Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the rise in mental health issues by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to invest more in mental health services faster than the overall NHS budget. This includes specialist work in suicide prevention.
Get help
One out of four of us will have mental health issues at some time in our lives. The good news is that there are plenty of different ways to seek help and most of us recover over time. It is essential to know what help is available and who is able to provide it.
You can seek help from a variety places, including your GP (primary care medical doctor) or your local health centre, or a community mental health team. These teams consist of occupational therapists, nurses, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work together with the people who utilize the service. You may receive individual or group therapy depending on the type of help you need.
Your doctor will typically ask you to fill in a form so that they can refer you to a community mental health team. They will also talk with you about the kind of assistance you require. You will be assessed by an individual from the mental team which includes psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In certain instances, your assessment and treatment will be performed by a nurse specialist. If you're in crisis, call the NHS 111 helpline for immediate support. If you already receive mental health services It is recommended to contact your primary team first, unless out of office hours, on a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary, community-based mental health teams that are linked to primary care networks. They will improve the quality of the care provided to those suffering from a mental health crisis and offer assistance in their homes and communities rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aimed to make crisis services more accessible by reducing waiting times and opening more beds. It would also introduce an ambulance for mental health and ensure that all ambulances are outfitted with a mental liaison nurse in the control room to ensure that those who are experiencing mental distress are supported during emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS provides a wide range of treatment options for mental health conditions. GPs are usually able to treat milder disorders, but more serious conditions will require a specialist team. These teams are located in both community and primary mental healthcare services and psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a safe space should you be in a state of crisis.
Talking therapies for depression and anxiety are one of the main kinds of treatment. These programs, previously referred to as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their numbers of clients increase each year since they were introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to expanding these programs to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are another crucial aspect of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by altering the way the brain's chemicals work. They can also be used to reduce the effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the right medicine for you.
A variety of talk therapy options are available, including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these are delivered in person, but others can be delivered via a remote device. Some patients prefer to receive treatment in person, but that is a personal preference. Mind is one of many charities that provide support groups and courses. The website contains a wealth of reliable information however, be aware that there are many false or misleading statements that are posted on the internet about mental health issues.
The NHS is working to improve the mental health system, but it's struggling to meet demand. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. The majority of them receive funding for their services from clinical commissioning groups. They are usually located in a specific region however, they can also be contracted to provide 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 working to improve the services by introducing new methods of work and delivering more training. mental health assessment is also introducing safer and more effective ways to help people in crisis like mobile crisis teams, as well as safe places.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was first introduced 70 years ago there have been positive developments for those with mental health issues. Treatment options have increased and social barriers are being broken down. But there is much more to be done.
People who are experiencing mental health issues should get the help they need quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is putting in the effort to improve the services available to those who need these services. In 2020/21, we will ensure that all acute hospitals offer a mental health liaison service that is available in A&E as well as on wards for patients, and that 70% will be in compliance with the core 24 standard by 2023/24. Then we will strive to achieve 100% coverage.
We will also enhance services for the community, such as talking therapy, in order to provide support for hundreds of thousands of people 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 so that more people are treated by trained therapists faster.
private mental health assessment provides free, confidential helplines to anyone suffering from mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are run by volunteers who provide an environment where you can talk to someone in a safe manner or give advice and information on how to manage your mental health issues.
Additionally to that, there are a lot of local organisations which can provide assistance and support for those suffering from mental health issues. They can provide self-help guides, coping strategies and activities to try. Many of these organisations also provide support groups in person for those who prefer this method.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students feeling down or stressed. There is also the Nightline student counselling service which offers confidential listening and support from skilled volunteers, as well as information about other services. Charities like Mind and Rethink can provide a wealth of information and support both on the internet and in local groups. They can offer a range of classes and activities, including mindfulness classes to art classes that are useful for people with mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
With mental health services under pressure, doctors are forced to make difficult choices about the services they will refer patients to. The GP will look at the medical history of the patient and refer them to services they believe can help. They can refer a patient either to an NHS trust, or an independent provider.
A mental health professional will assess the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral they will contact the GP to discuss their decision and provide why. They might request the GP to modify 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 lets doctors and other healthcare professionals refer patients to either a preliminary assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. However there are some exceptions. CMHTs provide both options, and the system cannot be used for every type of mental health referral.
A GP may decide to refer a person to a specialized community mental health service (CMT). They are typically run by a large local health organization or hospital. CMTs are a great option for those who require to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient treatment. They also provide an early intervention service where psychiatrists collaborate with therapy therapist to help someone overcome an issue or improve the quality of their life.
CMTs are faced with the task of making sure that all referrals are received within a reasonable time frame. One of the challenges is that many referrals are deemed urgent, even though they may not be. This can result in delays and over-working for people who are not in crisis.
To address this issue, some CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes a referral urgent. This was accomplished by using a standardised form that asks the referrer to indicate if the situation is urgent. The proforma has a box that the referrer can tick if the request is urgent.