Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the increase in mental health problems by offering services. mental health assessment includes:
The Long Term Plan has made an unrepeatable commitment to increase the amount of money spent on mental health services quicker than the NHS budget overall. This will include special suicide prevention services.
Get assistance
One of 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 help, and many of us will improve with time. It is crucial to know what assistance is available and who can offer it.
You can get help from your GP or your 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 collaborate with those who utilize the service. You can receive individual or group therapy depending on the type of assistance you need.
You will be asked to fill out a form by your doctor 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. You will be assessed by an individual from an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals like psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some instances the clinical nurse specialist will perform your assessment and treatment. If you're in an emergency, you can call the NHS 111 helpline for urgent assistance. If you're already supported 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 a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health outlined plans to create more multidisciplinary, place-based community mental health teams, with connections to primary care networks. These teams will improve the quality of the care that is provided to those who are in a crisis, and offer support to them in their homes and community rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aims to make crisis services more accessible by decreasing wait times and allowing more beds. It also proposes a mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are equipped with a mental liaison nurse in 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. GPs are usually able to treat milder disorders, but more serious conditions will require a specialist team. These teams work across community and primary mental health services, and mental health hospitals. There are also safe places where you can seek assistance if you are feeling in crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most commonly used forms of treatment for depression and anxiety. Formerly known as IAPT These programs have seen the number of people who seek them increase every year since they were introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric drugs are a different component of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by changing the way the brain's chemicals function. They can also help reduce the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the right medication 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 remotely. Some patients prefer treatment in person, but this is a personal decision. Mind is one of many charities that offer support groups and courses. The website contains a wealth of reliable information however, be aware of the fact that there are a lot of false or misleading statements that are posted on the internet about mental health issues.
The NHS is improving the mental health system, but it struggles to meet demand. There are 54 mental health trusts across the UK and the majority of them receive funding from clinical commissioning groups to provide their service. They are usually located in a particular region however, they may be commissioned to provide national services.
The absence of resources is a major issue. There are also concerns about the quality of care and there is a shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is striving to improve its services by introducing new methods of work and delivering more training. It also provides safer and more effective methods to treat people in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams and safe space.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was first introduced 70 years ago, there are positive changes for those suffering from mental health issues. Treatment options have increased and social barriers are being taken down. However, there is still much to be done.
People experiencing mental health problems need to be able to access the assistance they require quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is working hard to improve the quality of services for those who require these services. We will ensure that no acute hospital is without a mental health liaison service in A&E departments and wards for patients by 2020/21, and that 70% of these services will be in line with the "core 24" standard by 2023/24. We will work towards a 100% coverage rate after that.
We will also extend services for those who require them in the community, such as talking therapies, to give thousands of more people suffering from severe or common mental health conditions the assistance they need. We will continue to develop our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies program (IAPT), so that more people with mental health issues are seen faster by qualified therapists.
The NHS offers free, confidential helplines to anyone struggling with a mental health issue. These include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by trained volunteers. They offer an environment where you can talk in a safe manner or give guidance and information on how to deal with your mental health issues.
Additionally, there are a number of local organizations that offer support and guidance for people with mental health problems. These include self-help guides, coping strategies and activities to try. Many of these organisations also provide support groups in person for those who would prefer this type of support.
For students, there is the University's Open Door Team which offers the opportunity to visit a counselling center for those feeling low or stressed. There is also the Nightline student counselling service, which offers confidential listening and support from experienced volunteers, or information on other services. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a great source of information and provide support in a variety of ways that include online and through local groups. They can also offer many classes and activities, ranging from mindfulness to art groups that could be beneficial for people suffering from mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
With mental health services under pressure, GPs have to make difficult decisions regarding the services they will refer patients to. The GP will take a patient's medical history into consideration and then refer them to a service they think will be able to help. They may send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health specialist will examine the referral to determine if it is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral, they will call the GP and explain why. They may also ask the GP to provide more information or to change the referral.
Referrals to the local Community Mental Health Team can be made through the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals send patients to either a preliminary clinical assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs offer both options and the system cannot be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A GP may also decide to refer a patient to an expert community mental health service (CMT). mental health assessment are usually run either by an extensive hospital or a local health care organization. CMTs are a great option for those who require to see a psychiatrist or psychologist but don't require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention service where psychiatrists work with a therapy therapist to help someone overcome an issue or improve the quality of their life.
One of the challenges that a CMT is how to ensure that all referrals are allocated within the proper time frame. One of the problems is that a lot of referrals are considered urgent, despite the fact that they might not be. This can cause people who aren't experiencing a crisis to be overworked and experience delays.
To address this issue, some CMHTs have attempted to establish more uniform standards for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was achieved through a standardised form that asks the referrer if the case is urgent. The proforma has a box that the referrer has to check to indicate if the request is urgent.