Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the increase in mental health issues by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made a renewed commitment to grow investment in mental health services quicker than the NHS budget in general. This includes specialist work in suicide prevention.
Getting help
One of four of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our lives. The good news is that there are many different ways to get assistance and the majority of us recover after a while. It's important to understand what help is available and who can provide it.
You can seek assistance from a variety of places like your doctor (primary care medical doctor) or your local health centre or a community mental health team. These teams consist of nurses, occupational and speech therapists, and psychotherapists. the full report private mental health assessment work with the clients who seek their services. Depending on the type of help you require, you may be offered individual or group therapy.
Your GP will typically request you to fill out an application form to make a referral to a local mental health team. They will also speak to you about the kind of assistance you require. You will be consulted by members of an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals which includes psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In certain instances the clinical nurse specialist will conduct your assessment and treatment. If you're experiencing a crisis, you can contact the NHS 111 helpline for immediate assistance. If you're already being assisted by mental health services, it's a good idea to call your usual team first unless it's out of normal hours, on a weekend or on a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health set out plans to establish more place-based, multidisciplinary community mental health teams with links to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of the care provided to those in crisis, and provide support to patients in their homes and community rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aims at making crisis services more accessible by reducing wait times and opening up more beds. It also proposes a mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are outfitted with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to ensure that those who are experiencing mental distress are supported during emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS provides a wide range of treatment options for mental health issues. The less severe disorders are typically treated by GPs, while more severe conditions require an expert team. These teams are spread across primary and community mental health services, and psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe spaces where you can seek help when you're in a state of crisis.
Talking treatments for anxiety and depression are among the most popular kinds of treatment. These programs, formerly known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their numbers of clients increase each year since they launched in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medicines are also a crucial component of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering the way the brain's chemicals work. They can also help reduce the effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you.
There are a variety of talk therapies, such as individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these can be delivered in person, while others are available remotely. Some patients prefer face to face treatment, but it is a matter of choice. There are also a number of charities that provide support groups and courses, such as Mind. The website contains a wealth of information that is reliable, but be aware that there are a lot of false or misleading claims on the internet concerning mental health issues.
While the NHS is improving its mental health services however, it is still struggling to cope with demand. There are 54 mental health trusts in the UK and the majority of them receive funding from clinical commissioning organizations to deliver their service. They typically are located in a specific area however, they can also be commissioned to provide national services.
One of the main issues is the lack of resources to meet rising demand. There are also concerns over the quality of care, and the shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is striving to improve its services by introducing new methods of work and providing more training. It also introduces more efficient and safer methods to treat people in crisis including mobile crisis teams and secure spaces.
Supporting 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 expanded and social barriers are being broken down. But there is more to be done.
People who are suffering from mental illness need to receive the help they require quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is putting in the effort to improve the quality of services for those who need them. In 2020/21, we will ensure that all acute hospitals offer a mental health liaison service that is available in A&E and on wards for inpatients and that 70% will be in compliance with the core 24 standard by 2023/24. We will then strive for 100 percent coverage.
We will also expand community services, including talk therapy, to offer assistance to hundreds of thousands of individuals suffering from mental health problems regardless of whether they are severe or common. We will continue to develop our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies program (IAPT) to ensure that more people with mental health issues can be seen quicker by qualified therapists.
The NHS offers confidential, no-cost assistance to anyone suffering from mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines available. These helplines are run by volunteers who provide the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or offer advice and guidance on how to deal your mental health issues.
In addition there are a variety of local organisations which can offer support and guidance for people with mental health problems. They can provide self-help guides, strategies for coping and activities to try. Many of these organisations provide support groups in person to those who would prefer it.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students who are experiencing stress or depression. Nightline is a student counselling service that offers private listening, support and information from knowledgeable volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information. They can provide support in various forms, including online and through local groups. They also offer various classes and activities, ranging from mindfulness to art classes that could be beneficial for those living with mental health problems.
Referrals
With mental health services under pressure, doctors are forced to make difficult choices about which specialist services they can refer patients to. The doctor will take the patient's medical history into account and then refer them to a service they believe will be able to help. They can refer a patient to an NHS trust, or an independent provider.
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 will contact the GP and explain why. They may also ask the GP for more details or to alter the referral.
Requests for a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) can be made through the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system lets doctors and other healthcare professionals direct patients to a preliminary assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs offer both options and the system is not able to be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A doctor may decide to refer a patient to a specialist community mental health service (CMT). They are typically run by an extensive hospital or a local healthcare organization. CMTs are a good choice for those who need to see a psychiatrist or psychologist but don't require inpatient treatment. They also offer an early intervention program, where a psychiatrist works with an psychotherapist to help a patient overcome a crisis or increase their quality of life.
CMTs are faced with the task of making sure that all referrals are made within a reasonable time. Many referrals are deemed urgent, even though they might not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for those who aren't in need.
To address this issue certain CMHTs are working to establish more uniform standards for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was accomplished by using an established form that asks the referrer if the situation is urgent. The form includes a box that the referrer can tick to indicate if the referral is urgent.