Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been an enormous increase in people seeking treatment for mental health issues and the NHS has responded by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to increase investment in mental health services more quickly than overall NHS budget. This includes the work of a specialist in suicide prevention.
Get assistance
One out of four people will suffer from 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 essential to know what help is available, and who can offer it.
You can seek help from a variety places like your doctor (primary medical doctor for primary care) or 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 the clients who seek their services. You can get individual or group therapy depending on the type of assistance you require.
You will be asked to complete a form with your GP so they can refer you to a mental health professional in the community. mental health assessment near me will also ask you what kind of support you need. You will then be examined by a member of the mental health team, which could include a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some cases the assessment and treatment will be conducted by a nurse specialist. You can call the NHS 111 helpline if you are in crisis. If you are already receiving support for your mental health it is recommended to contact your primary team first, unless out of office hours, on a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary, community-based mental health teams which are connected to primary care networks. These teams will improve the quality of the care delivered to people experiencing a crisis, and provide support to those within their communities and at home instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aimed to help make crisis services more accessible by reducing waiting times and opening more beds. It would also introduce mental health transport vehicles and ensure that every ambulance has an official who is a mental health liaison in their control rooms to improve the way people suffering from an illness of mental health are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS provides a wide range of treatment options for people suffering from mental health problems. GPs are often able to treat minor illnesses, however more serious issues will require an expert team. These teams work in primary and community health services for mental health as well as psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe places where you can seek assistance when you're in a crisis.
Talking treatments for anxiety and depression are among the main treatments. These programs, previously 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 has committed to expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are also an important component of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by altering how chemicals in your brain work. They can also help lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will suggest the right medication for you.
A wide variety of talking therapy treatments are available, including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these are delivered in person, but others can be delivered remotely. Some patients prefer to receive treatment in person, but this is a personal choice. Mind is one of the charities that offer support groups and courses. Their website has a lot of information that is reliable, however you must be aware that there is lots of inaccurate or misleading information available on the internet regarding mental health issues.
While the NHS is advancing its mental health care but it's still struggling 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 are usually located in a specific region, but they can be contracted to provide national services.
The absence of resources is a major issue. There are also concerns over the quality of care, and there is a shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is working to improve these services by delivering more training and introducing new methods of working. It also provides safer and more effective methods of treating those who are in crisis. These include mobile crisis teams and safe spaces.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago there have been a lot of positive developments for people suffering from mental health issues. Treatment options have gotten more diverse and social barriers are being taken down. But there is still more to be done.
People who are suffering from mental health issues require the ability to get the help they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve its services to ensure that those in need can get help. By 2020/21 we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental-health liaison service that is available in A&E as well as on wards for patients and that 70% will meet the standard of 24 by 2023/24. We will then work towards 100% coverage.
We will also enhance community services, including talking therapy, in order to provide support for hundreds of thousands of people with mental health issues, whether they are serious or common. We will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people can be seen by qualified therapists, quicker.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines to anyone suffering from a mental health issue. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They provide a safe space to talk, or offer information and advice on how to tackle your mental health issues.
There are also a number local organizations that provide support and guidance to people with mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping strategies and other activities are all possible. Many of these organizations also offer face-to-face support groups for those who would prefer this type of support.
For students, there is the University's Open Door Team which offers the opportunity to visit a counselling center for those feeling depressed or stressed. There is also mental health assessment near me counselling service that provides confidential listening and support from knowledgeable volunteers, as well as information on other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide many sources of information and support both online and in local groups. They can offer a range of classes and activities, from mindfulness to art classes, which can be beneficial for those suffering from mental health issues.
Making a referral
Mental health services are under strain and GPs are forced to make difficult decisions about which specialist services they should refer their patients to. The GP will take a patient's medical history into account and then refer them to a specialist they think will be able to help. They can send a referral either to an NHS trust, or to an independent provider.
A mental health professional will examine the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral, they'll call the GP to discuss their decision and provide the reasons. They can also ask the GP for more information or to change the referral.
Referrals to 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 to refer patients to either an initial clinical assessment for mental health or directly to an appointment. However, not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system isn't able to be used for every kind of mental health referral.
A GP may refer a patient to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). They are typically run by a large local healthcare organization or hospital. CMTs are a great alternative for those looking to consult with a seasoned psychologist or psychiatrist, but don't require inpatient care. They can also offer an early intervention service where a psychiatrist works with a psychotherapist to assist a person overcome any crisis or improve the quality of their lives.
CMTs are faced with the task of making sure that all referrals are made within a reasonable amount of time. One of the challenges is that many referrals are considered urgent, even though they might not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for those who are not in crisis.
To address this issue certain CMHTs are working to establish more consistent guidelines for what is an urgent referral. This was achieved through a standardised form which asks the referrer if they believe the case is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer can tick when they believe that the referral is urgent.