Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been a huge increase in people seeking help for mental health issues, and the NHS has responded by offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made an unrepeatable commitment to increase the investment in mental health services faster than the NHS budget overall. This includes specialist suicide prevention work.
Need help?
One out of four people will suffer from mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is there are many ways to get assistance, and the majority of us will improve with time. It is essential to know what assistance is available and who can provide it.
You can get help from your GP or the local health center or mental health team within your area. These teams comprise of occupational and nurse psychotherapists, as well as speech therapists. They collaborate with patients who require their services. Based on the kind of assistance you require you could receive individual or group therapy.
Your doctor will typically request you to fill out the form so that they can make a referral to a community mental health team. They will also ask you what type of assistance you require. You will be assessed by an individual from the mental team, such as a psychologist, [empty] psychiatrist or social worker. In certain instances, a clinical nurse specialist will conduct your assessment and treatment. If you’re experiencing a crisis, you can call the NHS 111 helpline for urgent support. If you are already receiving support for your mental health it is recommended to contact your regular team first, unless outside of hours, or on a weekend, or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to create multidisciplinary, community-based mental health teams that are linked to primary care networks. These will help to improve the quality of care that is given to those suffering from a mental assessment health crisis and provide support in their homes and communities rather than in hospitals.
The plan aims to make crisis services accessible by cutting down wait times and opening up more beds. It would also include the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are outfitted with a mental liaison nurse in the control room to improve how those who are experiencing mental distress are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options to treat mental health issues. GPs are often able to treat minor conditions, but more severe issues will require a specialist team. These teams work in community and primary healthcare facilities and psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a secure environment if you feel in crisis.
Talking treatments for anxiety and depression are among the main treatments. These programs, previously referred to as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their numbers of clients increase every year since they were first 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 part of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by altering how the brain’s chemicals work. They can also help ease side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you.
There are a variety of talk therapies, such as individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these treatments are offered in person, while other can be done remotely. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it is an individual choice. Mind is one of many charities that offer support groups and classes. The site is full of information that is reliable however, be aware that there are many false or misleading statements that are posted on the internet regarding mental health issues.
While the NHS is improving its mental health services, it still struggles to keep up with demand. In the UK there are 54 mental trusts. The majority of them receive funding for their services from clinical commissioning groups. They are typically located in a specific area however, they are also able to be commissioned to deliver national services.
The shortage of resources is a major problem. There are also concerns over the quality of care and there is a shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is working to improve the services by introducing new methods of working and offering more training. It is also introducing more efficient and safer methods to help people in crisis, such as mobile crisis teams and secure spaces.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been numerous positive developments for people suffering from mental health issues. Treatment options have expanded and social barriers are breaking down. But there’s still a lot to be done.
People who are in mental health issues should receive the help they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve services to ensure that those in need can get assistance. We will ensure that every acute hospital does not have the mental health liaison service in A&E departments and wards for inpatients by 2020/21. 70 percent of these services will be in line with the “core 24” standard by 2023/24, working towards achieving 100% coverage afterward.
We will also extend services for people who need them in the community, such as therapy for talking, which will give hundreds of thousands of people with common or severe mental health conditions the assistance they require. We will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people are seen by qualified therapists, quicker.
The NHS provides confidential, free assistance to anyone suffering from mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are run entirely by volunteers who offer an environment where you can talk to someone in a safe manner or give advice and information on how to deal your mental health issues.
There are also a number local organisations that can provide support and guidance to people who suffer from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping techniques and other activities are available. Many of these organisations provide support groups in person to those who would prefer it.
For students, there is the University’s Open Door Team which offers a drop-in counselling service for those feeling depressed or stressed. There is also the Nightline student counselling service that provides confidential listening and support from knowledgeable volunteers, clinic as well as information about other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink are a great source of information and offer support in many forms, including online and through local groups. They can also offer a variety of courses and activities, from mindfulness to art classes that could be beneficial for people suffering from mental health issues.
Making a referral
With mental health services under pressure, doctors are forced to make difficult decisions regarding the services they will refer patients to. The doctor will take the patient’s medical history into consideration and then recommend them to a service they believe can assist. They might send a referral 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 pleased with the referral, they’ll contact the GP to discuss their decision and provide the reasons. They may also ask the GP to alter the referral or request more information.
Requests for shorl.com a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) may be made via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system permits GPs and other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a preliminary 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 types of mental health referrals.
A doctor may refer a patient to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). They are typically run by an extensive hospital or a local healthcare organization. CMTs are a great option for those who want to see an experienced psychologist or psychiatrist but don’t require inpatient care. They also offer an early intervention program, where a psychiatrist will work with a therapist to help a person overcome a crisis or increase their life quality.
CMTs have the responsibility of ensuring that all referrals are received within a reasonable time frame. One of the challenges is that a large number of referrals are deemed as urgent, even though they may not be. This can lead people who aren’t in a crisis to be overwhelmed and suffer delays.
To address this issue certain CMHTs are working to establish more uniform guidelines for what is a mental health assessment constitutes an urgent referral. This has been accomplished through the use of an established referral form that requires a referrer consider whether the case is urgent. The form has a checkbox for the referrer to check when they believe that the referral is urgent.