Now That You've Purchased Mental Health Services NHS ... Now What?
Now That You've Purchased Mental Health Services NHS ... Now What?
Blog Article
Mental Health Services on the NHS
There has been a huge rise in people seeking help for mental health issues and the NHS has responded by providing services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to invest more in mental health services more quickly than overall NHS budget. This will include specialized work in suicide prevention.
Get assistance
One of four of us will suffer from mental health issues at some moment in our lives. The good news is that there are plenty of different ways to get assistance and the majority of us recover over time. It is crucial to know what assistance is available and who can offer it.
You can seek assistance from a variety of places such as your GP (primary medical doctor for primary care) or your local health center or a community mental health team. These teams are comprised of occupational and nurse psychotherapists, as well as speech therapists. They work with patients who require their services. You can receive individual or group therapy based on the type of help you require.
Your doctor will typically require you to fill out an application form to make a referral to a community mental health team. They will also ask what type of assistance you require. You will then be examined by a member of the mental health team that could include a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In certain instances, your assessment and treatment will be performed by a nurse specialist. If you're experiencing an emergency, you can contact the NHS 111 helpline for immediate support. If you already receive mental health services it is recommended to contact your regular 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 mental health teams in the community that are connected to primary care networks. These plans will aid in improving the quality of care delivered to people who are suffering from a mental health crisis. They will also provide support in their homes and communities, rather than in hospital.
The plan also aims at making crisis services accessible by decreasing waiting times and opening more beds. It would also include 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 improve how patients who are suffering from mental illness are assisted in emergency situations.
Treatment options
The NHS offers a wide array of treatment options for mental health conditions. GPs are usually able to treat minor conditions, but more severe issues will require the assistance of a specialist team. These teams work in community and primary health services for mental health and 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 treatments. These programs, previously known as IAPT (Interactive Assessment and Psychotherapy), have seen their referral numbers increase each year since they introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to expanding these services to ensure that 1.9 million people can access them by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are also a vital element of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering how the brain's chemicals function. They can be used to lessen the negative effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend the right medication for you.
There are many different types of talk therapies, such as group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these are delivered in person, while others can be done via a remote device. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it is the choice of the patient. There are also a number of charities which offer classes and support groups like Mind. Their website contains a wealth of trustworthy information, but you must be here aware of the fact that there's plenty of false or misleading information on the internet about mental health issues.
While the NHS is improving its mental health care however, it is still struggling to keep up with demand. There are 54 mental health trusts in the UK and the majority of are funded by clinical commissioning groups to deliver their service. They are typically located in a specific region, but can be contracted to provide national services.
A key issue is the lack of resources to meet rising demand. There are also concerns about the quality of care and the shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by introducing new methods of work and delivering more training. It also offers more secure and efficient methods of treating people in crisis. These include mobile crisis teams and secure space.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there have been numerous positive developments for those suffering from mental health issues. The treatment options have increased and social barriers have been broken down. But there is much more to be done.
Patients who are experiencing a mental health crisis must be able to get the help they require quickly and easily. The NHS is working to improve its services so that people in need are able to access assistance. By 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% will be in compliance with the core 24 standard by 2023/24. Then we will strive for 100% coverage.
We will also extend services for those who require them in the community, which includes psychotherapy, in order to provide thousands of more patients with severe or common mental health conditions the support they require. We will continue to develop the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program so that more people are treated by trained therapists faster.
The NHS provides free, confidential helplines to anyone who is struggling with mental health issues. These include the Samaritans and Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by trained volunteers. They provide the opportunity check here to talk with someone in a secure environment or provide information and advice on how to deal with your mental health concerns.
Additionally there are a variety of local organizations that can provide support and guidance to those with mental health issues. Self-help guides, coping strategies and other activities are all private mental health possible. Many of these organisations offer face-toface support groups for those who prefer it.
For students, there is the University's Open Door Team which offers a drop-in counselling service for those feeling low or stressed. Nightline is here a student counselling service that offers confidential listening assistance, information and support from knowledgeable volunteers. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide many sources of information and support both on the internet and in local groups. They offer a variety of courses and activities including mindfulness classes to art classes, which are beneficial for those with mental health issues.
Making a referral
Mental health services are under strain and GPs are forced to make difficult choices regarding which specialist services they should refer their patients to. The doctor will take into consideration the medical history of the patient and refer them to services they believe will be able aid. They can refer a patient to an NHS trust, or to an independent provider.
A mental health professional will then review the referral and decide whether it's appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral, they'll contact the GP to discuss their decision and provide the reason. They could request 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 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 refer a patient to a community mental health specialist service (CMT). They are typically operated by a large local healthcare organisation or hospital. CMTs are a great option for those who want to consult with a seasoned psychologist or psychiatrist, but do not require inpatient treatment. They can also offer an early intervention program where psychiatrists collaborate with therapist in order to help someone overcome any crisis or improve the quality of their life.
CMTs are faced with the task of making sure that all referrals are received within a reasonable time. One of the challenges is that a lot of referrals are deemed urgent, despite the fact that they click here may not be. This can lead people who aren't in a crisis to be rushed and suffer delays.
To combat this problem, some CMHTs have tried to establish more uniform standards for what constitutes an urgent referral. This was achieved by using a standardised form which asks the referrer if the case is urgent. The proforma includes a box for the referrer to check when they believe the referral is urgent.