Mental Health Services on the NHS

There has been a huge increase 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 more quickly than overall NHS budget. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.

Getting help

One of four people will be affected by mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is that there are many ways to get help, and many of us will be able to recover over time. It is important to know what help is available and who can offer it.

You can seek assistance from a variety places such as your doctor (primary medical doctor who treats patients), your local health centre or a community mental health team. These teams consist of nurses, occupational therapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work with people who use the service. Based on the kind of help you need, you may be offered individual or group therapy.

You will be asked to fill out a form from your doctor so that they can refer you to a mental health team in the community. They will also ask you what kind of support you need. You will be assessed by an individual from a mental team, such as psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In some instances the clinical nurse specialist will carry out your assessment and treatment. If you are experiencing crisis, contact the NHS 111 helpline for immediate assistance. If you're already being supported by mental health services it's best to try and contact your usual team first, unless it's out of the normal hours, a weekend or a bank holiday.

The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary, community-based mental health teams which are connected to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of mental health care delivered to people experiencing a crisis, and offer support to those within their communities and at home rather than in hospitals.

The plan also aims at making crisis services accessible by decreasing waiting times and opening more beds. It also proposed to introduce mental health transport vehicles and make sure that all ambulances have a mental health liaison nurse in their control rooms to improve the way that those suffering from a mental health crisis are supported in emergency situations.

Treatment options

The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for mental health issues. GPs are usually able to treat milder conditions, but more severe illnesses will require an expert team. These teams work across both community and primary mental health services, and the psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek help in a secure space should you be in a state of crisis.

Talking therapies for depression and anxiety are one of the main treatments. These programs, formerly known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their number of referrals increase each 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 medicines are another important aspect of treatment. They can improve symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals function. They can also be used to lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medicine for you.

There are many different types of talking therapies, including individual therapy and group therapy. Some of them are offered in person, while others can be delivered online. Some patients prefer to receive treatment in person, but that is a personal preference. There are a variety of charities which offer classes and support groups like Mind. The site contains a wealth of reliable information, but be aware of the fact that there are numerous false or misleading statements that are posted on the internet about mental health issues.

The NHS is advancing the quality of mental health care, but it's struggling to meet the demand. In the UK there are 54 mental trusts. Most of them receive funding for their services from clinical commissioning more info groups. They are usually located in a specific area however, they may be contracted to provide national services.

The absence of resources is a major issue. There are concerns over the quality and availability of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is working to improve the quality of care by offering more training and developing new ways of working. It is also introducing more secure and efficient methods to assist people in need including mobile crisis teams, as well as safe spaces.

Supporting you

Since the NHS was established click here 70 years ago, there have been positive developments for those suffering from mental health issues. The options for treatment have grown and social barriers have been broken down. But there is more to be done.

People who are suffering from mental health issues must be able to access the help they require quickly more info and easily. The NHS is striving to improve the quality of services to ensure that those who need them receive assistance. In 2020/21, we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service both in A&E and on wards for inpatients, and that 70% will meet the core 24 standard by 2023/24. We will then work towards 100 percent coverage.

We will also expand community services, including talk therapy, to provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of people with mental health conditions, whether they are common or severe. We will continue to develop our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT), so that more here people suffering from mental health conditions can be seen quicker by trained therapists.

The NHS offers free, confidential helplines to anyone who is struggling with mental health issues. These include the Samaritans and Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated entirely by volunteers who offer an environment where you can talk to someone in a safe manner or give advice and information about how to handle your mental health issues.

Additionally there are a variety of local organisations which can offer support and guidance for those with mental health issues. These can include self-help guides, coping strategies and activities to try. Many of these organizations also provide support groups in person for those who prefer this option.

The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students who are feeling down or stressed. There's also the Nightline student counselling service which provides confidential listening and support from experienced volunteers, or details on other services. Charities like Mind and Rethink can provide a wealth of information and support, both on the internet and in local groups. They also provide various classes and activities, from mindfulness to art groups that could be beneficial for people suffering from mental health problems.

Referrals

Mental health services are under pressure and GPs must make difficult decisions about which specialist services they should refer their patients to. The GP will consider the medical history of the patient and recommend them to services they believe will be able to help. They may refer a patient to an NHS trust or an independent service.

A mental health professional will then assess the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist doesn't like the referral, they will call the GP and explain why. They may also ask the GP to provide more information or to modify the referral.

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 outpatient appointment. Not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system is not able to be used for all types of mental health referrals.

A GP may also refer patients to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). These are usually operated by a large local healthcare organization or a hospital. CMTs are a good choice for those who require to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention service where a psychiatrist will work with an counselor to help someone overcome a problem or improve their life quality.

One of the biggest challenges that CMTs CMT is ensuring that all referrals are assigned within an appropriate time frame. Many referrals are considered urgent, even though here they might not be. This can lead people who aren't in crisis to be rushed and suffer delays.

To combat this problem, 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 to indicate if the situation is urgent. The form includes a box that the referrer has to check to indicate if the request is urgent.