Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the rising number of mental health issues by offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made an unrepeatable commitment to increase the investment in mental health services quicker than the NHS budget overall. This will include the work of a specialist in suicide prevention.
Helping yourself
One out of four people will be affected by mental illness at one time in their lives. The good news is that there are many ways to get help, and most of us will be able to recover over time. It is essential to know what help is available, and who can provide it.
You can seek help from your physician or your local health center, or a mental health service in your local area. These teams are comprised of occupational and nurse psychotherapists and speech therapists. They collaborate with patients who require their services. Depending on the type of help you need you could receive individual or group therapy.
Your doctor will typically ask you to fill in an application form to refer you to a local mental health team. They will also ask you what kind of support you need. You will then be examined by a member of a mental health team, which could include a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some instances the assessment and treatment will be carried out by a clinical nurse specialist. If you're in an emergency, you can contact the NHS 111 helpline for immediate assistance. If you're already being assisted by mental health services, it's a good idea to try and contact your usual team first, unless it's outside of the normal hours, a weekend or on a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary mental health teams in the community which are connected 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 those 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 also proposed to introduce mental health transport vehicles and ensure that every ambulance has a mental health liaison nurse in their control rooms to improve the way that those suffering from mental health issues are supported in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for mental health conditions. GPs are often able to treat minor illnesses, however more serious conditions will require an expert team. These teams are located in both community and primary health services for mental health as well as psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe places where you can seek assistance for those who are in a state of crisis.
Talking therapies are one of the most commonly used forms of treatment for anxiety and depression. These programs, formerly known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their numbers of clients increase every year since they were first introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are another crucial aspect of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering the way that chemicals function in your brain. They can also be used to ease side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the best medication for you.
A wide range of talking therapy options are offered including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these therapies are delivered in person, while others can be performed online. Some patients prefer receiving treatment in person, but this is a personal preference. Mind is one of many charities that provide support groups and courses. The site contains a wealth of information that is trustworthy but you should be aware that there are a lot of false or misleading claims on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is working to improve its mental health services, it still struggles to cope with demand. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. The majority of them receive funding from the clinical commissioning group. They are usually located in a particular region however, they may be commissioned to offer national services.
One of the main issues is the lack of resources to meet the growing demand. There are also concerns about the quality of care, and a shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is striving to improve its services by introducing new methods of working and offering more training. It also offers more secure and efficient ways to help those who are in crisis. These include mobile crisis teams and safe space.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was first introduced 70 years ago, there have been positive changes for those suffering from mental health issues. assess mental health have gotten more diverse and social barriers are breaking down. However, there is still much to be done.
Patients who are experiencing a mental health crisis need to be able to access the assistance they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve services to ensure that those who need them are able to access assistance. By 2020/21, we will make sure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service that is available in A&E and on inpatient wards, and that 70% of them will meet the standard of 24 by 2023/24. Then we will work towards 100% coverage.
We will also increase services for people who require them in the community, such as therapy for talking, which will give thousands of more people with common or severe mental health conditions the support they require. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people are seen by qualified therapists, more quickly.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines for anyone suffering from mental health issues. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated entirely by volunteers who provide the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or give advice and information on how to deal your mental health concerns.
There are a variety of local organizations that can offer support and guidance to people with mental health issues. These include self-help guides, strategies for coping and activities to try. Many of these organisations also offer face-to-face support groups for those who prefer this option.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students feeling down or stressed. Nightline is a student counseling service that offers confidential listening as well as information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide an abundance of information and support both on the internet and in local groups. They also provide a variety of classes and activities, from mindfulness to art groups, which may be useful for people who suffer from mental health problems.
Referrals
Mental health services are under strain and GPs are forced to make difficult choices about which specialist services to refer their patients to. The GP will take a patient's medical history into consideration and then refer them to a service they believe can assist. They can refer a patient either to an NHS trust, or an independent provider.
A mental health professional will then review the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral, they'll call the GP and explain their reasons. They may request the GP to change the referral or request additional information.
Referrals 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 send patients to either a preliminary clinical assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs offer both options and the system cannot be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A GP may refer a patient to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). These are usually run by a major local healthcare organisation or a hospital. CMTs are a great option for those who need to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient care. They also provide an early intervention program where psychiatrists work with a therapist in order to help someone overcome an issue or improve the quality of their life.
One of the major challenges faced by a CMT is how to ensure that all referrals are allocated within an appropriate time frame. One of the challenges is that many referrals are deemed urgent, despite the fact that they may not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for those who aren't in need.
To address this issue some CMHTs are trying to establish more consistent standards for what is considered an urgent referral. This was achieved through a standardised form which asks the referrer if the case is urgent. The proforma has a box that the referrer can tick if the request is urgent.