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 an unrepeatable commitment to increase the investment in mental health services quicker than the NHS budget in general. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.
Helping yourself
One out of four of us will experience mental health issues at some time in our lives. The good news is there are many avenues to seek help, and many of us will improve with time. It is essential to know what assistance is available, and who can provide it.
You can seek help from a variety of sources, including your doctor (primary medical doctor who treats patients) as well as your local health center or a community mental health team. These teams are comprised of occupational therapists, nurses psychotherapists, psychotherapists, and speech and language therapists who work with those who utilize the service. Based on the type of help you require, you may be offered individual or group therapy.
You will be asked to complete a form with your GP so that they can refer you to a mental health service in the community. They will also ask you to specify what kind of support you need. You will then be examined by a member of the mental health team, which could include a psychiatrist, social worker or psychologist. In certain instances the clinical nurse specialist will perform your assessment and treatment. If you're in crisis, call the NHS 111 helpline for immediate assistance. If you're already being supported by mental health services, it's a good idea to contact your regular team first, unless it's out of normal hours, on a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to create multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the community that are linked to primary care networks. These teams will increase the quality of the care that is provided to those who are in a crisis, and offer support to them in their homes and community instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aimed to help make crisis services more accessible by reducing wait times and allowing more beds. mental health assesment proposes the introduction of mental health transport vehicles, and ensure that all ambulances have a mental health liaison nurse in their control rooms to ensure people suffering from a mental health crisis are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for people suffering from mental health problems. GPs are often able to treat less severe disorders, but more serious issues will require a specialist team. These teams are spread across both community and primary mental health services, and mental health hospitals. You can also seek help in a safe space if you feel in crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most commonly used forms of treatment for depression and anxiety. Previously referred to as IAPT, these programs have seen the number of people who seek them increase every year since they were 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 in 2023/2024.
The use of psychiatric medication is also a crucial element of treatment. They can improve symptoms through changing the way chemicals work in your brain. They can also be used to reduce the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will suggest a medicine that is right for you.
A wide variety of talking therapy options are available which include group therapy as well as individual therapy. Some of these treatments are delivered in-person, while others can be performed remotely. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it's an individual choice. There are a variety of charities which offer classes and support groups, such as Mind. Their website contains a wealth of trustworthy information, but you must be aware that there is plenty of misleading or false information available on the internet regarding mental health issues.
While the NHS is advancing its mental health services but it's still struggling to cope with demand. In the UK there are 54 mental trusts. They receive the majority of funding for their services from the clinical commissioning group. They are typically located in a particular region, but can be contracted to provide national services.
The absence of resources is a major issue. There are also concerns over the quality of care and a shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by providing more training and introducing new ways of working. It is also introducing safer and more effective ways to help people in crisis like mobile crisis teams and safe areas.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago there have been positive changes for people suffering from mental health issues. Treatment options have expanded and social barriers are being taken down. But there is still more to be done.
People who are experiencing a mental crisis need to get the help they need quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is working hard to improve services for people who require these services. We will ensure that every acute hospital is without a mental health liaison in A&E departments and wards for patients by 2020/21. 70 percent of these services will meet the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24. We will work towards 100% coverage thereafter.
We will also increase community services, including talk therapy, in order to provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of people suffering from mental health conditions regardless of whether they are serious or common. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people can be seen by qualified therapists, faster.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines for anyone struggling with mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines available. These helplines are operated entirely by volunteers who provide a safe place to talk or offer advice and guidance on how to deal your mental health issues.
There are also a number local organizations that can offer support and guidance to people suffering from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping methods and other activities are available. Many of these organisations provide support groups in person to those who 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 provides confidential listening and support from knowledgeable volunteers, as well as information on other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information and can provide support in a variety of ways, including online and through local groups. They also provide many classes and activities, from mindfulness to art groups which can be helpful for those living with mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
Mental health services are under strain and GPs have to make difficult decisions about which specialist services to refer their patients to. The doctor will take into consideration the medical history of the patient and refer them to services they believe will be able aid. They may refer a patient to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health specialist will assess the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral, they'll contact the GP and explain the reasons. They may also request the GP to provide more information or to alter the referral.
The ability to refer patients to the local Community Mental Health Team can be made through the NHS e-Referral Service. The system permits GPs and other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a mental health clinical assessment or directly to an appointment with an outpatient. Not all CMHTs offer both options, and the system is not able to be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A GP may decide to refer a patient to a specialist community mental health service (CMT). These are usually run by a major local healthcare organization or a hospital. CMTs can be a good option for people who wish to consult a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist but do not require inpatient treatment. They also offer an early intervention program, where a psychiatrist will work with a counselor to help someone overcome a problem or improve their life quality.
One of the major challenges that a CMT is how to ensure that all appropriate referrals are assigned within the appropriate timeframe. Many referrals are deemed urgent, even though they might not be. This can cause people who aren't in a crisis to be overworked and experience delays.
To tackle this issue, some CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes a referral urgent. This has been achieved by using an established referral form that requires a referrer determine if the case is urgent. The proforma has a box that the referrer has to check to indicate if the request is urgent.