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 has made the commitment to increase the amount of money spent on mental health services quicker than the NHS budget in general. This will include specialist suicide prevention work.
Getting help
One in four of us will have mental health issues at some moment in our lives. The good news is there are many avenues to seek assistance, and the majority of us will recover over time. It's important to understand the types of help available and who can offer it.
You can seek help from your physician or the local health center, or a mental health service in your area. These teams are made up of occupational therapists, nurses psychotherapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work with those who utilize the service. You may receive individual or group therapy depending on the type of assistance you need.
Your GP will typically request you to fill out an application form to refer you to a community mental health team. They will also ask what type of assistance you require. You will be consulted by members of a mental team which includes psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In some cases the assessment and treatment will be performed by a specialist in clinical nursing. If you are experiencing crisis, call the NHS 111 helpline for immediate assistance. If you're already being supported by mental health services, it's best to call your usual team first, unless it's outside of the normal hours, a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the community that are linked to primary care networks. These plans will aid in improving the quality of care that is provided to those suffering from an illness of mental health and provide support within their communities and homes rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aimed to provide crisis services to more people by reducing wait times and opening more beds. It also proposes the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are stocked with a mental liaison nurse in the control room to make sure that those who are experiencing mental distress are supported during emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options to treat mental health issues. The less severe disorders are typically treated by GPs however more serious disorders require specialists. These teams operate across primary and community mental health services and psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe spaces where you can get help if you are feeling in crisis.
Talking therapies are one of the most popular forms of treatment for depression and anxiety. These programs, previously known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their number of referrals increase every year since they were introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has set the goal of expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are another crucial part of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by changing the way chemicals work in your brain. They can be used to lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the right medicine for you.
A wide range of talking therapy options are offered, including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these treatments are delivered in-person, while others can be performed via remote access. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it is a matter of choice. Mind is one of the organizations that offer support groups and courses. Their website contains a wealth of trustworthy information, but you should be aware of the fact that there's a lot of misleading or false information available on the internet regarding mental health issues.
While the NHS is improving its mental health care but it's still struggling to meet the demands. In the UK there are 54 mental trusts. Most of them receive funding for their services from clinical commissioning groups. They typically are located in a specific region however they can also be contracted to provide national services.
The absence of resources is a major issue. There are also concerns about the quality of care and the shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is working to improve the services by introducing new ways of work and providing more training. It also introduces more secure and efficient methods of treating people who are in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams and secure space.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been positive developments for people suffering from mental health issues. Treatment options have increased and social barriers are being broken down. But there's still a lot to do.
People who are suffering from a mental crisis need to receive the help they require quickly and easily. The NHS is striving to improve the quality of services so that people in need receive them. We will ensure that no acute hospital is without a mental health liaison in A&E departments and inpatient wards by 2020/21. 70 percent of these services will meet the "core 24" standard by 2023/24, working towards achieving 100% coverage afterward.
We will also expand community services, including talking therapy, to offer support for hundreds of thousands of people suffering from mental health problems regardless of whether they are common or severe. We will continue to work on our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT) to ensure that more people suffering from mental health conditions can be seen quicker by qualified therapists.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines to anyone suffering from a mental health issue. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run entirely by volunteers who offer the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or give advice and information on how to deal your mental health issues.
In addition to that, there are a lot of local organizations that provide support and guidance to those with mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping techniques and other activities are available. Many of these organisations offer face-toface support groups to those who would prefer it.
For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers an opportunity to consult with a counsellor at any time for those feeling low or stressed. Nightline is a student counseling service that offers private listening as well as information and support from knowledgeable volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information. They can offer support in many forms such as online and through local groups. They also provide various classes and activities, ranging from mindfulness to art groups which can be helpful for people suffering from mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
Mental health services are under strain and GPs have to make difficult decisions about which specialist services they should refer their patients to. The doctor will take into consideration the patient's medical background and refer them to services they believe will be able to aid. They may send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health professional will then evaluate the referral and decide if it's appropriate or not. If mental health assessment isn't satisfied with the referral, they'll contact the GP to discuss their decision and explain the reason. They can also ask the GP for more information or to modify the referral.
The ability to refer patients to the local Community Mental Health Team can be made using the NHS e-Referral Service. The system permits GPs and other healthcare professionals to refer people to either a mental health clinical assessment or directly to an outpatient appointment. Not all CMHTs offer both options, and the system can't be used for all types of mental health referrals.
A doctor may also refer a patient to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). These are usually run either by an extensive hospital or a local healthcare organization. CMTs are an excellent option for those who require to see a psychiatrist or psychologist but don't require inpatient care. mental health assessment online offer an early intervention program, where a psychiatrist works with a counselor to help someone overcome a crisis or increase their life quality.
One of the biggest challenges that CMTs CMT is to ensure that all referrals are allocated within the appropriate timeframe. Many referrals are deemed urgent, even though they might not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for people who aren't in a crisis.
To tackle this issue, some CMHTs are trying to establish more uniform standards for what is considered an urgent referral. This was achieved by using a standardised form that asks the referrer if the situation is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer can tick when they believe that the referral is urgent.