Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been a massive increase in people seeking help for mental health issues and the NHS has responded by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to increase investment in mental health services faster than the overall NHS budget. This includes specialist work in suicide prevention.
Get help
One out of four people will suffer from mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is that there are plenty 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 doctor or your local health center or mental health team within your local area. These teams consist of occupational therapists, nurses, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work with people who use the service. You can receive individual or group therapy based on the type of assistance you require.
You will be asked to fill out a form by your GP so that they can refer you to a mental health team in the community. They will also speak to you about the kind of help you need. You will be assessed by an individual from the mental team which includes a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In some cases a clinical nurse specialist will conduct your assessment and treatment. You can contact the NHS 111 helpline when you're in a crisis. If you're already being assisted by mental health services, it's best to contact your regular team first, unless it's outside of the normal hours, a weekend or on a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to create multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the community which are connected to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of mental health care provided to those in crisis, and will provide assistance to them in their own homes and communities rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aimed to make crisis services more accessible by reducing wait times and allowing more beds. It would also introduce mental health transport vehicles, and ensure that every ambulance has a mental health liaison nurse in their control rooms to ensure that those suffering from a mental health crisis are assisted in emergencies.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options to treat mental health problems. Less severe disorders are often treated by GPs and more serious conditions require a specialist team. These teams operate in both community and primary health services for mental health, as well psychiatric hospital. You can also seek help in a secure space if you feel in 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 introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has set the goal of expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are also a vital component of treatment. They can improve symptoms through altering the way chemicals work in your brain. They can be used to lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend the right medication for you.
There are many different types of talk therapy, including individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these therapies are offered in person, while other can be performed via remote access. Some patients prefer face to face treatment, but it's the choice of the patient. There are also a lot of charities that offer support groups and courses, such as Mind. The site contains a wealth of reliable information, but be aware that there are a lot of false or misleading statements on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is improving its mental health services however, it is still struggling to cope with demand. There are 54 mental health trusts across the UK, and most of they receive funding from clinical commissioning organizations to deliver their services. They are typically located in a specific area however, they can also be commissioned to provide national services.
The absence of resources is a major issue. There are concerns over the quality of care and the shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is working to improve the services by introducing new ways of work and providing more training. It also offers more efficient and safer ways to help those who are in crisis. These include mobile crisis teams and safe spaces.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago there are positive changes for those with mental health issues. Treatment options have increased and social barriers are breaking down. However, there is still much to be done.
People who are experiencing mental illness need to get the help they need quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve services so that people in need are able to access them. We will ensure that no acute hospital does not have a mental health liaison service in A&E departments and inpatient wards by 2020/21, and that 70% of these services will meet the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24, working towards achieving 100% coverage afterward.
We will also extend services for people who need them in the community, including talking therapies, to give hundreds of thousands of people with common or severe mental health conditions the support they require. We will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme so that more people can be treated by trained therapists quicker.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines to anyone who is struggling with a mental health issue. These include the Samaritans and Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by trained volunteers. They offer the opportunity to talk with someone in a secure environment or provide advice and information on how to deal with your mental health concerns.
There are also a number local organizations that can offer assistance and support to those suffering from mental health issues. These include self-help guides, coping strategies and activities to try. Many of these organizations offer face-toface support groups to those who would prefer it.
For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers the opportunity to visit a counselling center for those who are feeling depressed or stressed. Nightline is a student counselling service that offers confidential listening as well as information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide many sources of information and support both online and in local groups. They also provide a variety of courses and activities, from mindfulness to art groups which can be helpful for those living with mental health problems.
Referring someone to you
With mental health services under pressure, doctors are forced to make difficult choices about which specialist services they can refer patients to. The doctor will take the patient's medical history into account and then refer them to a specialist they think can assist. They may refer a patient to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will then review the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't pleased with the referral they will contact the GP to discuss their decision and provide the reasons. They could also ask the GP to change the referral or request more details.
Referrals to a local Community Mental Health Team can be made via the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows GPs and other health professionals to refer people to either a preliminary mental health assessment or directly to an outpatient appointment. However there are some exceptions. CMHTs offer both options and the system isn't able to be used for every kind of mental health referral.
A doctor may also refer a patient to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). They are usually managed by a large hospital or local healthcare organization. CMTs are a good choice for those who need to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient care. They also offer an early intervention service where a psychiatrist will work with the counselor to help someone overcome a crisis or improve their quality of life.
CMTs face the challenge of ensuring that all referrals are made within a reasonable time frame. Many referrals are considered urgent, even if they may not be. This can cause people who aren't in a crisis to be overworked and experience delays.
To tackle this issue, some CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was achieved by using a standardised form that asks the referrer if the case is urgent. The proforma includes a box for the referrer to check in the event that they believe that the referral is urgent.