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 providing 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 in general. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.
Helping yourself
One in four of us will have a mental health problem at some time in our lives. The good news is that there are many different options to seek assistance and the majority of us recover after a while. However, it is important to know what assistance is available and who is able to provide it.
You can seek help from your GP, your local health center or mental health team in your area. These teams comprise of occupational and nurse psychotherapists, as well as speech therapists. They collaborate with clients who seek their services. You can get individual or group therapy based on the kind of help you need.
You will be asked to complete a form with your GP so they can refer you to a mental health team in the community. They will also speak to you about the kind of help you need. You will then be seen by someone from a mental health team that could include a psychiatrist, social worker or psychologist. In certain instances a clinical nurse specialist will perform your assessment and treatment. If you're experiencing an emergency, you can contact the NHS 111 helpline for urgent support. If you already receive mental health support It is recommended to contact your regular team first, unless it is out of hours, on a weekend, or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health set out plans to establish more multidisciplinary, place-based community mental health teams that have links to primary care networks. These will help to improve the quality of care that is given to those experiencing an illness of mental health and offer support in their homes and communities, rather than in hospital.
The plan also aimed to provide crisis services to more people by reducing waiting times and allowing more beds. It also proposes an ambulance for mental health and ensure that all ambulances are stocked with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to improve how those who are experiencing mental distress are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS provides a wide range of treatment options for people suffering from mental health problems. Less severe disorders are often treated by GPs, while more serious disorders require a specialist team. These teams work in primary and community health services for mental health, as well psychiatric hospital. There are also safe places where you can get help for those who are in crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most common types of treatment for depression and anxiety. Previously referred to as IAPT the programs have seen referral numbers increase every year since their launch in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these services so that 1.9 million people can access them by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are another crucial part of treatment. They can improve symptoms by changing the way the brain's chemicals function. They can also be used to alleviate the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will suggest the best medication for you.
A wide range of talking therapy treatments are available, including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of them are offered in person, but others can be delivered online. Some patients prefer treatment in person, but that is a personal preference. There are also a number of charities that provide support groups and courses like Mind. The website contains a wealth of reliable information but you should be aware that there are numerous false or misleading statements that are posted on the internet about mental health issues.
The NHS is improving the quality of mental health care, but it struggles to meet demand. There are 54 mental health trusts in the UK and the majority of them receive funding from clinical commissioning organizations to deliver their services. They typically are located in a specific area however, they may be contracted to provide national services.
The shortage of resources is a major issue. There are also concerns over get more info of care, and there is a shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is trying to improve these services by offering more training and developing new ways of working. It also introduces more secure and efficient methods to treat people in crisis like mobile crisis teams and secure areas.
Helping you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been numerous positive developments for those suffering from mental health problems. Treatment options have expanded and social barriers are being broken down. But there is more to be done.
People who are suffering from mental health issues should get the help they need quickly and easily. click for more is working to improve services to ensure that those in need are able to access help. By 2020/21, we will make sure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service that is available in A&E and on inpatient wards and that 70% of these will meet the core 24 standard by 2023/24. We will then strive to achieve 100% coverage.
We will also enhance services for the community, such as talking therapy, to offer support for hundreds of thousands of people suffering from mental health issues regardless of whether they are common or severe. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people can be seen by qualified therapists, faster.
The NHS offers free, confidential helplines to anyone who is struggling with mental health issues. These include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by volunteers who provide an environment where you can talk to someone in a safe manner or offer advice and guidance on how to manage your mental health concerns.
There are also local organizations that can offer support and guidance to people with 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 would prefer this type of support.
For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers an opportunity to consult with a counsellor at any time for those who are feeling depressed or stressed. Nightline is a student counseling service that offers confidential listening, support and information from knowledgeable volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink can provide a wealth of information and support both online and in local groups. They also provide various classes and activities, from mindfulness to art classes, which may be useful for people suffering from mental health problems.
Referrals
With mental health services under pressure, GPs are having to make difficult decisions about the services they will refer patients to. The GP will look at the patient's medical background and refer them to services they believe will be able to assist. They may refer a patient to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health specialist will then review the referral and decide if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral, they'll call the GP to discuss their decision and explain why. They can also request the GP for more information or to alter the referral.
The ability to refer patients to the local Community Mental Health Team can be made via the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to send patients to either an initial clinical assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. However there are some exceptions. CMHTs provide both options, and the system isn't able to be used for every type of mental health referral.
A doctor may also refer patients to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). They are usually managed by an enormous hospital or a local health care organization. CMTs are a great alternative for those looking to see an experienced psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention service where a psychiatrist will work with an therapist to help a person overcome a crisis or increase their quality of life.
CMTs have the responsibility of ensuring that all referrals are received within a reasonable amount of time. One of the issues is that a large number of referrals are deemed as urgent, despite the fact that they might not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for those who are not in crisis.
To tackle this issue, certain CMHTs are working to establish more uniform standards for what is considered an urgent referral. This has been accomplished through the use of a standardised referral proforma that requires the referrer to consider whether the case is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer can tick when the referral is urgent.