Mental Health Services on the NHS

There has been a massive increase in people seeking help for mental health issues, and the NHS has responded by offering 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 overall. This will include specialist work in suicide prevention.

Need help?

One of four of us will have mental health issues at some point in our lives. The good news is that there are a variety of ways to seek assistance, and the majority of us will improve over time. However, it is important to know what help is available, and who is able to provide it.

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


Your GP will typically require you to fill out the form so that they can send you a referral to a local mental health team. They will also speak to you about what kind of help you need. You will be consulted by an individual from the mental team which includes psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. In certain instances, a clinical nurse specialist will conduct your assessment and treatment. You can contact the NHS 111 helpline for assistance if you're in an emergency. If you're already being assisted by mental health services, it's a good idea to call your usual team first, unless it's outside of normal hours, on a weekend or a bank holiday.

The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to create multidisciplinary, community-based mental health teams which are connected to primary care networks. These teams will enhance the quality of the care provided to those in crisis, and offer support to patients within their communities and at home rather than in hospitals.

The plan also aims to make crisis services more accessible by cutting down wait times and opening up more beds. It would also introduce the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are equipped with an individual who is a mental liaison nurse in the control room to make sure that people experiencing a mental crisis are helped in times of crisis.

Treatment options

The NHS provides a wide range of treatment options for people suffering from mental health problems. The less severe disorders are typically treated by GPs, while more serious disorders require specialists. These teams operate across both community and primary mental health services, and also mental health hospitals. There are also safe places where you can seek assistance for those who are in a state of crisis.

Talking treatments for anxiety and depression are among the most popular types of treatment. Previously known as IAPT, these programs have seen the number of people who seek them increase every year since their introduction in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these services so that 1.9 million people can access them by 2023/2024.

Psychiatric medicines are another important component of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals work. They can be used to minimize the adverse effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you.

A wide range of talking therapy options are available including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these therapies can be offered in person, while other are available via remote access. Some patients prefer face-to face treatment, but it is a matter of choice. There are also a number of charities that offer classes and support groups like Mind. Their website is full of information that is reliable, however you should be aware that there's a lot of false or misleading information on the internet about mental health issues.

The NHS is improving mental health care but it is struggling to meet demand. In the UK, there are 54 mental trusts. They receive the majority of funding for their services from clinical commissioning group. They typically are located in a particular region, but they can be commissioned to provide national services.

The shortage of resources is a major issue. There are concerns about the quality and availability of nurses and psychiatrists. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by offering more training and introducing new methods of working. It is also introducing more efficient and safer methods to assist people in need like mobile crisis teams, as well as safe places.

We are here to help you

Since the NHS was established 70 years ago, there have been positive changes for those suffering from mental health issues. The options for treatment have grown and social barriers have been broken down. But there's still a lot to be done.

People who are suffering from mental health issues need to be able to access the assistance they require quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is working hard to improve the quality of services for those who need them. By 2020/21 we will ensure that all acute hospitals have a mental-health liaison service both in A&E and on wards for inpatients and that 70% will meet the standard of 24 by 2023/24. We will then strive for 100% coverage.

We will also enhance services for the community, such as talking therapy, to offer assistance to hundreds of thousands of people with mental health problems regardless of whether they are common or severe. We will continue to develop our national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT) to ensure that more people with mental health conditions can be seen quicker by qualified therapists.

The NHS provides free, confidential helplines to anyone who is struggling with mental health issues. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by trained volunteers. They provide an environment where you can talk in a safe manner, or offer guidance and information on how to manage your mental health concerns.

There are a variety of local organizations that can offer support and guidance to people who suffer from mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping strategies and other activities are all possible. Many of these organisations offer face-toface support groups for those who prefer it.

For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers the opportunity to visit a counselling center for those who feel down or stressed. Nightline is a student counseling service that offers confidential listening as well as information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities like Mind and Rethink can provide a wealth of information and support, both online and in local groups. They also offer many classes and activities, ranging from mindfulness to art groups that could be beneficial for people who suffer from mental health issues.

Referring someone to you

With mental health services under pressure, GPs have to make difficult choices about the services they will refer patients to. The doctor will take into consideration the medical history of the patient and refer them to services they believe will be able to aid. They can send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent provider.

how can i get a mental health assessment will then assess the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't pleased with the referral they will contact the GP to discuss their decision and explain the reason. They might request the GP to alter the referral or ask for more details.

Referrals to a local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) can be made through the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). The system allows GPs as well as other healthcare professionals to refer people to either a mental health assessment or directly to an outpatient appointment. Not all CMHTs provide both options, and the system cannot be used for all kinds of mental health referrals.

A GP might also decide to refer a patient to an expert community mental health service (CMT). These are usually run either by a large hospital or local healthcare organization. CMTs are a great alternative for those looking to consult with a seasoned psychiatrist or psychologist but don't need inpatient treatment. They also provide an early intervention program where psychiatrists collaborate with therapy therapist to assist someone in overcoming any crisis or improve the quality of their life.

One of the challenges that CMTs CMT is how to ensure that all appropriate referrals are assigned within an appropriate time frame. One of the challenges is that a large number of referrals are deemed urgent, even though they might not be. This can result in over-working and delays for people who aren't in need.

To tackle this issue, some CMHTs are trying to establish more consistent guidelines for what is an urgent referral. This was achieved by using a standardised form that asks the referrer if the case is urgent. The form has a checkbox that the referrer has to check to indicate if the referral is urgent.