Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been a huge increase in people seeking treatment for mental health issues and the NHS has responded by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made the commitment to increase the amount of money spent on mental health services more quickly than the NHS budget overall. This includes special suicide prevention services.
Need help?
One in four people will suffer from mental illness at some point during their lives. The good news is that there are a variety of ways to seek assistance, and the majority of us will be able to recover with time. It is important to know the types of help available and who can provide it.
You can seek help from your GP or the local health center or mental health service in your area. These teams comprise of occupational and nurse psychotherapists, as well as speech therapists. They collaborate with people who use their services. Based on the type of assistance you require you could receive individual or group therapy.
Your GP will usually require you to fill out a form to send you a referral to a local mental health team. They will also talk with you about what kind of assistance you require. Then, you will be viewed by a member of a mental health team, which may include a psychiatrist, social worker or psychologist. In some instances, a clinical nurse specialist will conduct your assessment and treatment. If you're in crisis, contact the NHS 111 helpline for urgent assistance. If you already receive mental health support it is recommended to contact your regular team first, unless it's out of office hours, on a weekend, or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health included plans to establish more multidisciplinary, community-based, place-based mental health teams that have links to primary care networks. They will improve the quality of the care provided to those suffering from a mental health crisis. They will also offer assistance in their homes and communities, rather than in hospital.
The plan also aimed at help make crisis services more accessible by reducing waiting times and allowing more beds. It would also include the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are equipped with a mental liaison nurse in the control room to make sure that patients who are suffering from mental illness are assisted in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS provides a wide range of treatment options for people suffering from mental health problems. GPs are usually able to treat less severe disorders, but more serious illnesses will require the assistance of a specialist team. These teams operate in primary and community healthcare facilities and psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek help in a secure space should you be in a state of crisis.
Talking therapies are among 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 programs to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medicines are another important aspect of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering the way the brain's chemicals function. They can also be used to alleviate the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the best medicine for you.
A wide range of talking therapy options are offered including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these treatments are delivered in person, while others can be done via remote access. Some patients prefer face to face treatment, but it is an individual choice. There are a variety of charities which offer classes and support groups like Mind. The website contains a wealth of reliable information however, be aware that there are many false or misleading statements on the internet regarding mental health issues.
While the NHS is working to improve its mental health services but it's still struggling to keep up with demand. There are 54 mental health trusts in the UK, and most of they receive funding from clinical commissioning groups to deliver their services. They are typically located in a specific area however, they are also able to be commissioned to provide national services.
One of the main issues is the lack of resources to meet the demands of the rising population. There are concerns over the quality of care and the shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by introducing new ways of work and delivering more training. It also provides more secure and efficient methods of treating those who are in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams and safe spaces.
Helping you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago, there have been many positive developments for people suffering from mental health problems. Treatment options have expanded and social barriers are breaking down. But there is much more to be done.
People who are suffering from mental health problems need to be able to access the assistance they require quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is putting in the effort to improve the quality of services for those who require these services. We will ensure that no acute hospital does not have a mental health liaison in A&E departments and wards for patients by 2020/21. 70% of these services will be in line with the "core 24" standard by 2023/24. Then we will work towards 100% coverage thereafter.
We will also extend services for people who need them in the community, including 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 the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people can be seen by qualified therapists, more quickly.
The NHS offers confidential, no-cost helplines to anyone struggling with mental health issues. These include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers and provide an environment where you can talk in a safe manner or give advice and information on how to deal with your mental health concerns.
Additionally there are a variety of local organisations which can provide assistance and support for people with mental health problems. mental health assessment report -help guides, coping methods and activities can be included. Many of these organizations offer face-toface support groups to those who would prefer it.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students experiencing stress or depression. There's also the Nightline student counselling service that offers confidential listening and support from experienced volunteers, or details about other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information. They can provide support in a variety of ways such as online and through local groups. They can also offer various classes and activities, ranging from mindfulness to art classes, which may be useful for those living with mental health problems.
Referrals
Mental health services are under pressure and GPs must make difficult choices about the best specialist services to refer their patients to. The GP will take a patient's medical history into account and then refer them to a specialist they believe will be able to help. They might send a referral to an NHS trust or 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 call the GP and explain why. They may also request the GP to provide more information or to modify the referral.
The referral to a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) can be made through the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals direct patients to an initial clinical 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.
A doctor may also decide to refer a person to an expert community mental health service (CMT). These are usually run by a large local healthcare organisation or a hospital. CMTs are a good choice for those who have to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention service where psychiatrists work with a psychotherapist 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 time. Many referrals are deemed urgent, even if they may not be. This can lead to over-working and delays for people who aren't in need.
To tackle this issue, certain CMHTs are working to establish more consistent guidelines for what is considered an urgent referral. This was achieved by using an established form that asks the referrer if they believe the situation is urgent. The proforma includes a box for the referrer to tick if they feel that the referral is urgent.