Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been an enormous rise in people seeking help for mental health issues and the NHS has responded by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made a renewed commitment to grow the amount of money spent on mental health services quicker than the NHS budget overall. This includes the work of a specialist in suicide prevention.
Need help?
One in four people will suffer from mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is that there are a variety of different options to seek help, and most people recover over time. But it's important to know what assistance is available and who can provide it.
You can seek assistance from your doctor, your local health center, or a mental health team in your local area. These teams consist of nurses, occupational and psychotherapists and speech therapists. They work with people who use their services. You can get individual or group therapy depending on the kind of help you need.
You will be asked to fill out a form by your doctor so that they can refer you to a mental health service in the community. They will also ask you what kind of support you need. Then, you will be viewed by a member of a mental health team, which may include a psychiatrist, social worker or psychologist. In some cases, a clinical nurse specialist will carry out your assessment and treatment. You can call the NHS 111 helpline if you are in an emergency. If you already receive mental health support It is recommended to contact your primary team first, unless it's out of office hours, on a weekend, or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to create multidisciplinary mental health teams in the community which are connected to primary care networks. These teams will increase the quality of the care provided to those in crisis, and will provide assistance to those in their own homes and communities instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aimed to make crisis services more accessible by reducing wait times and allowing more beds. It also proposes an ambulance for mental health and ensure that all ambulances are stocked with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to improve how 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. Disorders that are less severe are usually treated by GPs, while more severe conditions require an expert team. These teams are spread across both community and primary mental health services, and also mental health hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a safe space when you are in a crisis.
Talking treatments for anxiety and depression are one of the main treatments. Previously known as IAPT These programs have seen the number of people who seek them increase each year since their launch in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these programs so that 1.9 million people can access them in 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are another crucial component of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by changing the way chemicals work in your brain. They can also be used to minimize the adverse effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend the right medication for you.
A wide variety of talking therapy options are offered, including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of them are offered in person, while others are available online. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it's an individual choice. There are a variety of charities that offer support groups and classes, such as Mind. Their website is full of trustworthy information, but you should be aware of the fact that there's a lot of misleading or false information on the internet about mental health issues.
The NHS is improving the mental health system, but it is struggling to meet demand. In the UK there are 54 mental trusts. They receive the majority of funding for their services from clinical commissioning group. They are usually located in a specific region however they can also be commissioned to provide national services.
The main issue is the insufficient resources to meet rising demand. There are concerns over the quality and shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is striving to improve its services by introducing new ways of work and providing more training. It also provides more secure and efficient ways to help people in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams, as well as 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. Treatment options have expanded and social barriers are breaking down. But there is much more to be done.
People who are suffering from mental illness need to receive the help they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve services to ensure that those who need them can get help. We will ensure that no acute hospital does not have the mental health liaison service 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. We will work towards a 100% coverage rate after that.
We will also expand community services, including talk therapy, to offer assistance to hundreds of thousands of people suffering from mental health conditions, whether they are serious or common. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people are treated by trained therapists quicker.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines for anyone struggling with mental health issues. These include the Samaritans and Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run entirely by volunteers who offer a safe place to talk or offer advice and guidance about how to handle your mental health concerns.
Additionally to that, there are a lot of local organizations that provide assistance and support for people with mental health problems. Self-help guides, coping methods and other activities are all possible. Many of these organizations offer support groups that meet face-to-face for those who prefer it.
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 is also the Nightline student counselling service which offers confidential listening and support from skilled volunteers, or details about other services. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information and provide support in various forms, including online and through local groups. They offer a variety of activities and courses ranging including mindfulness classes to art classes that are useful for people with mental health issues.
Referrals
Mental health services are under pressure and GPs are forced to make difficult choices about which specialist services to refer their patients to. The doctor will take into consideration the patient's medical background and refer them to services they believe will be able aid. They may send a referral either to an NHS trust, or an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will then assess the referral and decide if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral they will contact the GP to discuss their decision and provide the reasons. They may also ask the GP for more information or to change the referral.
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 to send patients to either a preliminary assessment for mental health or directly to an appointment. However there are some exceptions. CMHTs provide both options, and the system can't be used for every kind of mental health referral.
Full Piece of writing how to get a private mental health assessment may also decide to refer a person to a specialist community mental health service (CMT). They are typically operated by a large local health organization or a hospital. CMTs are a great option for those who have to see a psychiatrist or psychologist, but do not require inpatient care. They also offer an early intervention program, where a psychiatrist works with a therapist to help a person overcome a problem or improve their quality of life.
CMTs are faced with the task of making sure that all referrals are made within a reasonable time frame. Many referrals are deemed urgent even though they may not be. This can result in delays and over-working for those who aren't in need.
To tackle this issue, some CMHTs are trying to establish more uniform standards 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 has a box that the referrer has to check if the request is urgent.