10 Misconceptions That Your Boss May Have Concerning 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 reaffirmed its commitment to invest more in mental healthcare services faster than the overall NHS budget. This includes specialist work in suicide prevention.
Getting help
One out of 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 most of us will improve with time. However, it is important to know what help is available, and who is able to provide it.
You can get help from your doctor or your local health center or a mental health service in your area. These teams consist of occupational therapists, nurses psychotherapists, psychotherapists, and speech and language therapists who work together with people who use the service. You can receive individual or group therapy based on the kind of help you need.
Your GP will usually require you to fill out an application form so that they can send you a referral to a local mental health team. They will also ask what is mental health assessment kind of support you need. You will be assessed by a member of an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals which includes psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In some cases a clinical nurse specialist will conduct your assessment and treatment. If you're in crisis, call the NHS 111 helpline for immediate support. If you're already being assisted by mental health services it's a good idea to contact your regular team first, unless it's outside of normal hours, on a weekend or a bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health included plans to establish more multidisciplinary, place-based community mental health teams with links to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of the care that is provided to those who are in a crisis, and provide support 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 allowing more beds. It would also include a mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are outfitted with a mental liaison nurse within the control room to make sure that those who are experiencing mental distress are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a wide array of treatment options for mental health issues. GPs are usually able to treat milder disorders, but more serious illnesses will require the assistance of a specialist team. These teams work in primary and community healthcare facilities as well as psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe places where you can seek help for those who are in crisis.
Talking therapies for depression and anxiety are among the most popular kinds of treatment. These programs, previously known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their number of referrals increase every 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 also a crucial part of treatment. They can help alleviate symptoms by altering the way that chemicals function in your brain. They can also help reduce the effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication for you.
There are many kinds of talk therapies, such as individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these treatments are delivered in-person, while others are available online. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it's the choice of the patient. There are a variety of charities that offer support groups and courses like Mind. The site contains a wealth of information that is trustworthy but you should be aware of the fact that there are many false or misleading statements on the internet concerning mental health issues.
The NHS is improving the mental health system, but it struggles to meet the demands. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. Most of them receive funding for their services from the clinical commissioning group. They usually are located in a specific area however they can also be commissioned to offer national services.
The lack of resources is a major issue. There are concerns over the quality of care and the shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is striving to improve its services by introducing new ways of working and offering more training. It also provides more efficient and safer methods to treat people in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams and safe space.
We are here to help you
Since the NHS was established 70 years ago, there have been many positive changes for people with mental health problems. Treatment options have gotten more diverse and social barriers are breaking down. But there is much more to be done.
Patients who are experiencing a mental health crisis require the ability to get the help they need quickly and easily. That's why the NHS is working hard to improve services for people who require them. By 2020/21 we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service that is available in A&E and on inpatient wards, and that 70% will be in compliance with the core 24 standard by 2023/24. Then we will work towards 100% coverage.
We will also increase services for the community, such as talking therapy, to provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of individuals suffering from mental health conditions, whether they are serious or common. We will continue to work on our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies program (IAPT) to ensure that more people suffering from mental health issues can be seen more quickly by qualified therapists.
The NHS offers confidential, free helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines that are available. These helplines are run by volunteers who provide the opportunity to talk in a secure environment or provide advice and Online mental Health assessments information about how to get mental health assessment to handle your mental health issues.
Additionally there are a variety of local organisations which can provide support and guidance to people with mental health problems. These include self-help guides, strategies for coping and activities to try. A lot of these organizations 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. There's also the Nightline student counselling service which provides confidential listening and support from skilled volunteers, or information on other services. Charities like Mind and Rethink can provide many sources of information and assistance, both Online Mental Health Assessments and in local groups. They can provide a variety of activities and courses ranging from mindfulness to art classes, which are useful for people with mental health issues.
Making a referral
With mental health services under pressure, GPs have to make difficult choices about what specialist services they should refer patients to. The doctor will take a patient's medical history into consideration and then refer them to a specialist they believe can assist. They may refer a patient to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health specialist will then review the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral they will contact the GP to discuss their decision and explain the reason. They might also ask the GP to change the referral or request more information.
The ability to refer patients to a local Community Mental Health Team can be made using the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals refer patients to either an initial clinical assessment for mental health or directly to an appointment. Not all CMHTs offer both options, and the system can't be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.
A GP may also refer patients to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). They are usually managed by a large hospital or local healthcare organization. CMTs are a great option for those who want to consult with a seasoned psychiatrist or psychologist but don't need inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention program where psychiatrists collaborate with therapist in order to assist someone in overcoming an issue or improve the quality of their life.
One of the biggest challenges that CMTs CMT is to ensure that all referrals are allocated within the proper time frame. Many referrals are considered urgent, even though they might not be. This can result in delays and over-working for those who aren't in need.
To address this issue, certain CMHTs are working to establish more uniform guidelines for what constitutes an urgent referral. This is being achieved by using the standardised referral forma that requires a referrer to consider whether the case is urgent. The form has a checkbox for the referrer to check if they feel the referral is urgent.