Mental Health Services on the NHS<br /><br />There has been a massive rise in people seeking help for mental health issues and the NHS has responded by providing services. This includes:<br /><br />The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to increase investment in mental health services more quickly than overall NHS budget. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.<br /><br />Getting help<br /><br />One of four people will suffer from a mental illness at some point during their lives. The good news is there are many ways to get assistance, and the majority of us will improve over time. It is essential to know what help is available, and who is able to provide it.<br /><br />You can get help from your GP or your local health center or mental health service in your local area. These teams are comprised of nurses, occupational therapists psychotherapists, psychotherapists, and speech and language therapists who work together with the people who utilize the service. Based on the type of help you need, you may be offered individual or group therapy.<br /><br />You will be asked to fill out a form from your GP so that they can refer you to a mental health service in the community. They will also talk to you about the type of help you require. You will be seen by members of the mental team which includes a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In certain instances your evaluation and treatment will be carried out by a nurse specialist. If you are experiencing an emergency, you can call the NHS 111 helpline for urgent assistance. If you are already receiving mental health services, it is best to call your usual team first, unless it's out of office hours, on a weekend or a bank holiday.<br /><br />The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health included plans to establish more multidisciplinary, community-based, place-based mental health teams with links to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of mental health care that is provided to those who are in a crisis, and will provide assistance to them within their communities and at home rather than in hospitals.<br /><br />The plan also aimed to provide crisis services to more people by reducing wait times and allowing more beds. It also proposes the introduction of mental health transport vehicles, and ensure that every ambulance has a mental health liaison nurse in their control rooms to ensure that people who are having mental health issues are assisted in emergencies.<br /><br />Treatment options<br /><br />The NHS offers a range of treatment options for mental health issues. <a href="https://www.iampsychiatry.uk/private-mental-health-assessments/">how to get a mental health assessment uk</a> are typically treated by GPs, while more serious conditions require specialists. These teams are spread across primary and community mental health services, and also psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe spaces where you can get help when you're in crisis.<br /><br />Talking therapies for depression and anxiety are among the most popular types of treatment. Previously known as IAPT These programs have seen referrals increase every year since their introduction in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to expanding these programs to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.<br /><br />Psychiatric medicines are another important part of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering the way the brain's chemicals work. They can be used to reduce the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will suggest the best medication for you.<br /><br />There are many kinds of talk therapy, including individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these can be delivered in person, but others can be done remotely. Some patients prefer to receive treatment in person, but this is a personal preference. Mind is one of the charities that offer support groups and classes. Their website contains a wealth of reliable information, but you should be aware that there's a lot of misleading or false information on the internet about mental health issues.<br /><br />While the NHS is advancing its mental health services however, it is still struggling to keep up with demand. In the UK there are 54 mental trusts. The majority of them receive funding for their services from clinical commissioning groups. They typically are located in a particular region however, they are also able to be commissioned to deliver national services.<br /><br />The absence of resources is a major problem. There are also concerns about the quality of care and a shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is working to improve these services by offering more training and developing new ways of working. It is also introducing more secure and efficient methods to assist people in need including mobile crisis teams and secure areas.<br /><br />Supporting you<br /><br />Since the NHS was established 70 years ago there have been a lot of positive changes for people with mental health problems. Treatment options have expanded and social barriers are breaking down. But there's still a lot to do.<br /><br />People experiencing a mental health crisis must be able to get the assistance they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve services to ensure that those in need receive help. We will ensure that no acute hospital does not have a mental health liaison in A&amp;E departments and wards for inpatients by 2020/21, and that 70% of these services will meet the "core 24" standard by 2023/24. We will work towards 100% coverage thereafter.<br /><br />We will also enhance community services, including talk therapy, in order to provide support for hundreds of thousands of individuals suffering from mental health conditions, whether they are serious or common. We will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people can be seen by qualified therapists, more quickly.<br /><br />The NHS provides confidential, free assistance to anyone suffering from mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They offer a safe space to talk or give information and advice on how to tackle your mental health concerns.<br /><br /><br /><br />There are also a number local organizations that can offer support and guidance to people with mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping strategies and other activities are all possible. Many of these organizations offer support groups that meet face-to-face to those who prefer it.<br /><br />The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students experiencing stress or depression. Nightline is a student counseling service that offers private listening assistance, information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities such as Mind and Rethink are a great source of information and offer support in many forms that include online and through local groups. They also offer a variety of courses and activities, from mindfulness to art groups, which may be useful for people suffering from mental health issues.<br /><br />Referring someone to you<br /><br />Mental health services are under pressure and GPs are forced to make difficult decisions about which specialist services to refer their patients to. The doctor will take a patient's medical history into account 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.<br /><br />A mental health professional will then evaluate the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral they will contact the GP to discuss their decision and explain why. They may also ask the GP for more details or to alter the referral.<br /><br />The referral to a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) may be made via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system allows GPs and other health professionals to refer people to either a mental health clinical assessment service or directly to an appointment with an outpatient. However, not all CMHTs offer both options and the system can't be used for every kind of mental health referral.<br /><br />A doctor may decide to refer a patient to a specialist community mental health service (CMT). These are usually run either by an enormous hospital or a local healthcare organization. CMTs are a great alternative for those looking to consult with a seasoned psychologist or psychiatrist but don't require inpatient care. They also offer an early intervention service where a psychiatrist will work with a psychotherapist to help a patient overcome a crisis or improve their quality of life.<br /><br />One of the major challenges that CMTs CMT is how to ensure that all suitable referrals are made within the proper time frame. One of the problems is that many referrals are considered urgent, even though they may not be. This can lead people who aren't in a crisis to be rushed and suffer delays.<br /><br />To tackle this issue, some CMHTs are trying to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was achieved by using a standardised form which asks the referrer if they believe the situation is urgent. The proforma includes a box that the referrer can tick when they believe the referral is urgent.<br /><br />