14 Misconceptions Common To Mental Health Services NHS
14 Misconceptions Common To Mental Health Services NHS
Blog Article
Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been a massive increase in people seeking treatment for mental health issues and the NHS has responded by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan has made the commitment to increase the investment in mental health services quicker than the NHS budget overall. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.
Getting help
One in four people will suffer from mental illness at one time in their lives. The good news is there are a variety of ways to seek help, and many of us will improve with time. It is important to know what help is available and who can offer it.
You can seek assistance from a variety of places such as your doctor (primary medical doctor for primary care) or your local health centre, or a community mental health team. These teams comprise of occupational and nurse psychotherapists and speech therapists. They work with clients who seek their services. You may receive individual or group therapy depending on the type of assistance you require.
You will be asked to complete a form with your GP so that they can refer you to a mental health team in the community. They will also speak to you about the type of help you need. You will be seen by members of a mental team like a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In some instances a clinical nurse specialist will perform your assessment and treatment. If you are experiencing crisis, call the NHS 111 helpline for immediate support. If you are already receiving mental health services it is recommended to contact your primary team first, unless it is outside of hours, or on a weekend, or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health included plans to establish more place-based, multidisciplinary community mental health teams with links to primary care networks. These teams will improve the quality of the mental health services provided to those in crisis, and provide support to those within their communities and at home instead of in hospitals.
The plan aims to make emergency services available by cutting down waiting times and opening more beds. It also proposes the introduction of mental health transport vehicles and ensure that all ambulances have a mental health liaison nurse in their control rooms to ensure that people who are having a mental health crisis are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a wide array of treatment options for mental health conditions. GPs are often able to treat less severe conditions, but more severe conditions will require an expert team. These teams are spread across primary and community mental health services, and also mental health hospitals. You can also seek help in a secure space if you feel in crisis.
Talking therapies are one of the most common types of treatment for anxiety and depression. These programs, previously known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their referral numbers increase each year since they launched in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these services so that 1.9 million people will be able to use them by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medicines are also an important component of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by altering the way chemicals in your brain work. They can also help reduce the side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the best medication for you.
There are many different types of talk therapies, such as group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these therapies are delivered in-person, while others are available remotely. Some patients prefer treatment in person, but that is a personal choice. There are also a number of website charities that provide support groups and courses like Mind. Their website is full of information that is reliable, however you must be aware that there is lots of inaccurate or misleading information on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is advancing its mental health services however, it is still struggling to meet the demands. In the UK, website there are 54 mental trusts. The majority of them receive funding for their services from clinical commissioning groups. They typically are located in a specific area however, they are also able to be contracted to provide national services.
The absence of resources is a major problem. There are also concerns about the quality of care, and the shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is working to improve the quality of care by offering more training and introducing new ways of working. It also provides safer and more effective methods of treating those who are in crisis. These include mobile crisis teams and secure spaces.
Helping you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago, there have been many positive changes for people with mental health issues. The treatment options have increased and social barriers have been broken down. However, there is still much to be done.
People who are suffering from mental health issues should 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 these services. In 2020/21, we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental-health liaison service, both in A&E and on inpatient wards and that 70% of these will meet the core 24 standard by 2023/24. We will then work towards 100% more info coverage.
We will also increase services for the community, such as talking therapy, in order to provide support for hundreds of thousands of people suffering from mental health issues regardless of whether they are common or severe. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme so that more people website can be visited by therapists who are qualified, faster.
The NHS provides confidential, free helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. click here These helplines are operated by trained volunteers. They provide an environment where you can talk in a safe manner or provide information and advice on how to deal with your mental health concerns.
Additionally there are a variety of local organizations that provide assistance and support for people with mental health problems. These can include self-help guides, coping strategies, and activities to try. A lot of these organizations offer support groups that meet face-to-face for those who would prefer this type of support.
The University's Open Door Team offers a drop-in counseling service for students who are feeling down or stressed. There's also the Nightline student counselling service that offers confidential listening and support from experienced volunteers, or details on other services. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide a wealth of information and support both on the internet and in local groups. They also provide many classes and activities, from mindfulness to art groups which can be helpful for those living with mental health problems.
Referrals
Mental health services are under pressure and GPs must make difficult decisions about which specialist services they should refer their patients to. The GP will take a patient's medical history into account and then refer them to a service they think can assist. They may send a referral to an NHS trust, or an independent provider.
A mental health professional will review the referral to determine if the referral is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't happy with the referral, they'll call the GP and explain their reasons. They might also ask the GP to modify the referral or request more information.
Requests for a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) may be made via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system lets doctors and other healthcare professionals to direct patients to a preliminary clinical assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs offer both options, and the system cannot be used for all types of mental health referrals.
A doctor may also decide to refer a person to an expert community mental health service (CMT). They are usually managed by an enormous hospital or a local healthcare organization. CMTs are a great option for those who need to see a psychiatrist or psychologist but do not require inpatient treatment. They also offer an early intervention service where a psychiatrist collaborates with an therapist to help a person overcome a problem or improve their quality of life.
CMTs have the responsibility of making sure that all referrals are received within a reasonable time. Many referrals are considered urgent even though they may not be. This can cause people who aren't in crisis to be overworked and experience delays.
To combat this problem, a few CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform standards for what constitutes a referral urgent. This is being achieved by using the standardised referral forma that requires a referrer determine if the case is urgent. The proforma has a box that the referrer can tick to indicate if the request is urgent.