Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been an enormous increase 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 investment in mental health services faster than the NHS budget in general. This includes specialist suicide prevention work.
Helping yourself
One in four people will suffer from mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is that there are many ways to get help, and many of us will be able to recover with time. But it's important to know what help is available and who is able to provide it.
You can seek help from your doctor or the local health center or mental health service in your local area. These teams are comprised of occupational therapists, nurses, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work together with people who use the service. Based on the type of help you need you could receive individual or group therapy.
You will be asked to complete a form with your GP so they can refer you to a mental health service in the community. They will also speak to you about the type of assistance you require. You will be assessed by members of the mental team, such as psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In some cases the assessment and treatment will be carried out by a nurse specialist. If you're in a crisis, you can contact the NHS 111 helpline for urgent support. If you already receive mental health support It is recommended to contact your primary team first, unless out of 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 that are connected to primary care networks. These will help to improve the quality of care provided to those experiencing a mental health crisis. They will also offer support in their homes and communities rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aims to make emergency services available by decreasing waiting times and opening more beds. It also proposes the introduction of mental health transport vehicles, and ensure that every ambulance has an official who is a mental health liaison in their control rooms to ensure that those suffering from an illness of mental health are supported in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS provides a wide range of treatment options for mental health issues. Less severe disorders are often treated by GPs, while more serious conditions require an expert team. These teams are spread across both community and primary mental health services, as well as mental health hospitals. There are also safe places where you can get help for those who are in a crisis.
Talking therapies for depression and anxiety are among the main types of treatment. Previously known as IAPT These programs have seen referral numbers increase every year since their introduction in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these services so that 1.9 million people can access them by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are another crucial component of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals work. They can also be used to ease side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the right medicine for you.
There are a variety of talk therapy, including individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these therapies are delivered in-person, while others can be performed remotely. Some patients prefer face-to face treatment, but it's the choice of the patient. Mind is one of the charities that offer support groups and courses. The site is full of information that is trustworthy however, be aware that there are many false or misleading claims on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is working to improve its mental health care, it still struggles to keep up with demand. There are 54 mental health trusts across the UK, and most of them receive funding from clinical commissioning groups to deliver their service. They are typically located in a specific region however, they are also able to be commissioned to deliver national services.
One of the main issues is the insufficient resources to meet the demands of the rising population. There are also concerns about the quality of care, and there is a shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by introducing new ways of work and providing more training. It also introduces more efficient and safer ways to help people in crisis. These include mobile crisis teams and secure space.
Helping you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago, there have been many positive developments for people suffering from mental health issues. Treatment options have expanded and social barriers are being broken down. However, there is much to be done.
People who are suffering from mental health issues should receive the assistance they require quickly and easily. The NHS is striving to improve the quality of services to ensure that those in need can get help. In 2020/21, we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service that is available in A&E as well as on wards for patients, and that 70% will meet the standard of 24 by 2023/24. We will then work towards 100 percent coverage.
We will also increase services for people who require them in the community, such as therapy for talking, which will give hundreds of thousands of people with common or severe mental health issues the help they need. We will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people can be seen by qualified therapists, faster.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines to anyone struggling with mental health issues. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers and provide the opportunity to talk with someone in a secure environment or provide guidance and information on how to manage your mental health concerns.
There are a variety of local organizations that can offer assistance and support to those who suffer 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.
For students, there is the University's Open Door Team which offers an opportunity to consult with a counsellor at any time for those who feel low or stressed. Nightline is a student counselling service that provides confidential listening assistance, information and support from knowledgeable volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink can provide an abundance of information and support both online and in local groups. They also provide a variety of courses and activities, from mindfulness to art classes that could be beneficial for people who suffer from mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
With mental health services under pressure, doctors are forced to make difficult choices about what specialist services they should refer patients to. The doctor will take into consideration 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 specialist will then evaluate the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If book a mental health assessment doesn't like the referral, they'll call the GP and explain their reasons. They may also ask the GP to provide more information or to alter the referral.
Requests for a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) may be made via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system allows GPs and other healthcare professionals to refer people to either a preliminary mental health assessment or directly to an appointment with an outpatient. Not all CMHTs offer both options, and the system cannot be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A GP can also refer a patient to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). These are usually run by a large local healthcare organization or a hospital. CMTs are a good choice for those who have to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient treatment. They also offer an early intervention program, where a psychiatrist will work with an counselor to help someone overcome a problem or improve their life quality.
CMTs face the challenge of ensuring that all referrals are made within a reasonable time. Many referrals are considered urgent even though they may not be. This can cause patients who aren't in crisis to be overworked and experience delays.
To address this issue some CMHTs are trying to establish more uniform standards for what is an urgent referral. This was achieved by using an established form that asks the referrer to indicate if the case is urgent. The form includes a box that the referrer is able to tick to indicate if the referral is urgent.