Why We Do We Love Mental Health Services NHS (And You Should Too!)
Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the rising number of mental health problems by offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made the commitment to increase investment in mental health services quicker than the NHS budget overall. This will include specialist work in suicide prevention.
Need help?
One of four of us will have a mental health problem at some moment in our lives. The good news is that there are a variety of different options to seek help, and most people recover after a while. However, it is important to know what help is available, and who can provide it.
You can get help from your physician or your local health center, or a mental health team in your local area. These teams consist of nurses, occupational and speech therapists, and psychotherapists. They collaborate with people who use their services. You can get individual or group therapy, based on the kind of help you need.
You will be asked to fill out a form by your GP so they can refer you to a mental health team in the community. They will also talk with you about what kind of help you need. Then, you will be viewed by a member of a mental health team, which may comprise a psychiatrist psychologist or social worker. In some instances the assessment and treatment will be conducted by a nurse specialist. If you're in an emergency, you can call the NHS 111 helpline for immediate support. If you are already receiving mental health support it is recommended to contact your regular team first, unless it's out of office hours, on a weekend or bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to create multidisciplinary, community-based mental health teams which are connected to primary care networks. These teams will improve the quality of the care delivered to people experiencing a crisis, and offer support to patients within their communities and at home instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aimed to provide crisis services to more people by reducing waiting times and allowing more beds. It would also introduce a mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are equipped with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to improve how people experiencing a mental crisis are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options to treat mental health conditions. The less severe disorders are typically treated by GPs, while more serious conditions require an expert team. These teams operate across community and primary mental health services and also mental health hospitals. There are also safe places where you can seek help if you are feeling in a state of crisis.
Talking therapies for depression and anxiety are one of the main kinds of treatment. Previously referred to as IAPT These programs have seen referrals increase every year since they were introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these programs to ensure that 1.9 million people can access them in 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are another crucial part of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by changing the way chemicals in your brain work. They can also be used to alleviate the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the right medicine for you.
There are many different types of talking therapies, including individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these can be delivered in person, but others can be done remotely. Some patients prefer face to face treatment, but it's a matter of choice. There are also a lot of charities that offer support groups and courses like Mind. The site contains a wealth of information that is trustworthy however, be aware of the fact that there are many false or misleading statements on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is advancing its mental health services, 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 typically located in a specific area, but can be commissioned to deliver national services.
The main issue is the insufficient resources to meet the growing demand. There are also concerns over the quality of care and there is a shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is working to improve the quality of care by delivering more training and introducing new ways of working. It is also introducing more efficient and safer methods to help people in crisis, such as mobile crisis teams, as well as safe places.
Helping you
Since the NHS launched 70 years ago there have been numerous positive developments for people suffering from mental health issues. The options for treatment have grown and social barriers have been taken down. But there is more to be done.
People who are suffering from mental health issues require the ability to access the help they require quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is striving to improve the quality of services for those who require these services. By 2020/21, we will make sure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service, both in A&E as well as on wards for patients and that 70% will be in compliance with the core 24 standard by 2023/24. Then we will strive for 100% coverage.
We will also extend 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 support they need. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people can be seen by qualified therapists, more quickly.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines for anyone suffering from a mental health issue. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines available. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They provide a safe space to talk or provide advice and information on how to manage your mental health concerns.
There are also local organisations that can provide support and guidance to people suffering from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping strategies and other activities are available. Many of these organizations provide support groups in person for those who prefer it.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students struggling or stressed. Nightline is a student counselling service that provides confidential listening assistance, information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink can provide a wealth of information and support, both on the internet and in local groups. They can provide a variety of courses and activities from mindfulness to art classes, which are beneficial for those with mental health issues.
Referring someone to you
With mental health services under pressure, GPs have to make difficult decisions about the services they will refer patients to. The GP will consider the medical history of the patient and refer them to services they believe will be able to help. They may refer a patient to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will examine the referral to determine if it is appropriate or not. If the specialist doesn't like the referral, they'll call the GP and explain their reasons. They may also ask the GP to alter the referral or request additional details.
Referrals to a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) can be made through the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system allows GPs as well as other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a preliminary mental health clinical assessment service or directly to an appointment with an outpatient. However not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system cannot be used for every kind of mental health referral.
A doctor may decide to refer a patient to an expert community mental health service (CMT). They are typically run by a large local healthcare organization or a hospital. CMTs can be a good alternative for those looking to consult with a seasoned psychiatrist or psychologist but don't need inpatient treatment. They also provide an early intervention program where psychiatrists work with a therapist in order to help someone overcome a crisis or improve the quality of their lives.
One of the challenges faced by CMTs CMT is ensuring that all appropriate referrals are assigned within the appropriate timeframe. mental health assessments of the problems is that a large number of referrals are deemed urgent, despite the fact that they may not be. This can cause people who aren't experiencing a crisis to be overwhelmed and suffer delays.
To combat this problem, a few CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes a referral urgent. This has been achieved by using an established referral form that requires a referrer determine if the case is urgent. The proforma includes a box that the referrer can tick if they feel the referral is urgent.