Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the rise in mental health issues by providing services. my webpage includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to boost investment in mental health services faster than the overall NHS budget. This will include specialist work in suicide prevention.
Need help?
One out of four of us will have mental health issues at some time in our lives. The good news is there are many avenues to seek help, and most of us will improve with time. However, it is important to know what help is available and who can offer it.
You can get help from your GP, your local health center or a mental health team in your area. These teams consist of nurses, occupational and psychotherapists and speech therapists. They work with the patients who require their services. Based on the kind of assistance you require you could receive individual or group therapy.
Your GP will typically ask you to fill in an application form so that they can make a referral to a local mental health team. They will also talk to you about the kind of help you require. You will be assessed by members of a mental team like psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In certain instances your evaluation and treatment will be performed by a specialist in clinical nursing. If you are experiencing an emergency, you can contact the NHS 111 helpline for urgent assistance. If you're already supported by mental health services, it's a good idea try and contact your usual team first, unless it's outside 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 will help to improve the quality of care provided to those suffering from a mental health crisis and provide support within their communities and homes rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aims at making crisis services accessible by decreasing wait times and allowing more beds. It would also include a mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are equipped with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to ensure that patients who are suffering from mental illness are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for people suffering from mental health problems. The less severe disorders are typically treated by GPs and more serious conditions require specialists. These teams work across community and primary mental health services and the psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a secure space when you are in a crisis.
Talking treatments for anxiety and depression are among the most popular types of treatment. Formerly known as IAPT These programs have seen referral numbers increase every year since their launch in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
The use of psychiatric medication is also a crucial element of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering the way chemicals work in your brain. They can also be used to reduce the effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend a medicine that is right for you.
A wide range of talking therapy options are offered which include group therapy as well as individual therapy. Some of these therapies can be delivered in person, while others are available remotely. Some patients prefer face-to face treatment, but it's an individual choice. Mind is one of many charities that offer support groups and classes. Their website contains a wealth of trustworthy information, but you must be aware of the fact that there's a lot of false or misleading information available on the internet regarding mental health issues.
The NHS is working to improve the mental health system, but it struggles to meet demand. There are 54 mental health trusts across the UK, and most of are funded by clinical commissioning organizations to deliver their services. They are typically located in a specific region however, they are also able to be commissioned to deliver national services.
A key issue is the lack of resources to meet rising demand. There are concerns about the quality and shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is working to improve the services by introducing new ways of work and providing more training. It also introduces more efficient and safer methods to treat people in crisis, such as mobile crisis teams and safe areas.
Helping you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been positive developments for people suffering from mental health issues. The options for treatment have grown and social barriers have been taken down. However, there is still much to be done.
People who are in mental illness need to receive the help they require quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is working hard to improve the quality of services for those who need them. By 2020/21 we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service, both in A&E as well as on wards for patients, and that 70% will meet the core 24 standard by 2023/24. We will then strive for 100% coverage.
We will also increase services for people who need them in the community, such as psychotherapy, in order to provide hundreds of thousands of people suffering from severe or common mental health issues the help they require. We will continue to develop our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT) to ensure that more people suffering from mental health issues are seen faster by therapists who are qualified.
The NHS offers confidential, no-cost assistance to anyone suffering from mental health issues. These include the Samaritans and Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by trained volunteers. They provide a safe space to talk or give advice and information on how to manage your mental health issues.
There are also a number local organizations that provide help and advice to those suffering from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping techniques and other activities are available. Many of these organizations provide support groups in person to those who prefer it.
For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers an opportunity to consult with a counsellor at any time for those who feel low or stressed. There's also the Nightline student counselling service which provides confidential listening and support from knowledgeable volunteers, or details on other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide many sources of information and support, both online and in local groups. They also offer a variety of classes and activities, from mindfulness to art groups that could be beneficial for people who suffer from mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
With mental health services under pressure, GPs have to make difficult decisions regarding which specialist services they can refer patients to. The doctor will take into consideration the patient's medical background and refer them to services they believe can help. They can refer a patient either to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health professional 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 their reasons. They may also request the GP to provide 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 allows GPs as well as other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a mental health assessment or directly to an appointment with an outpatient. Not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system can't be used for all types of mental health referrals.
A doctor may refer a patient to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). They are usually managed by an extensive hospital or a local healthcare organisation. CMTs are a good choice for those who need to see a psychiatrist or psychologist, but do not require inpatient care. They can also offer an early intervention program where psychiatrists collaborate with therapy therapist to help someone overcome a crisis or improve the quality of their lives.
CMTs have the responsibility of ensuring that all referrals are received within a reasonable amount of time. One of the challenges is that a lot of referrals are deemed urgent, even though they may not be. This can cause people who aren't in a crisis to be overwhelmed and suffer delays.
To address this issue, a few CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was achieved through a standardised form that asks the referrer if they believe the case is urgent. The form includes a box that the referrer is able to tick when the referral is urgent.