Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the increase in mental health problems by offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made the commitment to increase the amount of money spent on mental health services faster than the NHS budget overall. This will include specialist suicide prevention work.
Need help?
One out of four people will be affected by a mental illness at some point during their lives. The good news is there are many ways to get help, and many of us will improve over time. It is essential to know what assistance is available and who is able to provide it.
You can seek help from a variety of sources, including your doctor (primary medical doctor who treats patients), your local health centre, or a community mental health team. These teams are comprised of occupational therapists, nurses psychotherapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who collaborate with people who use the service. You may receive individual or group therapy based on the kind of help you require.
Your GP will usually ask you to fill in an application form to make a referral to a community mental health team. They will also ask what kind of support you need. You will be seen by members of an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals which includes psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In certain instances the clinical nurse specialist will conduct your assessment and treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis, you can contact the NHS 111 helpline for immediate assistance. If you are already receiving mental health services, it is best to contact your primary team first, unless it's out of office hours, on a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health included plans to establish more place-based, multidisciplinary community mental health teams with links to primary care networks. These teams will increase the quality of the care provided to those in crisis, and offer support to them in their own homes and communities rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aimed at help make crisis services more accessible by reducing wait times and allowing more beds. It also proposes the introduction of mental health transport vehicles and ensure that every ambulance has a mental health liaison nurse in their control rooms to ensure that people who are having a mental health crisis are supported in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options to treat mental health conditions. Disorders that are less severe are usually treated by GPs and more serious conditions require specialists. These teams are spread across primary and community mental health services and the psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe spaces where you can seek help if you are feeling in crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most commonly used forms of treatment for depression and anxiety. These programs, formerly known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their numbers of clients increase each year since they were first introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these programs to ensure that 1.9 million people will be able to use them by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medicines are another important component of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals function. They can also help lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the right medicine for you.
There are a variety of talk therapies, such as group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these are delivered in person, whereas others can be delivered via a remote device. Some patients prefer face to face treatment, but it's a matter of choice. Mind is one of many charities that provide support groups and classes. The website contains a wealth of information that is reliable but you should be aware of the fact that there are numerous false or misleading claims on the internet concerning mental health issues.
The NHS is working to improve the mental health system, but it is struggling to meet the demand. There are 54 mental health trusts in the UK and the majority of them receive funding from clinical commissioning groups to provide their services. They are typically located in a specific area, but can be contracted to provide national services.
A key issue is the lack of resources to meet the demands of the rising population. There are concerns about the quality of care and the shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is working to improve the quality of care by delivering more training and introducing new methods of working. It also introduces more secure and efficient methods to help people in crisis including mobile crisis teams, as well as safe areas.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was first introduced 70 years ago there have been positive developments for those suffering from mental health issues. The options for treatment have grown and social barriers have been taken down. But there is much more to be done.
People who are in mental illness need to get the help they need quickly and easily. mental health test uk is why the NHS is putting in the effort to improve the quality of services for those who need these services. By 2020/21 we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service both in A&E and on wards for inpatients and that 70% will be in compliance with the core 24 standard by 2023/24. Then we will strive for 100% coverage.
We will also enhance community services, including talking therapy, to offer support for hundreds of thousands of individuals suffering from mental health conditions, whether they are serious or common. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme so that more people can be visited by therapists who are qualified, faster.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines for anyone struggling with mental health issues. These include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers and provide an environment where you can talk in a safe manner, or offer advice and information on how to manage your mental health issues.
Additionally to that, there are a lot of local organizations that can provide support and guidance to people with mental health problems. Self-help guides, coping methods and other activities are available. Many of these organisations offer face-toface support groups to those who prefer it.
For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers a drop-in counselling service for those feeling low or stressed. There's also the Nightline student counselling service that provides confidential listening and support from knowledgeable volunteers, as well as information about other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide an abundance 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, which can be beneficial for those suffering from mental health issues.
Referrals
Mental health services are under pressure and GPs are forced to make difficult decisions about which specialist services they should refer their patients to. The GP will look at the patient's medical background and recommend them to services they believe will be able to assist. They may send a referral either to an NHS trust, or to an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will review the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist doesn't like the referral, they'll contact the GP and explain why. They can 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 doctors and other healthcare professionals send patients to either a preliminary assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. However there are mental health evaluation . CMHTs offer both options and the system isn't able to be used for every kind of mental health referral.
A GP may also refer patients to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). These are usually run either by an extensive hospital or a local healthcare organization. CMTs are a great option for those who have to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient care. They can also provide an early intervention service where a psychiatrist collaborates with the therapist to help a person overcome a problem or improve their life quality.
One of the challenges faced by CMTs CMT is how to ensure that all suitable referrals are allocated within the appropriate timeframe. Many referrals are considered urgent even though they may not be. This can lead people who aren't in a crisis to be rushed and suffer delays.
To address this issue certain CMHTs are working to establish more uniform guidelines for what is an urgent referral. This is being achieved by using the standardised referral forma that requires the referrer to consider whether the case is urgent. The proforma includes a box that the referrer can tick when they believe the referral is urgent.