The History Of Mental Health Services NHS
Mental Health Services on the NHSThe NHS has responded to the increase in mental health issues by offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to invest more in mental healthcare services faster than the overall NHS budget. This will include special suicide prevention services.
Get help
One of four people will suffer from a mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is that there are a variety of ways to seek help, and most of us will recover over time. It is crucial to know what help is available and who can provide it.
You can get help from your doctor or your local health center or a mental health service in your local area. These teams consist of nurses, occupational therapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work with people who use the service. You can receive individual or group therapy depending on the type of assistance you require.
Your GP will typically require you to fill out an application form so that they can refer you to a local mental health team. They will also ask you to specify what you require in terms of support. You will then be seen by a member of the mental health team that may include a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In some instances a clinical nurse specialist will conduct your assessment and treatment. If you're experiencing crisis, contact the NHS 111 helpline for immediate assistance. If you're already supported by mental health services, it's best to call your usual team first, unless it's outside of normal hours, on a weekend or on a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the community that are connected to primary care networks. They will improve the quality of the care provided to those experiencing a mental health crisis and offer assistance within their communities and homes, rather than in hospital.
The plan also aims to make crisis services accessible by cutting down wait times and allowing more beds. It also proposes the introduction of mental health transport vehicles and ensure that every ambulance has an official who is a mental health liaison in their control rooms to ensure that those suffering from a mental health crisis are assisted in emergencies.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for mental health issues. GPs are usually able to treat less severe illnesses, however more serious illnesses will require the assistance of a specialist team. These teams are spread across community and primary mental health services, and the psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe spaces where you can get help if you are feeling in a state of crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most commonly used forms of treatment for depression and anxiety. Formerly known as IAPT the programs have seen referrals increase every year since their launch in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these programs so that 1.9 million people will be able to use them in 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are another crucial part of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals function. They can also help lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the right medication for you.
There are a variety of talking therapies, including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these therapies can be delivered in-person, while others can be done via remote access. Some patients prefer face-to face treatment, but it's a matter of choice. Mind is one of the charities that offer support groups and courses. Their website contains a wealth of information that is reliable, however you must be aware that there's plenty of misleading or false information on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is working to improve its mental health services however, it is still struggling to cope with demand. There are 54 mental health trusts in the UK, and most of are funded by clinical commissioning groups to provide their services. They are usually located in a particular region however, they can also be contracted to provide national services.
A key issue is the insufficient resources to meet rising demand. There are concerns about the quality and shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by introducing new methods of work and providing more training. It also offers more efficient and safer methods of treating those who are in crisis. These include mobile crisis teams and safe spaces.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was first introduced 70 years ago, there have been positive developments for those with mental health issues. Treatment options have increased and social barriers read more are being broken down. But there is more to be done.
Patients who are experiencing mental health problems need to be able to get the assistance they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve services so that people in need can get assistance. We will ensure that every acute hospital is without the mental health liaison service in A&E departments and wards for inpatients by 2020/21. 70% of these services will be in line with the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24, working towards achieving 100% coverage afterward.
We will also increase services for people who require them in the community, which includes psychotherapy, in order to provide hundreds of thousands of patients with severe or common mental health conditions the assistance they need. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme check here so that more people can be treated by trained therapists read more quicker.
The NHS offers confidential, free helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run entirely by volunteers who provide the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or provide advice and information about how to handle your mental health concerns.
Additionally, there are a number of local organizations that provide assistance and support for those suffering from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping techniques and activities can be included. Many of these organisations also offer support groups that meet face-to-face for those who prefer this option.
The University's Open Door Team offers website a drop-in counseling service for students who are experiencing stress or depression. Nightline is a student counseling service that offers private listening assistance, information and support from knowledgeable volunteers. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide an abundance of information and assistance, both online and in local groups. They can offer a range of activities and courses ranging including mindfulness classes to art classes that can be beneficial for those suffering from mental health issues.
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 consider the medical history of the patient and recommend them to services they believe can aid. They might send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will then assess the referral and decide if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral, they'll contact the GP to discuss their decision and explain why. They could request the GP to alter the referral or request more details.
The referral to a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) can be made through the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system lets doctors and other healthcare professionals refer patients to either a preliminary clinical assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system is not able to be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A GP may also refer patients to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). read more They are typically run by an extensive hospital or a local health care organization. CMTs are a great alternative for those looking to consult a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist, but don't require inpatient care. They also provide an early intervention service where psychiatrists work with a psychotherapist to assist someone in overcoming a crisis or improve the quality of their lives.
One of the challenges faced by a CMT is how to ensure that all suitable referrals are allocated within an appropriate time frame. One of the challenges is that many referrals are considered urgent, even though they may not be. This can cause people who aren't in a crisis to be rushed and suffer delays.
To combat this problem, a few CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes a referral urgent. This was achieved through a standardised form which asks the referrer to indicate if the case is urgent. The proforma has a box that the referrer can tick when the referral is urgent.