What Will Mental Health Services NHS Be Like In 100 Years?
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 offering services. This includes:
The Long Term Plan reaffirmed its commitment to boost investment in mental health services more quickly than the overall NHS budget. This will include specialist suicide prevention work.
Getting help
One of four people will suffer from a mental illness at some time in their lives. The good news is there are a variety of ways to seek help, and most of us will recover over time. It is crucial to know the types of help available and who can provide it.
You can get help from your GP or your local health center or a mental health service in your local area. These teams are made up of nurses, occupational therapists, psychotherapists and speech and language therapists who work together with those who utilize the service. Depending on the type of help you need, you may be offered individual or group therapy.
Your GP will usually 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 the kind of help you need. Then, you will be viewed by a member of the mental health team that may include a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. In certain instances, your assessment and treatment will be conducted by a specialist in clinical nursing. If you're experiencing a crisis, you can contact the NHS 111 helpline for immediate assistance. If you already receive mental health services it is recommended to contact your primary team first, unless it is out of office hours, on a weekend or bank holiday.
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health detailed plans to create multidisciplinary mental health teams in the community which are connected to primary care networks. These plans will aid in improving the quality of the care provided to those experiencing an illness of mental health and offer support within their communities and homes rather than in hospitals.
The plan also aims at making crisis services accessible by reducing waiting times and opening more beds. It also proposes the mental transport vehicle and ensure that all ambulances are equipped with a mental liaison nurse in the control room to make sure that patients who are suffering from mental illness are helped in times of crisis.
Treatment options
The NHS provides a variety of treatment options to treat mental health issues. Disorders that are less severe are usually treated by GPs, while more serious conditions require a specialist team. These teams work across primary and community mental health services, and also the psychiatric hospitals. There are also safe places where you can seek assistance if you are feeling in a state of crisis.
Talking treatments for anxiety and depression are one of the main kinds of treatment. Previously known as IAPT the programs have seen referral numbers increase every year since they were introduced in 2008. The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to expanding these programs to 1.9 million people by 2023/2024.
Psychiatric medications are another crucial aspect of treatment. They can alleviate symptoms by altering the way that chemicals function in your brain. They can also be used to ease side effects of other treatments. Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you.
A wide variety of talking therapy options are offered including group therapy and individual therapy. Some of these therapies can be delivered in person, while others are available remotely. Some patients prefer face-to-face treatment, but it is the choice of the patient. There are a variety of charities that offer support groups and classes like Mind. Their website is full of information that is reliable, however you must be aware that there is plenty of false or misleading information available on the internet regarding mental health issues.
The NHS is advancing the quality of mental health care, but it is struggling to meet the demands. There are 54 mental health trusts across the UK, and most of are funded by clinical commissioning groups to deliver their services. They typically are located in a specific region however, they may be commissioned to offer national services.
The absence of resources is a major problem. There are also concerns over the quality of care and a shortage of psychiatrists and nurses. The NHS is trying to improve the quality of care by offering more training and developing new ways of working. It also provides safer and more effective ways to help people who are in crisis. This includes mobile crisis teams and safe space.
Supporting you
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago there are positive changes for those suffering from mental health issues. The treatment options have gotten better and social barriers have been taken down. But there is still more to do.
Patients who are experiencing mental health problems require the ability to get the assistance they require quickly and easily. This is why the NHS is striving to improve the quality of services for those who require these services. By 2020/21, we will make sure that all acute hospitals offer 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 percent coverage.
We will also extend services for people who need them in the community, such as psychotherapy, in order to provide hundreds of thousands more people suffering from severe or common mental health conditions the assistance they require. We will continue to work on the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to ensure that more people can be seen by qualified therapists, quicker.
The NHS offers confidential, free helplines to those suffering from mental health issues. They include the Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. These helplines are run by trained volunteers. They offer an environment where you can talk in a safe manner or give advice and information on how to tackle your mental health issues.
In initial mental health assessment , there are a number of local organizations that offer support and guidance for those with mental health issues. These can include self-help guides, strategies for coping and activities to try. Many of these organizations offer face-toface support groups to those who prefer it.
For students, there's the University's Open Door Team which offers a drop-in counselling service for those feeling down or stressed. Nightline is a student counselling service that offers private listening assistance, information and support from experienced volunteers. Charities such as Mind and Rethink can provide a wealth of information and support both online and in local groups. They can also offer various classes and activities, from mindfulness to art classes, which may be useful for those living with mental health issues.
Making a referral
Mental health services are under strain and GPs have to make difficult choices about which specialist services they should refer their patients to. The doctor will take into consideration the medical history of the patient and recommend them to services they believe will be able to aid. They might send a referral to an NHS trust or an independent service.
A mental health specialist will review the referral to determine if it is appropriate or not. If the specialist isn't satisfied with the referral, they'll contact the GP and explain their reasons. They can also request the GP to provide more information or to change the referral.
The ability to refer patients to the local Community Mental Health Team can be made through the NHS e-Referral Service. The system permits GPs and other healthcare professionals to refer patients to either a mental health assessment or directly to an appointment with an outpatient. However, not all CMHTs offer both options and the system can't be used for every type of mental health referral.
A GP may refer a patient to a mental health specialist in the community service (CMT). These are usually run either by a large hospital or local healthcare organisation. CMTs are an excellent option for those who have to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist but don't require inpatient care. They can also provide an early intervention service where a psychiatrist works with an counselor to help someone overcome a crisis or improve their life quality.
CMTs have the responsibility of ensuring that all referrals are received within a reasonable time frame. Many referrals are considered urgent even though they may not be. This can lead to delays and over-working for people who aren't in a crisis.
To tackle this issue, certain CMHTs are working to establish more uniform guidelines for what is an urgent referral. This was achieved through a standardised form that asks the referrer if they believe the case is urgent. The proforma includes a box for the referrer to tick if they feel the referral is urgent.