Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been a huge rise in people seeking help for mental health issues and the NHS has responded by offering 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 specialized work in suicide prevention.
Helping yourself
One in four people will suffer from a mental illness at some point during their lives. The good news is there are a variety of ways to seek assistance, and the majority of us will be able to recover over time. It is important to know what help is available and who can provide it.
You can seek help from a variety of sources like your doctor (primary medical doctor for primary care), your local health centre, or a community mental health team. These teams consist of nurses, occupational and psychotherapists and speech therapists. They work with the clients who seek their services. You may receive individual or group therapy, based on the type of help you require.
You will be asked to complete a form with your GP so that they can refer you to a mental health team in the community. They will also speak to you about what kind of assistance you require. Then, you will be viewed by someone from a mental health team, which could include a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some cases the clinical nurse specialist will carry out your assessment and treatment. You can call the NHS 111 helpline for assistance if you're in an emergency. If you are already receiving support for your mental health, it is best to contact your regular team first, unless it is outside of hours, or on a weekend or bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health outlined plans to create more multidisciplinary, place-based community mental health teams with links to primary care networks. These will help to improve the quality of the care given to those suffering from an illness of mental health and offer support in their homes and communities instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aims to make crisis services accessible by reducing wait times and allowing more beds. It also proposes the introduction of mental health transport vehicles and ensure that all ambulances have an official who is a mental health liaison in their control rooms to ensure that people who are having mental health issues are supported in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS provides a variety of treatment options to treat mental health problems. The less severe disorders are typically treated by GPs however more serious disorders require a specialist team. These teams operate in community and primary health services for mental health and psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe spaces where you can get help if you are feeling in a crisis.
Talking therapies are one of the most common types of treatment for depression and anxiety. Previously known as IAPT, these programs have seen referrals increase every year since their introduction in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these programs so that 1.9 million people can access them in 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medicines are also a vital element of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering the way that chemicals function in your brain. They can also be used to minimize the adverse effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medicine for you.
There are many different types of talk therapy, including individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these can be delivered in person, but others can be delivered online. Some patients prefer face to face treatment, but it's a matter of choice. Mind is one of the charities that provide support groups and courses. The website contains a wealth of information that is reliable however, be aware of the fact that there are numerous false or misleading claims on the internet regarding mental health issues.
The NHS is working to improve mental health care but it struggles to meet demand. In the UK there are 54 mental trusts. The majority of them receive funding from the clinical commissioning groups. They typically are located in a particular region however, they can also be commissioned to provide national services.
The shortage of resources is a major problem. There are concerns over the quality of care and the shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is striving to improve its services by introducing new ways of working and offering more training. It also provides safer and more effective methods to treat people in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams, as well as safe spaces.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago there have been numerous positive developments for people suffering from mental health problems. The options for treatment have grown and social barriers have been taken down. But there is still more to be done.
People who are in mental health issues should receive the help they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve its services so that people in need receive help. In 2020/21, we will ensure that all acute hospitals offer 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. Then we will work towards 100 percent coverage.
We will also extend services for those who require them in the community, including therapy for talking, which will give thousands of more patients with severe or common mental health conditions the assistance they need. We will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people are visited by therapists who are qualified, quicker.
The NHS offers free, confidential helplines to anyone suffering from mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are run by volunteers who offer the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or offer advice and guidance about how to handle your mental health concerns.
In addition, there are a number of local organizations that offer support and guidance for those with mental health issues. These can include self-help guides, coping strategies and activities to try. Many of these organizations also provide support groups in person for those who prefer this option.
For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers a drop-in counselling service for those feeling low or stressed. There is also the Nightline student counselling service, which provides confidential listening and support from knowledgeable volunteers, or details on other services. I Am Psychiatry as Mind and Rethink are a great source of information. They can provide support in various forms, including online and through local groups. They also provide a variety of courses and activities, from mindfulness to art groups, which may be useful for people who suffer from mental health problems.
Referrals
Mental health services are under strain and GPs are forced to make difficult decisions about which specialist services to refer their patients to. The GP will take a patient's medical history into consideration and then refer them to a specialist they believe will be able to help. They may send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health professional will review the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral, they will call the GP and explain the reasons. They may also ask the GP for more information or to change 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 clinical assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system cannot be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A GP can refer a patient to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). These are usually run either by an enormous hospital or a local healthcare organisation. CMTs are a good choice for those who require to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient care. They can also offer an early intervention service in which psychiatrists collaborate with therapist in order to assist someone in overcoming an issue or improve the quality of their life.
CMTs face the challenge of making sure that all referrals are received within a reasonable amount of time. Many referrals are considered urgent, even if they may not be. This can result in delays and over-working for people who aren't in need.
To combat this problem, a few CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was accomplished by using a standardised form which asks the referrer to indicate if the case is urgent. The proforma has a box that the referrer is able to tick if the referral is urgent.