The Reasons To Focus On Improving Mental Health Services NHS
The Reasons To Focus On Improving Mental Health Services NHS
Blog Article
Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been an enormous increase in people seeking treatment for mental health issues and the NHS has responded by providing 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 specialist work in suicide prevention.
Helping yourself
One of four people will be affected by a mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is there are many ways to get assistance, and the majority of us will be able to recover with time. It is important to know what help is available and who can provide it.
You can seek assistance from a variety places like your doctor (primary medical doctor who treats patients) as well as your local health centre, or a community mental health team. These teams consist of occupational therapists, nurses psychotherapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work together with the people who utilize the service. You can get individual or group therapy depending on the kind of help you require.
Your doctor will typically request you to fill out an application form to send you a referral to a community mental health team. They will also talk to you about the type of help you require. You will then be examined by a member of the mental health team that may comprise a psychiatrist social worker or psychologist. In some cases your evaluation and treatment will be performed by a clinical nurse specialist. You can contact the NHS 111 helpline when you're in a crisis. If you're already supported by mental health services it's a good idea to call your usual team first, unless it's out of normal hours, on a weekend or on a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health included plans to establish more multidisciplinary, community-based, place-based mental health teams that have links to primary care networks. These teams will increase the quality of mental health care delivered to people experiencing a crisis, and will provide assistance to patients in their homes and community instead of in hospitals.
The plan also aims to make crisis services accessible by reducing wait times and opening up more beds. It would also include the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are equipped with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to make sure that patients who are suffering from mental illness are assisted in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a range of treatment options for mental health conditions. GPs typically have the ability to treat less severe disorders, but more serious issues will require the assistance of a specialist team. These teams are spread across both community and primary mental health services, and also psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe spaces 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. Previously known as IAPT These programs have seen referrals increase every year since their launch 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 crucial component of treatment. They can improve symptoms through altering the way that chemicals function 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 a variety of talking therapies, including individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these treatments are delivered in person, while others are available remotely. Some patients prefer face-to face treatment, but it's the choice of the patient. There are a variety of charities that provide classes and support groups like Mind. The site is full of reliable information, but be aware that there are numerous false or misleading statements that are posted on the internet regarding mental health issues.
The NHS is working to improve the mental health system, but it is struggling to meet the demand. There are 54 mental health trusts across the UK and the majority of they receive funding from clinical commissioning organizations to deliver their service. They typically are located in a particular region, but they can be contracted to provide national services.
The lack of resources is a major problem. There are get more info also concerns over the quality of care, and there is a shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is working to improve the services by introducing new ways of work and delivering more training. It is also introducing more secure and efficient methods to assist people in need like mobile crisis teams, as well as safe places.
Helping you
Since the NHS was first introduced 70 years ago there have been positive developments for those with mental health issues. The treatment options have increased and social barriers have been smashed down. However, there is much to do.
People who are experiencing mental health issues should receive the assistance they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve its services so that people in need can get them. We will ensure that no acute hospital does not have the mental health liaison service in A&E departments and inpatient wards by 2020/21. 70% of these services will meet the "core 24" standard by 2023/24, working towards a 100% coverage rate after that.
We will also expand services for people who require them in the community, such as talking therapies, to give hundreds of thousands more people with common or severe mental health conditions the assistance they need. We will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people are treated by trained therapists more quickly.
The NHS offers free, confidential helplines to anyone who is struggling with a mental health issue. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are operated entirely by volunteers who provide a safe place to talk or give advice and information on how to deal your mental health issues.
There are a variety of local organisations that can provide assistance and support to those suffering from mental health issues. These can include self-help guides, strategies for coping and activities to try. A lot of these organizations website offer face-to-face support groups for those who prefer this option.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students feeling down or stressed. Nightline is a student counselling service that provides confidential listening as well as information and support from knowledgeable volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink can provide an abundance of information more info and support both online and in local groups. They can also offer a variety of classes and activities, from mindfulness to art groups, which may be useful for people who suffer from mental health problems.
Making a referral
With mental health services under pressure, GPs are having to make difficult decisions about the services they will refer patients to. The GP will take a patient's medical history into account and then recommend them to a service they believe will be able to help. They may send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent provider.
A mental health specialist will then assess the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't pleased with the referral they will call the GP to discuss their decision and explain why. They may also ask 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 allows doctors and other healthcare read more professionals to send patients to either an initial clinical assessment for mental health or click here 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 can also refer patients to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). They are typically run by a major local healthcare organization or a hospital. CMTs are a good choice for those who require to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist but don't require inpatient care. They also provide an early intervention program where psychiatrists work with a psychotherapist to assist someone in overcoming any crisis or improve the quality of their life.
CMTs face the challenge of making sure that all referrals are made within a reasonable time. One of the issues is that a large number of referrals are deemed urgent, even though they might not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for those who aren't in a crisis.
To address this issue certain CMHTs are working to establish more uniform standards for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was achieved by using a standardised form which asks the referrer if they believe the case is urgent. The form has a checkbox for the referrer to tick if they feel the referral is urgent.