Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been a massive rise in people seeking help for mental health issues and the NHS has responded by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to boost investment in mental healthcare services faster than overall NHS budget. This includes specialist suicide prevention work.
Need help?
One in four of us will have mental health issues at some time in our lives. The good news is that there are a variety of different ways to get help and most of us recover over time. But it's important to know what assistance is available, and who can offer it.
You can seek assistance from a variety of sources like your doctor (primary medical doctor who treats patients) as well as your local health centre or a community mental health team. These teams are comprised of occupational and nurse speech therapists, and psychotherapists. They work with clients who seek their services. Depending on the type of assistance you require you could receive individual or group therapy.
You will be asked to fill out a form from your GP so that they can refer you to a mental health service in the community. They will also ask you what type of assistance you require. You will be seen by a member of an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals like psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some cases the clinical nurse specialist will conduct your assessment and treatment. You can contact the NHS 111 helpline when you're in a crisis. If you already receive support for your mental health, it is best to call your usual team first, unless out of office hours, on a weekend or bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the community that are connected to primary care networks. These plans will aid in improving the quality of care given to those experiencing a mental health crisis and offer support in their homes and communities rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aimed at make crisis services more accessible by reducing wait times and allowing more beds. It would also include the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are outfitted with an individual who is a mental liaison nurse in the control room to improve how patients who are suffering from mental illness are assisted in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety 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 operate across primary and community mental health services, and also psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a secure space if you feel in crisis.
Talking therapies for depression and anxiety are one of the main types of treatment. Previously known as IAPT, these programs have seen referrals increase every year since their introduction in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these programs so that 1.9 million people will be able to access them by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric drugs are a different aspect of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by changing the way chemicals work in your brain. They can also help minimize the adverse effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the best medication for you.
A variety of talk therapy options are offered which include group therapy as well as individual therapy. Some of these therapies are offered in person, while other are available online. Some patients prefer receiving treatment in person, but that is a personal choice. Mind is one of many charities that provide support groups and courses. The site is full of reliable information however, be aware of the fact that there are many false or misleading statements on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is advancing its mental health care, it still struggles to cope with demand. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. They receive the majority of funding for their services from clinical commissioning groups. They typically are located in a particular region, but they can be commissioned to provide national services.
The main issue is the insufficient resources to meet the growing demand. There are concerns over the quality and availability of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by offering more training and developing new ways of working. It also provides more efficient and safer ways to help people in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams, as well as safe spaces.
Helping you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been a lot of positive developments for people suffering from mental health problems. Treatment options have increased and social barriers are breaking down. However, there is much to do.
iampsychiatry.com who are suffering from a mental health crisis must be able to access the assistance they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve services to ensure that those in need receive them. By 2020/21 we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service, both in A&E as well as on wards for patients, and that 70% will meet the standard of 24 by 2023/24. Then we will work towards 100% coverage.
We will also extend services for those who require them in the community, such as talking therapies, to give thousands of more people suffering from severe or common mental health conditions the support they need. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people are visited by therapists who are qualified, faster.
The NHS offers confidential, free helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. These include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by volunteers who offer the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or give advice and information on how to manage your mental health concerns.
There are also a number local organizations that can offer support and guidance to people who suffer from mental health issues. They can provide self-help guides, coping strategies and activities to try. A lot of these organizations offer face-to-face support groups for those who prefer this method.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students who are feeling down or stressed. There's also the Nightline student counselling service, which offers confidential listening and support from knowledgeable volunteers, or information on other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information. They can provide support in a variety of ways, including online and through local groups. They also offer various courses and activities, from mindfulness to art groups which can be helpful for people suffering from mental health issues.
Making a referral
With mental health services under pressure, GPs have to make difficult decisions about the services they will refer patients to. The doctor will take the patient's medical history into consideration and then refer them to a service they believe could be able to assist. They can refer a patient either to an NHS trust, or an independent provider.
A mental health professional will then review the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist doesn't like the referral, they'll call the GP and explain why. They may also request the GP for more details or to change the referral.
The ability to refer patients to a local Community Mental Health Team can be made through the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to direct patients to a preliminary assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs offer both options, and the system cannot be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A GP may decide to refer a patient to an expert community mental health service (CMT). They are usually managed by a large hospital or local health care organization. CMTs are a great option for those who need to see a psychiatrist or psychologist but do not require inpatient treatment. They also offer an early intervention service, where a psychiatrist will work with a counselor to help someone overcome a problem or improve their quality of life.
CMTs have the responsibility of ensuring that all referrals are made within a reasonable time frame. Many referrals are deemed urgent, even though they might not be. This can result in delays and over-working for people who aren't in a crisis.
To combat this problem, some CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes a referral urgent. This was achieved by using a standardised form that asks the referrer if they believe the situation is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer can tick to indicate if the referral is urgent.