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 offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made the commitment to increase the investment in mental health services more quickly than the NHS budget in general. This includes specialist work in suicide prevention.
Need help?
One of four people will be affected by a 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 improve with time. It is important to know what assistance is available and who can offer it.
You can seek help from a variety of sources like your GP (primary medical doctor for primary care) or your local health centre, or a community mental health team. These teams consist of nurses, occupational and psychotherapists and speech therapists. They work with the clients who seek their services. You may receive individual or group therapy, based on the type of assistance you require.
You will be asked to complete a form with your doctor so that they can refer you to a mental health professional in the community. They will also ask you what you require in terms of support. Then, you will be viewed by someone from a mental health team, which may include a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some instances your evaluation and treatment will be carried out by a nurse specialist. You can call the NHS 111 helpline if you are in crisis. If you're already being supported by mental health services it's a good idea try and contact your usual team first unless it's out of the normal hours, a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health set out plans to establish more multidisciplinary, place-based community mental health teams that have links to primary care networks. They will improve the quality of care that is delivered to people who are suffering from a mental health crisis and provide support in their homes and communities instead of in hospitals.
The plan aims to make crisis services accessible by cutting down wait times and allowing more beds. It also proposes a mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are equipped with a mental liaison nurse in the control room to make sure that those who are experiencing mental distress are supported during emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a wide array of treatment options for mental health issues. GPs are often able to treat less severe conditions, but more severe illnesses will require a specialist team. These teams are located in both community and primary healthcare facilities as well as psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a safe space if you feel in crisis.
Talking therapies for depression and anxiety are among the most popular treatments. These programs, previously referred to as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their referral numbers increase each year since they were first introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has set the goal of expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric drugs are a different aspect of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals function. They can also help minimize the adverse effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the best medication for you.
There are many kinds of talk therapies, such as group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these therapies are offered in person, while other can be done remotely. Some patients prefer face to face treatment, but it is a matter of choice. There are also a lot of charities that offer support groups and courses, such as Mind. The site contains a wealth of information that is reliable, but 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 cope with demand. There are 54 mental health trusts across the UK, and most of are funded by clinical commissioning groups to provide their service. They typically are located in a specific area, but they can be commissioned to offer national services.
The absence of resources is a major issue. There are concerns over the quality of care and the shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is working to improve the quality of care by delivering more training and introducing new ways of working. It is also introducing more secure and efficient methods to help people in crisis like mobile crisis teams and safe spaces.
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Since the NHS was established 70 years ago there have been a lot of positive developments for people suffering from mental health problems. The treatment options have increased and social barriers have been taken down. But there is more to be done.
People who are suffering from mental health problems require the ability to access the assistance they require quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is striving 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 both in A&E and on wards for inpatients and that 70% of these will meet the standard of 24 by 2023/24. We will then strive for 100 percent coverage.
We will also extend services for people who need them in the community, such as therapy for talking, which will give thousands of more people with common or severe 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 treated by trained therapists quicker.
The NHS offers confidential, no-cost assistance to anyone suffering from mental health issues. These include the Samaritans and Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by trained volunteers. They provide a safe space to talk or give guidance and information on how to manage your mental health issues.
In addition to that, there are a lot of local organizations that provide support and guidance to those with mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping techniques and other activities are all possible. Many of these organizations also provide support groups in person for those who would prefer this type of support.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students feeling down or stressed. Nightline is a student counseling service that provides confidential listening assistance, information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a great source of information and provide support in various forms that include online and through local groups. They also offer various 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 pressure and GPs must make difficult choices about which specialist services to refer their patients to. The doctor will take a patient's medical history into consideration and then refer them to a specialist they believe can assist. They may send a referral either to an NHS trust, or to an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will then assess the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral they will contact the GP to discuss their decision and explain why. They may also request the GP for more details or to change 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 as well as other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a pre-mental health clinical assessment or directly to an appointment with an outpatient. However, not all CMHTs offer both options and the system cannot be used for every type of mental health referral.
A doctor may decide to refer a patient to a specialist community mental health service (CMT). They are typically run by an extensive hospital or a local health care organization. CMTs can be a good alternative for those looking to consult with a seasoned psychologist or psychiatrist, but don't need inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention program where psychiatrists work with a therapist in order to assist a person overcome any crisis or improve the quality of their lives.
CMTs have the responsibility of making sure that all referrals are made within a reasonable amount of time. Many referrals are deemed urgent, even if they may not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for people who are not in crisis.
To tackle this issue, certain CMHTs are working to establish more consistent standards for what constitutes an urgent referral. This is being achieved through the use of an established referral form that requires a referrer consider whether the case is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer can tick when they believe that the referral is urgent.