An Easy-To-Follow Guide To Mental Health Services NHS
Mental Health Services on the NHS
The NHS has responded to the increase in mental health problems by offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made an unrepeatable commitment to increase investment in mental health services faster than the NHS budget in general. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.
Get help
One in four people will be affected by mental illness at some point during their lives. mental health assessment uk is that there are many different ways to get help and most of us recover over time. It's important to understand the types of help available and who can offer it.
You can seek help from your GP, your local health center or a mental health service in your community. These teams are comprised of nurses, occupational therapists psychotherapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who collaborate with those who utilize the service. You may receive individual or group therapy, based on the kind of help you need.
You will be asked to complete a form with your doctor so that they can refer you to a mental health professional in the community. They will also talk to you about the kind of help you need. You will then be seen by a member of the mental health team, which may include a psychiatrist, social worker or psychologist. In certain instances, your assessment and treatment will be performed by a specialist in clinical nursing. If you're experiencing a crisis, you can call the NHS 111 helpline for urgent assistance. If you're already supported by mental health services, it's a good idea to contact your regular team first, unless it's out of core hours, the weekend or on a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health set out plans to establish more multidisciplinary, place-based community mental health teams that have links to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of the care provided to those in crisis, and will provide assistance to patients within their communities and at home rather than in hospitals.
The plan aims to make crisis services more accessible by decreasing wait times and opening up more beds. It also proposes the introduction of mental health transport vehicles and make sure that all ambulances have an official who is a mental health liaison in their control rooms to improve the way that those suffering from an illness of mental health are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a variety of treatment options for mental health issues. GPs typically have the ability to treat milder conditions, but more severe illnesses will require the assistance of a specialist team. These teams operate in primary and community health services for mental health and psychiatric hospitals. You can also seek help in a secure environment if you feel in crisis.
Talking treatments for anxiety and depression are among the most popular kinds of treatment. These programs, previously known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their numbers of clients increase each year since they were 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 medicines are another important component of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering the way chemicals work in your brain. They can also be used to reduce the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication for you.
A wide variety of talking therapy treatments are available which include group therapy as well as individual therapy. Some of these can be delivered in person, while others are available remotely. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it is an individual choice. Mind is one of many charities that provide support groups and classes. The site contains a wealth of reliable information, but be aware of the fact that there are numerous false or misleading claims on the internet regarding mental health issues.
The NHS is advancing mental health care but it struggles to meet the demands. There are 54 mental health trusts in the UK and the majority of they receive funding from clinical commissioning groups to deliver their service. They usually are located in a specific area however they can also be commissioned to offer national services.
The main issue is the lack of resources to meet the demands of the rising population. There are concerns about the quality and shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is working to improve these services by providing more training and introducing new ways of working. It is also introducing more efficient and safer methods to assist people in need like 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 changes for those with mental health issues. Treatment options have gotten more diverse and social barriers are being broken down. But there is still more to be done.
People who are experiencing a mental crisis need to receive the help they require quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is working hard to improve the quality of services for those who need them. We will ensure that every acute hospital is without the mental health liaison service in A&E departments and wards for patients by 2020/21. We will also ensure that 70% of these services will be in line with the "core 24" standard by 2023/24, working towards a 100% coverage rate after that.
We will also enhance services for the community, such as talking therapy, in order to provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of people suffering from mental health conditions regardless of whether they are serious or common. We will continue to work on our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT), so that more people suffering from mental health problems can be seen more quickly by trained therapists.
The NHS offers free, confidential helplines to anyone who is struggling with mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines available. These helplines are run entirely by volunteers who provide a safe place to talk or offer advice and guidance on how to manage your mental health concerns.
Additionally there are mental health assessment uk of local organizations that offer support and guidance for those with mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping strategies and activities can be included. Many of these organisations also offer face-to-face support groups for those who would prefer this type of support.
For students, there is the University's Open Door Team which offers a drop-in counselling service for those who feel down or stressed. There is also the Nightline student counselling service, which offers confidential listening and support from experienced volunteers, as well as information about other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information and provide support in a variety of ways, including online and through local groups. They also offer various classes and activities, ranging from mindfulness to art classes that could be beneficial for people who suffer from mental health issues.
Referrals
With mental health services under pressure, doctors are forced to make difficult decisions about what specialist services they should refer patients to. The GP will look at the medical history of the patient and refer them to services they believe will be able to assist. They can send a referral to an NHS trust, or an independent provider.

A mental health specialist will then evaluate the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist doesn't like the referral, they will contact the GP and explain why. They might also ask the GP to change the referral or ask for more details.
Requests for a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) can be made through the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to send patients to either an initial clinical assessment for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system cannot be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A doctor may decide to refer a person to an expert community mental health service (CMT). They are usually managed by a large hospital or local healthcare organisation. CMTs can be a good alternative for those looking to consult with a seasoned psychiatrist or psychologist but don't need inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention program, where a psychiatrist works with a psychotherapist to help a patient overcome a crisis or improve their life quality.
CMTs have the responsibility of ensuring that all referrals are made within a reasonable time frame. Many referrals are deemed urgent even though they may not be. This can cause people who aren't experiencing a crisis to be overwhelmed and suffer delays.
To address this issue, a few CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform standards for what constitutes a referral urgent. This has been accomplished by using a standardised referral proforma that requires a referrer to decide if the situation is urgent. The form includes a box that the referrer can tick when they believe that the referral is urgent.