20 Things You Must Know About Mental Health Services NHS
Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been an enormous 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 boost investment in mental health services faster than the overall NHS budget. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.
Need help?
One in four people will be affected by mental illness at one point during their lives. The good news is that there are a variety of different options to seek help and most of us recover with time. It is crucial to know what help is available and who can offer it.
You can seek assistance from a variety of sources, including your doctor (primary medical doctor who treats patients), your local health center or a community mental health team. These teams consist of nurses, occupational and psychotherapists and speech therapists. They work with patients who require their services. Based on the type of help you need, you may be offered individual or group therapy.
You will be asked to complete a form with 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 help you require. You will be consulted by a member of a mental team, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In moved here and treatment will be carried out by a clinical nurse specialist. If you are experiencing crisis, call the NHS 111 helpline for urgent assistance. If you're already being supported by mental health services it's best to contact your regular team first unless it's out of normal hours, on a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health included plans to establish more multidisciplinary, place-based community mental health teams, with connections to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of the mental health services delivered to people experiencing a crisis, and offer support to them in their homes and community rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aimed to help make crisis services more accessible by reducing waiting times and allowing more beds. It also proposes the introduction of mental health transport vehicles, and ensure that every ambulance has a mental health liaison nurse in their control rooms to improve the way that those suffering from an illness of mental health are assisted in emergencies.
Treatment options
The NHS provides a wide range of treatment options for people suffering from mental health problems. Disorders that are less severe are usually treated by GPs and more serious conditions require specialists. These teams work across primary and community mental health services, and mental health hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a safe space should you be in a state of crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most common types of treatment for depression and anxiety. Previously known as IAPT the programs have seen referral numbers increase every year since their launch in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these programs to ensure that 1.9 million people will be able to use them in 2023/2024.
The use of psychiatric medication is also an important component of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by changing the way chemicals in your brain work. They can also be used to lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend the right medication for you.
A wide range of talking therapy options are offered including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these therapies are delivered in person, while others can be done via remote access. Some patients prefer receiving treatment in person, but that is a personal decision. There are also a number of charities which offer support groups and courses, such as Mind. The site is full of information that is trustworthy but you should be aware that there are numerous false or misleading statements on the internet regarding mental health issues.
While the NHS is working to improve its mental health care, it still struggles to meet the demands. 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 region however, they may be commissioned to offer national services.
The lack of resources is a major problem. There are also concerns over the quality of care, and the shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is striving to improve its services by introducing new ways of work and providing more training. It is also introducing more secure and efficient methods to assist people in need like mobile crisis teams, as well as safe spaces.
Helping you
Since the NHS launched 70 years ago there have been numerous positive changes for people with mental health problems. Treatment options have expanded and social barriers are being taken down. But there's still a lot to do.
People experiencing a mental health crisis require the ability to get the help they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve its services to ensure that those in need receive them. We will ensure that every acute hospital is without a mental health liaison in A&E departments and inpatient wards by 2020/21. 70 percent of these services will be in line with the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24. We will work towards achieving 100% coverage afterward.
We will also enhance community services, including talking therapy, in order to provide support for hundreds of thousands of people with mental health issues regardless of whether they are serious or common. We will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people are treated by trained therapists quicker.
The NHS offers confidential, free helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. These include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers and provide a safe space to talk or provide guidance and information on how to manage your mental health concerns.
Additionally, there are a number of local organizations that offer support and guidance for those suffering from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping strategies and other activities are all possible. Many of these organizations offer support groups that meet face-to-face to those who prefer it.
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. Nightline is a student counselling service that provides confidential listening as well as information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink can provide many sources of information and support, both on the internet and in local groups. They can provide a variety of activities and courses ranging from mindfulness to art classes, which are beneficial for those with mental health issues.
Making a referral
With mental health services under pressure, doctors are forced to make difficult decisions regarding what specialist services they should refer patients to. The doctor will take a patient's medical history into consideration and then recommend them to a service they believe can assist. They might send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health professional will examine the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral, they'll call the GP and explain why. They may request the GP to change the referral or request additional information.
The referral to a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) may be made via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system lets doctors and other healthcare professionals to direct patients to an initial clinical assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs offer both options, and the system can't be used for all types of mental health referrals.
A GP may decide to refer a person to a specialized community mental health service (CMT). They are typically run by a major local health organization or a hospital. CMTs can be a good alternative for those looking to see an experienced psychologist or psychiatrist, but don't need inpatient treatment. They also offer an early intervention service where a psychiatrist works with an therapist to help a person overcome a problem or improve their quality of life.
One of the biggest challenges faced by a CMT is how to ensure that all appropriate referrals are made within an appropriate time frame. Many referrals are considered urgent, even if they may not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for people who are not in crisis.
To tackle this issue, some CMHTs are trying to establish more uniform guidelines for what is considered an urgent referral. This is being achieved by using a standardised referral proforma that requires the referrer to consider whether the case is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer has to check to indicate if the referral is urgent.