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 investment in mental health services faster than the NHS budget overall. This will include special suicide prevention services.
Getting help
One in 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 be able to recover with time. But it's important to know what assistance is available and who is able to provide it.
You can get help from your physician or the local health center or a mental health team within your community. These teams consist of nurses, occupational therapists psychotherapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who collaborate with the people who utilize the service. Depending on the type of help you require, you may be offered individual or group therapy.
You will be asked to fill out a form by your doctor so that they can refer you to a mental health team in the community. They will also speak to you about the type of assistance you require. You will be consulted by members of a mental team which includes psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In certain instances a clinical nurse specialist will perform your assessment and treatment. You can call the NHS 111 helpline when you're in crisis. If mental health assessment cost receive mental health support it is recommended 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 outlined plans to create more multidisciplinary, community-based, place-based mental health teams, with connections to primary care networks. They will improve the quality of care that is delivered to people who are suffering from an illness of mental health and offer assistance in their homes and communities rather than in hospitals.
The plan aims to make crisis services more accessible by reducing wait times and opening up more beds. It also proposed to introduce mental health transport vehicles, and ensure that every ambulance has a mental health liaison nurse in their control rooms to ensure people suffering from mental health issues are supported in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options to treat mental health issues. GPs are often able to treat milder illnesses, however more serious illnesses will require an expert team. These teams are located in both community and primary health services for mental health and psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a secure space should you be in a state of crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most commonly used forms of treatment for anxiety and depression. These programs, previously known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their referral numbers increase every year since they were introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are another crucial aspect of treatment. They can improve symptoms through altering the way chemicals work in your brain. They can also be used to lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the best medication for you.
A wide variety of talking therapy treatments are available which include group therapy as well as individual therapy. Some of these therapies can be delivered in person, while others can be done remotely. Some patients prefer to receive treatment in person, but that is a personal choice. Mind is one of many charities that provide support groups and courses. Their website has a lot of trustworthy information, but you must be aware that there is a lot of inaccurate or misleading information available on the internet regarding mental health issues.
While the NHS is improving its mental health services, it still struggles to cope with demand. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. The majority of them receive funding for their services from the clinical commissioning group. They usually are located in a specific region however, they may be commissioned to offer national services.
One of the main issues is the insufficient resources to meet rising demand. There are also concerns about the quality of care and a shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by providing more training and introducing new ways of working. It is also introducing more efficient and safer methods to help people in crisis including mobile crisis teams, as well as safe areas.
Helping you
Since the NHS was launched 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 more to be done.
People who are suffering from mental health issues should receive the assistance they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve services to ensure that those who need them can get them. By 2020/21 we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental-health liaison service, both in A&E and on inpatient wards, and that 70% will meet the standard of 24 by 2023/24. We will then strive to achieve 100% coverage.
We will also increase services for the community, such as talking therapy, to offer assistance to hundreds of thousands of people with mental health conditions regardless of whether they are serious or common. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people can be visited by therapists who are qualified, faster.
The NHS offers confidential, no-cost helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run entirely by volunteers who offer an environment where you can talk to someone in a safe manner or provide advice and information on how to manage your mental health concerns.
Additionally to that, there are a lot of local organisations which can provide assistance and support for those suffering from mental health issues. They can provide self-help guides, coping strategies and activities to try. Many of these organizations also provide support groups in person 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. Nightline is a student counselling service that offers confidential listening as well as information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide an abundance of information and support both on the internet and in local groups. They also provide many classes and activities, ranging from mindfulness to art groups that could be beneficial for people suffering from mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
Mental health services are under pressure and GPs must make difficult choices regarding the best specialist services to refer their patients to. The GP will take a patient's medical history into account and then recommend them to a service they believe can assist. They may send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will review the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't pleased with the referral, they'll call the GP to discuss their decision and provide why. They may request the GP to alter the referral or ask for more information.
The ability to refer patients to a local Community Mental Health Team can be made through the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows GPs and other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a pre-mental health clinical 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 patients to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). They are usually managed by an enormous hospital or a local healthcare organization. CMTs can be a good option for those who want to consult a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also offer an early intervention service in which psychiatrists collaborate with psychotherapist to assist a person overcome any crisis or improve the quality of their lives.
CMTs face the challenge of ensuring that all referrals are received within a reasonable time. Many referrals are considered urgent, even if they may not be. This can cause people who aren't in crisis to be overworked and experience delays.
To combat this problem, some CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was accomplished by using a standardised form which asks the referrer to indicate if the situation is urgent. The proforma includes a box for the referrer to tick when they believe that the referral is urgent.