14 Common Misconceptions About Mental Health Services NHS
Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the increase in mental health issues by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to increase investment in mental health services faster than overall NHS budget. This includes specialist work in suicide prevention.
Get help
One in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some time in our lives. The good news is there are many avenues to seek help, and many of us will improve over time. It's important to understand what assistance is available and who can provide it.
You can seek assistance from your doctor or your local health center, or a mental health team within your area. These teams are comprised of nurses, occupational therapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work together with the people who utilize the service. Depending on the type of help you need you might be provided with individual or group therapy.
You will be asked to fill out a form by 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 then be examined by a member of a mental health team, which could include a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In certain instances, a clinical nurse specialist will perform your assessment and treatment. You can call the NHS 111 helpline if you are in an emergency. If you're already being assisted by mental health services, it's best to call your usual team first, unless it's out of core hours, the weekend or on a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary mental health teams in the community that are connected to primary care networks. These plans will aid in improving the quality of care provided to those suffering from an illness of mental health and offer assistance in their homes and communities instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aimed at provide crisis services to more people by reducing waiting times and allowing more beds. It would also introduce mental health transport vehicles, and ensure that every ambulance has an official who is a mental health liaison in their control rooms to ensure people suffering from a mental health crisis are assisted in emergencies.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options for mental health problems. Disorders that are less severe are usually treated by GPs and more serious conditions require a specialist team. These teams work across primary and community mental health services as well as psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe places where you can get help if you are feeling in a crisis.
Talking therapies are among the most common types of treatment for anxiety and depression. These programs, formerly known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their referral numbers increase each year since they introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these programs to ensure that 1.9 million people will be able to use them in 2023/2024.

Psychiatric medications are also a vital component of treatment. They can improve symptoms through altering the way that chemicals function in your brain. They can also be used to alleviate the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medicine for you.
There are a variety of talking therapies, 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. Mind is one of many organizations that offer support groups and classes. The site contains a wealth of reliable information however, be aware of the fact that there are numerous false or misleading statements on the internet regarding mental health issues.
While the NHS is working to improve its mental health care however, it is still struggling to cope with demand. There are 54 mental health trusts in the UK, and most of them receive funding from clinical commissioning groups to provide their services. They typically are located in a particular region however, they can also be commissioned to deliver national services.
One of the main issues is the lack of resources to meet the demands of the rising population. There are also concerns over the quality of care and there is a shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is striving to improve its services by introducing new ways of work and providing more training. It is also introducing safer and more effective ways to help people in crisis like mobile crisis teams, as well as safe spaces.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was first introduced 70 years ago there are positive changes for people suffering from mental health issues. The treatment options have increased and social barriers have been broken down. However, there is still much to be done.
mental health assessment online experiencing mental health issues need to be able to get the help they need quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is putting in the effort to improve the quality of services for those who require them. We will ensure that no acute hospital does not have a mental health liaison in A&E departments and wards for inpatients by 2020/21. 70% of these services will meet the "core 24" standard by 2023/24. Then we will work towards achieving 100% coverage afterward.
We will also increase services for those who require them in the community, which includes talking therapies, to give hundreds of thousands of people with common or severe mental health conditions the support they require. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme so that more people are visited by therapists who are qualified, faster.
The NHS offers confidential, no-cost helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. These include the Samaritans and Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by volunteers who provide the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or give advice and information about how to handle 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 techniques and other activities are all possible. 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 a drop-in counseling service for students who are struggling or stressed. Nightline is a student counseling service that offers private listening as well as information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide many sources of information and assistance, both on the internet and in local groups. They also provide a variety of classes and activities, from mindfulness to art groups that could be beneficial for those living with mental health problems.
Referrals
Mental health services are under strain and GPs have to make difficult choices about which specialist services they should refer their patients to. The doctor will take the patient's medical history into consideration and then refer them to a specialist they think could be able to assist. They can refer a patient either to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health professional will then review the referral and decide if it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral, they will call the GP and explain why. They may also request the GP for more information or to change the referral.
The ability to refer patients to the local Community Mental Health Team can be made using the NHS e-Referral Service. 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. However there are some exceptions. CMHTs provide both options, and the system cannot be used for every type of mental health referral.
A GP may also refer patients to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). These are usually run by a major local healthcare organization or hospital. 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 a psychiatrist works with a therapy therapist to help someone overcome a crisis or improve the quality of their life.
One of the biggest challenges faced by a CMT is ensuring that all referrals are allocated within the proper time frame. One of the challenges is that a large number of referrals are considered urgent, even though they may not be. This can lead to over-working and delays for people who aren't in a crisis.
To tackle this issue, some CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes a referral urgent. This was accomplished by using a standardised form which asks the referrer to indicate if the situation is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer is able to tick if the referral is urgent.