Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the rising number of mental health issues by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made a renewed commitment to grow the investment in mental health services quicker than the NHS budget in general. This includes special suicide prevention services.
Get help
One out of four people will suffer from a mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is that there are many ways to get help, and most of us will recover over time. It is important to know what assistance is available and who can offer it.
You can seek help from a variety places such as your doctor (primary medical doctor for primary care) as well as your local health centre or a community mental health team. These teams consist of nurses, occupational therapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who collaborate with those who utilize the service. You can receive individual or group therapy depending on the kind of help you require.
You will be asked to complete a form with your GP so that they can refer you to a mental health professional in the community. They will also ask you to specify what type of assistance you require. You will be consulted by an individual from an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals, such as psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In certain instances the clinical nurse specialist will carry out your assessment and treatment. If you're in crisis, contact the NHS 111 helpline for urgent support. If you're already being assisted by mental health services it's best to call your usual team first, unless it's outside of core hours, the weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health set out plans to establish more place-based, multidisciplinary community mental health teams, with connections to primary care networks. They will improve the quality of care provided to those experiencing an illness of mental health and offer support in their homes and communities instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aims to make crisis services more accessible by decreasing waiting times and opening more beds. It would also introduce a mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are stocked with a mental liaison nurse in the control room to improve how patients who are suffering from mental illness are assisted in emergency situations.
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 a specialist team. These teams operate in both community and primary health services for mental health, as well psychiatric hospital. You can also seek assistance in a safe space when you are in a crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most commonly used forms of treatment for depression and anxiety. These programs, formerly known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their numbers of clients increase every year since they were introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has set the goal of 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 improve symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals work. They can also help ease side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the right medicine for you.
There are many kinds of talk therapies, such as group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these are delivered in person, while others can be delivered online. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it's an individual choice. There are a variety of charities that provide classes and support groups like Mind. Their website has a lot of reliable information, but you must be aware that there's plenty of inaccurate or misleading information available on the internet regarding mental health issues.
While the NHS is improving its mental health services however, it is still struggling to meet the demands. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. Most of them receive funding for their services from the clinical commissioning groups. They typically are located in a specific region however, they are also able to be commissioned to deliver national services.
The lack 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 the quality of care by introducing new methods of working and offering more training. It also introduces more secure and efficient methods to assist people in need, such as mobile crisis teams and safe places.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been a lot of positive developments for those suffering from mental health issues. The treatment options have increased and social barriers have been taken down. But there is still more to do.
People who are experiencing a mental crisis need to receive the help they require quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is working hard to improve the quality of services for those who require these services. We will ensure that no acute hospital is without a mental health liaison in A&E departments and wards for inpatients by 2020/21. 70% of these services will meet the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24. We will work towards a 100% coverage rate after that.
We will also increase services for people who require them in the community, which includes therapy for talking, which will give hundreds of thousands more people suffering from severe or common mental health issues the help they need. We will continue to develop our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies program (IAPT) in order to ensure that more people with mental health issues can be seen quicker by qualified therapists.
The NHS provides confidential, free helplines to anyone struggling with mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They provide a safe space to talk, or offer information and advice on how to tackle your mental health issues.
There are a variety of local organizations that can offer assistance and support to those who suffer from mental health issues. They can provide self-help guides, coping strategies, and activities to try. Many of these organisations offer support groups that meet face-to-face to those who would prefer it.
For students, there is the University's Open Door Team which offers a drop-in counselling service for those who feel low or stressed. There's also the Nightline student counselling service which offers confidential listening and support from knowledgeable volunteers, as well as information about other services. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information and can provide support in a variety of ways such as online and through local groups. They also offer many courses and activities, from mindfulness to art groups that could be beneficial for people suffering from mental health problems.
Making a referral
Mental health services are under pressure 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 consideration and then refer them to a specialist they believe could be able to assist. They can send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will examine the referral to determine if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist doesn't like the referral, they will call the GP and explain why. They could also ask the GP to modify the referral or ask for more details.
The referral 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 direct patients to a preliminary assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system can't be used for all types of mental health referrals.
best private mental health hospitals uk may also refer a patient to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). They are typically operated by a large local healthcare organization or hospital. CMTs are an excellent option for those who have to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist but don't require inpatient treatment. They also offer an early intervention service where a psychiatrist works with the therapist to help a person overcome a crisis or improve their quality of life.
One of the major challenges that a CMT is ensuring that all referrals are allocated within the proper time frame. Many referrals are deemed urgent even though they may not be. This can cause patients who aren't in crisis to be rushed and suffer delays.
To tackle this issue, certain CMHTs are working to establish more uniform standards for what is considered an urgent referral. This was achieved through a standardised form that asks the referrer to indicate if the situation is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer is able to tick to indicate if the referral is urgent.