Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the increase in mental health issues by offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to invest more in mental health services faster than overall NHS budget. This includes specialist suicide prevention work.
Get assistance
One in four people will be affected by mental illness at some point during their lives. The good news is that there are plenty of different ways to seek help, and most people recover over time. But it's important to know what help is available and who is able to provide it.
You can seek help from your GP or the local health center or mental health team within your local area. These teams consist of nurses, occupational and speech therapists, and psychotherapists. mental health assessment cost collaborate with people who use their services. Based on the kind of help you need you could receive individual or group therapy.
Your GP will usually ask you to fill in the form to refer you to a local mental health team. They will also talk to you about the kind of help you need. You will be assessed by a member of a mental team which includes psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In some instances the assessment and treatment will be carried out by a clinical nurse specialist. You can call the NHS 111 helpline when you're in a crisis. If you're already supported by mental health services, it's a good idea call your usual team first unless it's out of core hours, the weekend or on a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary mental health teams in the community which are connected to primary care networks. These will help to improve the quality of the care given to those experiencing a mental health crisis and provide support within their communities and homes rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aimed at make crisis services more accessible by reducing wait times and allowing more beds. It would also include an ambulance for mental health and ensure that all ambulances are stocked with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to ensure that people experiencing a mental crisis are assisted in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options for mental health conditions. GPs typically have the ability to treat milder disorders, but more serious issues will require the assistance of a specialist team. These teams work in community and primary health services for mental health, as well psychiatric hospital. You can also seek help in a secure space should you be in a state of crisis.
Talking therapies for depression and anxiety are among the most popular treatments. Previously referred to as IAPT the programs have seen referrals increase every year since their launch in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are also an important component of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals function. They can also help ease side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will suggest the best medication for you.
There are many kinds of talking therapies, including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these are delivered in person, but others can be delivered remotely. Some patients prefer face-to face treatment, but it is the choice of the patient. There are a variety of charities that provide classes and support groups like Mind. Their website is full of reliable information, but you should be aware that there is lots of misleading or false information on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is improving its mental health care, it still struggles to cope with demand. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. They receive the majority of funding for their services from the clinical commissioning groups. They are usually located in a specific region however, they may be commissioned to provide national services.
The lack of resources is a major problem. There are concerns over the quality and 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 introduces more secure and efficient methods to treat people in crisis. These include mobile crisis teams and safe spaces.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago there have been positive changes for those suffering from mental health issues. The treatment options have gotten better and social barriers have been smashed down. But there is still more to do.
People experiencing mental health issues require the ability to access the help they require quickly and easily. The NHS is striving to improve the quality of services to ensure that those in need can get assistance. We will ensure that every acute hospital does not have a mental health liaison service in A&E departments and inpatient wards by 2020/21. We will also ensure that 70 percent of these services will meet the "core 24" standard by 2023/24. Then we will work towards achieving 100% coverage afterward.
We will also expand services for people who require them in the community, such as talking therapies, to give hundreds of thousands of people suffering from severe or common mental health conditions the assistance they require. We will continue to work on our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies program (IAPT), so that more people suffering from mental health problems can be seen more quickly by trained therapists.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines for anyone suffering from mental health issues. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by trained volunteers. They provide a safe space to talk, or offer guidance and information on how to deal with your mental health concerns.
There are also local organisations that can provide help and advice to those suffering from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping methods and activities can be included. Many of these organisations provide support groups in person for those who prefer it.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students experiencing stress or depression. There's also the Nightline student counselling service which offers confidential listening and support from knowledgeable volunteers, or information about other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide an abundance of information and support, both on the internet and in local groups. They can also offer many classes and activities, from mindfulness to art groups, which may be useful for those living with mental health issues.
Referrals
Mental health services are under pressure and GPs are forced to make difficult choices 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 can assist. They may refer a patient to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health professional will assess the referral to determine if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist doesn't like the referral, they will call the GP and explain their reasons. book a mental health assessment may request the GP to alter the referral or request additional details.
Referrals to the local Community Mental Health Team can be made using the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals direct patients to an initial clinical assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system is not able to be used for all kinds 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 enormous hospital or a local healthcare organisation. CMTs are a great option for those who require to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention service in which a psychiatrist works with a therapy therapist to assist someone in overcoming a crisis or improve the quality of their life.
One of the biggest challenges that CMTs CMT is ensuring that all referrals are assigned within an appropriate time frame. One of the issues is that a large number of referrals are deemed urgent, even though they may not be. This can result in delays and over-working for people who aren't in a crisis.
To tackle this issue, some CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes a referral urgent. This was achieved by using a standardised form which asks the referrer if the case is urgent. The proforma includes a box that the referrer can tick when they believe that the referral is urgent.