The Advanced Guide To Mental Health Services NHS
Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been a huge increase in people seeking treatment 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 the overall NHS budget. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.
Get assistance
One out of four people will suffer from mental illness at one time in their lives. The good news is there are many ways to get assistance, and the majority of us will recover over time. But it's important to know what assistance is available and who is able to provide it.
You can seek help from a variety places, including your doctor (primary medical doctor who treats patients) as well as your local health centre or a community mental health team. These teams are comprised of nurses, occupational therapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work together with those who utilize the service. Based on the type of help you need you might be provided with 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 service in the community. They will also talk with you about the type of assistance you require. You will be seen by members of a mental team which includes psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In some instances the assessment and treatment will be performed by a nurse specialist. You can contact the NHS 111 helpline for assistance if you're in crisis. If you're already being assisted by mental health services, it's a good idea to contact your regular team first unless it's out of the normal hours, a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health set out plans to establish more place-based, multidisciplinary community mental health teams with links to primary care networks. These will help to improve the quality of care given to those experiencing a mental health crisis and provide support within their communities and homes, rather than in hospital.
The plan also aims to make crisis services more accessible by decreasing wait times and allowing more beds. It would also include the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are stocked with an individual who is a mental liaison nurse in the control room to improve how those who are experiencing mental distress are supported during emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for mental health conditions. The less severe disorders are typically treated by GPs, while more serious disorders require an expert team. These teams operate across both community and primary mental health services, and mental health hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a safe space when you are in a crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most commonly used forms of treatment for anxiety and depression. These programs, previously referred to as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their referral numbers increase each year since they first introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these services so that 1.9 million people can access them by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric drugs are a different component of treatment. full mental health assessment can alleviate symptoms by altering the way that chemicals function in your brain. They can be used to lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medicine for you.
A wide variety of talking therapy options are available, including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these therapies can be delivered in person, while others can be performed online. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it's an individual choice. Mind is one of many charities that offer support groups and courses. The site contains a wealth of reliable information but you should be aware that there are numerous false or misleading claims on the internet regarding mental health issues.
The NHS is advancing mental health care but it's struggling to meet demand. There are 54 mental health trusts across the UK and the majority of are funded by clinical commissioning groups to deliver their service. They typically are located in a specific area, but they can be contracted to provide national services.
A key issue is the insufficient resources to meet rising demand. There are concerns about the quality of care and the shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by delivering more training and developing new ways of working. It also introduces more efficient and safer methods to help people in crisis including mobile crisis teams and secure areas.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been numerous positive developments for people suffering from mental health problems. Treatment options have expanded and social barriers are being taken down. But there is much more to be done.
Patients who are experiencing mental health problems require the ability to access the assistance they require quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is striving to improve services for people who require these services. We will ensure that no acute hospital does not have a mental health liaison service in A&E departments and wards for inpatients by 2020/21. We will also ensure that 70% of these services will be in line with the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24. We will work towards 100% coverage thereafter.
We will also increase services for people who need them in the community, such as therapy for talking, which will give hundreds of thousands more people with common or severe mental health conditions the assistance they need. We will continue to develop our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies program (IAPT) to ensure that more people suffering from mental health issues can be seen quicker by therapists who are qualified.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines to anyone struggling with a mental health issue. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They offer an environment where you can talk in a safe manner or provide advice and information on how to deal with your mental health concerns.
In addition to that, there are a lot of local organizations that can provide support and guidance to those with mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping methods and activities can be included. Many of these organisations also offer face-to-face support groups for those who prefer this method.
For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers the opportunity to visit a counselling center for those who feel low or stressed. There is also the Nightline student counselling service which provides confidential listening and support from skilled volunteers, or information about other services. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information and provide support in a variety of ways such as online and through local groups. They can also offer a variety of classes and activities, from mindfulness to art classes which can be helpful for people suffering from mental health problems.
Referrals
With mental health services under pressure, GPs are having 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 can assist. They may send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health professional will review the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't pleased with the referral they will call the GP to discuss their decision and provide the reason. They can also ask the GP to provide more information or to change the referral.
Requests for 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 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 doctor may also refer a patient to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). They are usually managed by an enormous hospital or a local healthcare organization. CMTs are a great option for those who want to consult a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention service where a psychiatrist collaborates with a counselor to help someone overcome a problem or improve their quality of life.
CMTs face the challenge of making sure that all referrals are received within a reasonable time frame. Many referrals are deemed urgent, even if they may not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for people who are not in crisis.
To address this issue, some CMHTs have attempted to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes a referral urgent. This is being achieved through the use of the standardised referral forma that requires a referrer to consider whether the case is urgent. The form includes a box for the referrer to tick if they feel that the referral is urgent.