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 invest more in mental healthcare services faster than overall NHS budget. This will include the work of a specialist in suicide prevention.
Get assistance
One in four people will suffer from mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is that there are plenty of different ways to get help, and most people recover with time. It is crucial to know the types of help available and who can offer it.
You can seek help from your GP or the local health center or mental health team in your community. These teams are comprised of occupational therapists, nurses psychotherapists, psychotherapists, and speech and language therapists who work with those who utilize the service. You can get individual or group therapy based on the type of assistance you need.
Your GP will typically ask you to fill in a form so that they can send you a referral to a local mental health team. They will also ask you to specify what type of assistance you require. You will then be seen by a member of the mental health team that could include a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some instances the clinical nurse specialist will conduct your assessment and treatment. private mental health diagnosis uk can contact the NHS 111 helpline if you are in an emergency. If you're already being assisted by mental health services, it's best to call your usual team first unless it's out of core hours, the weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health outlined plans to create more place-based, multidisciplinary community mental health teams that have links to primary care networks. They will improve the quality of the care given to those suffering from a mental health crisis and offer assistance in their homes and communities instead of in hospitals.
The plan aims to make crisis services accessible by decreasing waiting times and opening more beds. It would also include the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are outfitted with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to ensure that patients who are suffering from mental illness are supported during emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for mental health conditions. GPs are usually able to treat minor conditions, but more severe illnesses will require an expert team. These teams work in both community and primary healthcare facilities and psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe spaces where you can seek help if you are feeling in 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 every year since they were first introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these programs so that 1.9 million people will be able to access them by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medicines are another important aspect of treatment. They can improve symptoms through altering the way that chemicals function in your brain. They can also be used to reduce the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication for you.
There are many different types of talk therapies, such as group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these therapies can be delivered in-person, while others are available via remote access. Some patients prefer treatment in person, but this is a personal choice. Mind is one of many organizations that offer support groups and classes. The site contains a wealth of information that is trustworthy but you should be aware of the fact that there are a lot of false or misleading statements that are posted on the internet about mental health issues.
The NHS is working to improve the quality of mental health care, 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 group. They typically are located in a particular region, but can be commissioned to deliver national services.
A key issue is the insufficient resources to meet rising demand. There are also concerns over the quality of care and the shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is striving to improve its services by introducing new ways of working and offering more training. It is also introducing safer and more effective ways to assist people in need, such as mobile crisis teams and safe places.
Helping you
Since the NHS was first introduced 70 years ago, there have been positive changes for those with mental health issues. Treatment options have gotten more diverse and social barriers are breaking down. But there is more to be done.
People who are in a mental crisis need to receive the help they require quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is striving to improve services for people who need these services. By 2020/21 we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service both in A&E and on wards for inpatients, and that 70% will meet the standard of 24 by 2023/24. We will then strive for 100 percent coverage.
We will also increase community services, including talk therapy, to provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of individuals suffering from mental health problems regardless of whether they are common or severe. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people are seen by qualified therapists, more quickly.
The NHS offers confidential, free helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. These include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They provide the opportunity to talk with someone in a secure environment, or offer information and advice on how to deal with your mental health issues.
There are a variety of local organisations that can provide help and advice to those who suffer from mental health issues. These can include self-help guides, strategies for coping and activities to try. Many of these organizations also provide support groups in person for those who would prefer this type of support.
For students, there is the University's Open Door Team which offers the opportunity to visit a counselling center for those who are feeling down or stressed. There's also the Nightline student counselling service which offers confidential listening and support from experienced volunteers, or information about other services. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a great source of information and can provide support in various forms that include online and through local groups. They also offer a variety of classes and activities, ranging from mindfulness to art groups that could be beneficial for people suffering from mental health problems.
Referrals
Mental health services are under pressure and GPs have to make difficult choices regarding which specialist services to refer their patients to. The GP will consider the medical history of the patient and recommend them to services they believe can assist. They may send a referral to an NHS trust, or an independent provider.
A mental health professional will examine the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist doesn't like the referral, they will contact the GP and explain the reasons. They could request the GP to change the referral or request additional details.
The ability to refer patients to a local Community Mental Health Team can be made using the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals refer patients to either a preliminary clinical assessment for mental health or directly to an appointment. However not all CMHTs offer both options and the system isn't able to be used for every kind of mental health referral.
A GP may 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 require inpatient care. They can also provide an early intervention service where a psychiatrist collaborates with an counselor to help someone overcome a crisis or improve their life quality.
CMTs face the challenge of ensuring that all referrals are made within a reasonable amount of time. Many referrals are considered 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, some CMHTs have attempted to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes a referral urgent. This is being achieved by using the standardised referral forma that requires the referrer to consider whether the case is urgent. The form includes a box that the referrer can tick when the referral is urgent.