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 reaffirmed its commitment to increase investment in mental health services faster than overall NHS budget. This will include specialist work in suicide prevention.
Helping yourself
One out of four of us will suffer from a mental health problem at some moment in our lives. The good news is that there are a variety of ways to seek help, and many of us will improve with time. But it's important to know what assistance is available, and who can provide it.
You can seek help from a variety of places like your GP (primary care medical doctor), your local health centre, or a community mental health team. These teams are comprised of nurses, occupational therapists psychotherapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work together with those who utilize the service. Based on the type of help you need, you may be offered individual or group therapy.
You will be asked to fill out a form from your GP so they can refer you to a mental health professional in the community. They will also ask what you require in terms of support. You will then be seen by a member of the mental health team that may include a psychiatrist, social worker or psychologist. In some cases the assessment and treatment will be carried out by a nurse specialist. If you are experiencing crisis, call the NHS 111 helpline for urgent assistance. If you are already receiving mental health services, it is best to contact your primary team first, unless it's out of hours, on a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health outlined plans to create more place-based, multidisciplinary community mental health teams that have links to primary care networks. These teams will increase the quality of the care provided to those in crisis, and will provide assistance to those in their own homes and communities instead of in hospitals.
The plan aims to make crisis services more accessible by cutting down wait times and allowing more beds. It would also include a mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are equipped with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to make sure that people experiencing a mental crisis are assisted in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options to treat mental health issues. GPs are usually able to treat less severe illnesses, however more serious issues will require the assistance of a specialist team. These teams operate in both community and primary mental healthcare services, as well psychiatric hospital. There are also safe spaces where you can seek assistance for those who are in a crisis.
Talking therapies are one of the most commonly used forms of treatment for anxiety and depression. These programs, previously known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their numbers of clients increase every year since they were first introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these services so that 1.9 million people will be able to access them in 2023/2024.
Psychiatric drugs are a different component of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by changing the way chemicals work in your brain. They can also be used to ease side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the best medication for you.
There are many kinds of talking therapies, including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these therapies can be offered in person, while other can be done remotely. Some patients prefer face-to face treatment, but it's the choice of the patient. There are also a number of charities that offer classes and support groups, such as Mind. The site contains a wealth of information that is trustworthy however, be aware of the fact that there are numerous false or misleading statements on the internet concerning mental health issues.
The NHS is improving the mental health system, but it is struggling to meet the demand. In the UK there are 54 mental trusts. Most of them receive funding for their services from the clinical commissioning groups. They are usually located in a specific area however, they may be commissioned to offer national services.
One of the main issues is the lack of resources to meet the demands of the rising population. There are concerns about the quality of care and the shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is working to improve the services by introducing new methods of work and delivering more training. It also introduces safer and more effective ways to help those who are in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams and safe space.
Helping you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago, there have been many positive changes for people with mental health problems. The options for treatment have grown and social barriers have been taken down. However, there is much to be done.
People who are experiencing mental health issues should receive the assistance they require quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is working hard to improve services for people who require them. We will ensure that every acute hospital does not have the mental health liaison service in A&E departments and wards for patients by 2020/21, and that 70 percent of these services will meet the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24. Then we will work towards 100% coverage thereafter.
We will also extend services for those who require them in the community, including therapy for talking, which will give hundreds of thousands of people suffering from severe or common mental health issues the help they need. We will continue to work on our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies program (IAPT) in order to ensure that more people suffering from mental health conditions can be seen quicker by therapists who are qualified.
The NHS provides confidential, free assistance to anyone suffering from mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They provide an environment where you can talk in a safe manner, or offer guidance and information on how to manage your mental health concerns.
There are a variety of local organizations that provide support and guidance to people with mental health issues. These include self-help guides, coping strategies and activities to try. Many of these organisations offer face-toface support groups for those who 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 provides confidential listening as well as information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities such as Mind and Rethink are a great source of information and offer support in many forms such as online and through local groups. They also offer various courses and activities, from mindfulness to art groups, which may be useful for those living with mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
Mental health services are under pressure and GPs have to make difficult choices about which specialist services to refer their patients to. The doctor will take a patient's medical history into account and then refer them to a specialist they think will be able to help. They may refer a patient to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health professional will review the referral to determine if it is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral they will call the GP to discuss their decision and provide why. They can also ask the GP for more information or to alter the referral.
The referral to a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) may be made via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system allows GPs as well as other health professionals to refer people to either a preliminary mental health assessment or directly to an outpatient 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 doctor may also refer a patient to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). They are usually managed by an extensive hospital or a local healthcare organisation. CMTs are an excellent option for those who have to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention program, where a psychiatrist works with a psychotherapist to help a patient overcome a crisis or increase their quality of life.
listen to this podcast of the challenges faced by CMTs CMT is ensuring that all appropriate referrals are allocated within the proper time frame. One of the challenges is that a large number of referrals are deemed urgent, despite the fact that they might not be. This can result in delays and over-working for those who aren't in need.
To tackle this issue, certain CMHTs are working to establish more consistent guidelines for what is considered an urgent referral. 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 in the event that they believe the referral is urgent.
