental healthcare services and psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe places where you can seek assistance for those who are in a state of crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most popular forms of treatment for depression and anxiety. These programs, formerly known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their number of referrals increase each year since they introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these services so that 1.9 million people will be able to use them by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medicines are another important aspect of treatment. They can improve symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals work. They can also be used to minimize the adverse effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication for you.
A wide range of talking therapy treatments are available which include group therapy as well as individual therapy. Some of them are offered in person, whereas others are available via a remote device. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it's a matter of choice. There are a variety of charities which offer support groups and classes, such as Mind. The website contains a wealth of information that is trustworthy, but be aware that there are numerous false or misleading statements that are posted on the internet about mental health issues.
The NHS is advancing the mental health system, but it is struggling to meet the demand. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. Most of them receive funding from the clinical commissioning groups. They are usually located in a particular region, but they can be contracted to provide national services.
The shortage of resources is a major issue. There are also concerns over the quality of care and a shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is trying to improve these services by offering more training and introducing new methods of working. It is also introducing more efficient and safer methods to help people in crisis, such as mobile crisis teams and secure places.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been numerous positive developments for people suffering from mental health issues. The options for treatment have grown and social barriers have been broken down. But there is still more to be done.
People who are experiencing mental illness need to get the help they need quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is striving to improve services for people who require these services. We will ensure that every acute hospital is without a mental health liaison service in A&E departments and wards for inpatients by 2020/21. 70 percent of these services will be in line with the "core 24" standard by 2023/24. We will work towards 100% coverage thereafter.
We will also increase services for the community, such as talking therapy, to offer assistance to hundreds of thousands of individuals suffering from mental health conditions regardless of whether they are serious or common. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people are seen by qualified therapists, faster.
The NHS provides confidential, free helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are run by volunteers who offer the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or provide advice and information on how to deal your mental health issues.
In addition to that, there are a lot of local organisations which can provide assistance and support for those suffering from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping methods and activities can be included. Many of these organisations also provide support groups in person for those who would prefer this type of support.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students who are feeling down or stressed. There is also the Nightline student counselling service which provides confidential listening and support from skilled volunteers, as well as information on other services. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a great source of information and can offer support in many forms such as online and through local groups. They can provide a variety of courses and activities including mindfulness classes to art classes, which can be beneficial for those suffering from mental health issues.
Referrals
With mental health services under pressure, GPs have to make difficult choices about the services they will refer patients to. The doctor will take the patient's medical history into consideration and then refer them to a service they believe could be able to assist. They can refer a patient either to an NHS trust, or to an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will then evaluate the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral, they'll contact the GP and explain their reasons. They may also ask the GP to modify the referral or request more details.
Referrals to a local Community Mental Health Team can be made using the NHS e-Referral Service. The system lets doctors and other healthcare professionals direct patients to a preliminary assessment for mental health or directly to an appointment. However there are some exceptions. CMHTs provide both options, and the system can't be used for every kind of mental health referral.
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 a hospital. CMTs can be a good option for those who want to consult a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist but don't need inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention service where a psychiatrist will work with the therapist to help a person overcome a problem or improve their quality of life.
CMTs face the challenge of ensuring that all referrals are made within a reasonable time. Many referrals are deemed urgent even though they may not be. This can cause patients who aren't in a crisis to be rushed and suffer delays.
To address this issue, some CMHTs are trying to establish more uniform standards for what is considered an urgent referral. This has been achieved through the use of a standardised referral proforma that requires a referrer decide if the situation is urgent. The form includes a box for the referrer to tick when they believe that the referral is urgent.