Mental Health Services on the NHS

The NHS has responded to the increase in mental health issues by providing services. This includes:

The Long Term Plan has made an unrepeatable commitment to increase the amount of money spent on mental health services faster than the NHS budget in general. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.

Helping yourself

One of four people will suffer from mental illness at one time in their lives. The good news is that there are a variety of different options to seek help, and most people recover after a while. But it's important to know what assistance is available and who can provide it.

You can seek help from a variety places such as your doctor (primary medical doctor for primary care) or your local health center or a community mental health team. These teams consist of nurses, occupational therapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work together with the people who utilize the service. Depending on the type of help you need you could receive individual or group therapy.

You will be asked to fill out a form from your doctor so that they can refer you to a mental health team in the community. They will also talk to you about the kind of help you need. You will be consulted by members of an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals, such as psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In certain instances the clinical nurse specialist will carry out your assessment and treatment. You can contact the NHS 111 helpline if you are in crisis. If you already receive support for your mental health, it is best to contact your primary team first, unless it's out of hours, on a weekend, or a bank holiday.

The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to establish multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the community that are connected to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of the mental health services that is provided to those who are in a crisis, and provide support to them in their homes and community instead of in hospitals.

The plan aims to make crisis services accessible by reducing wait times and opening up more beds. It would also introduce mental health transport vehicles and ensure that all ambulances have an official who is a mental health liaison in their control rooms to improve the way people suffering from an illness of mental health are supported in emergency situations.

Treatment options

The NHS provides a variety of treatment options to treat mental health problems. GPs are usually able to treat milder disorders, but more serious conditions will require an expert team. These teams operate across primary and community mental health services as well as mental health hospitals. You can also seek assistance in a secure environment if you feel in crisis.

Talking treatments for anxiety and depression are among the main types of treatment. These programs, previously known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy) have seen their numbers of clients increase every year since they were first introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to expanding these services to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.

Psychiatric medications are also a crucial component of treatment. They can improve symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals function. They can also be used to reduce the effects of other treatments. Your doctor will prescribe the right medication for you.

There are many kinds of talk therapies, such as individual therapy and group therapy. Some of these are delivered in person, but others can be delivered remotely. Some patients prefer receiving treatment in person, but that is a personal choice. There are also a number of charities which offer support groups and courses like Mind. The site is full of information that is reliable however, be aware of the fact that there are numerous false or misleading claims on the internet concerning mental health issues.


The NHS is advancing mental health care but it's struggling to meet the demand. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. mental health test uk of them receive funding for their services from the clinical commissioning groups. They typically are located in a particular region, but they can be commissioned to offer national services.

The shortage of resources is a major problem. There are also concerns about the quality of care, and a shortage of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is trying to improve these services by offering more training and introducing new ways of working. It is also introducing more efficient and safer methods to help people in crisis including mobile crisis teams, as well as safe areas.

We are here to help you

Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago, there have been many positive changes for people with mental health problems. The treatment options have increased and social barriers have been broken down. But there is much more to be done.

People who are suffering from mental illness need to receive the assistance they require quickly and easily. The NHS is striving to improve the quality of services so that people in need are able to access help. 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, and that 70 percent of these services will be in line with the 'core 24' standard by 2023/24. We will work towards 100% coverage thereafter.

We will also increase services for people who require them in the community, including psychotherapy, in order to provide hundreds of thousands more patients with severe or common mental health conditions the support they need. We will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people are seen by qualified therapists, faster.

The NHS offers confidential, no-cost assistance to anyone suffering from mental health issues. Samaritans Mind and Rethink are some of the helplines available. These helplines are run by volunteers who provide an environment where you can talk to someone in a safe manner or provide advice and information on how to deal your mental health issues.

There are also a number local organizations that can offer help and advice to those with mental health issues. They can provide self-help guides, strategies for coping and activities to try. Many of these organisations also provide support groups in person for those who prefer this option.

For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers an opportunity to consult with a counsellor at any time for those feeling down or stressed. Nightline is a student counselling service that provides confidential listening assistance, information and support from knowledgeable volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink are a excellent source of information and can offer support in many forms, including online and through local groups. They can also offer many classes and activities, from mindfulness to art classes which can be helpful for those living with mental health issues.

Referrals

Mental health services are under pressure and GPs have to make difficult decisions about which specialist services they should refer their patients to. The doctor will take a patient's medical history into account and then refer them to a specialist they believe can assist. They may send a referral either to an NHS trust or an independent provider.

A mental health professional will assess the referral to determine if it is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral, they'll call the GP and explain why. They could also ask the GP to modify the referral or ask for more information.

The ability to refer patients to a local Community Mental Health Team can be made via the NHS e-Referral Service. The system allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a preliminary clinical assessment service for mental health or directly to an appointment. However not all CMHTs offer both options and the system can't be used for every kind of mental health referral.

A GP might also decide to refer a person to a specialist community mental health service (CMT). They are typically run by an extensive hospital or a local health care organization. CMTs are a good choice for those who require to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also provide an early intervention program, where a psychiatrist collaborates with the psychotherapist to help a patient overcome a crisis or improve their life quality.

CMTs are faced with the task of making sure that all referrals are received within a reasonable amount of time. One of the challenges is that a large number of referrals are deemed as urgent, even though they may not be. This can lead to over-working and delays for people who are not in crisis.

To tackle this issue, some CMHTs are trying to establish more uniform guidelines for what is considered an urgent referral. This was achieved by using a standardised form which asks the referrer to indicate if the case is urgent. The form includes a box that the referrer can tick if they feel the referral is urgent.