Mental Health It's Not As Hard As You Think
Mental Health in the UK
The responses revealed that people perceive mental health issues to be "mental illnesses" and mind'. They were seen as different from other illnesses such as cancer.
However, Britain's'stiff upper lip culture means that a large number of people still are reluctant to seek treatment for their conditions. Patients suffering from severe mental distress are often taken out of the area to receive inpatient treatment.
Treatment
Mental health care in the UK is part of the National Health Service, which offers free health care for all, regardless of income. This includes accessing doctors, surgeries, and hospitalization. The NHS was established in 1948, and its goal is to provide quality medical care to all people in Britain.
However, the NHS is not without challenges. Many patients suffering from mental health issues experience long waiting times to see a specialist. The NHS must take action to ensure that patients receive timely care. The NHS should also focus more on early intervention and prevention that can help those who suffer from mental health issues avoid more serious issues.
Any person can suffer from mental health issues at any time, but certain groups are more susceptible to being affected more than others. This includes women, young people and those who are LGBTQIA+. People living in low-income households are more likely to suffer from mental illness.
People with mental health conditions such as depression can select from a range of treatment options. The NHS recommends a combination of self-help, talk therapies and medications. The type of depression the patient is suffering from will determine the type of medication prescribed. For instance the NHS may prescribe antidepressants for mild to moderate depression and anti-anxiety medication for severe anxiety disorders.
Despite increased awareness of mental health problems in the UK stigma is still an issue. People are hesitant to seek treatment, and many aren't receiving the help they need. The NHS has been working to reduce stigma but there is more to be done. Stigma is especially damaging for young people.
Mental health services need to be properly resourced, as the current levels of investment are not enough to meet demand. The BMA insists on the government to increase funding for mental health services and to set ambitious and measurable goals for expanding the workforce. These should include a robust and frequent data collection of the workforce by NHS Digital, an action plan to recruit more doctors to mental health, as well as meaningful ways to retain staff.
The following is a list with preventions.
There is a wide range of preventative options available to people with mental health issues. These include talking therapies (also known as cognitive behavioural therapy) and psychiatric medicines. These are services offered in England by the NHS and some local authorities. Many who use these services find them helpful and often for no cost.
It is crucial to keep in mind that most mental health conditions are treatable and people are able to recover. Due to funding cuts the NHS and a variety of other organizations are unable to provide these services to a growing demand. This has led to long wait lists and sometimes delays when it comes to receiving the appropriate treatment and assistance.
Preventing mental illness is a key part of prevention. This is especially important for those who are young and at greater chance of developing mental illness and experiencing severe symptoms. GPs can be key to identifying and providing the right preventive treatment.
In the UK the National Health Service places a high priority on the prevention of mental health problems. This system was established in 1948 to provide high-quality free healthcare to everyone. It provides mental health services as well as access to doctors, surgery and other medical treatments.
The system is under stress due to budget cuts in the government. However, it's a great system in general. It provides people with regular checks to talk about their mental health, which is extremely beneficial for those who are worried or are at a higher risk of a mental health problem. It also offers information and connections to peer support services as well as self-management tips.
There is also a heightened focus on preventing suicide. This is a serious problem that affects people of all age groups, but it is particularly prevalent amongst young people and is one of the leading causes of premature deaths in the UK. In order to reduce the number of suicides, there is a lot of work to be completed. This includes training mental health professionals, improving community-based support, and ensuring that people get the help they require close to home.
Support
Anyone who has a problem with mental health can receive assistance and support. If you're having issues or worry about someone else, you can contact the NHS helplines. The NHS website provides information on how to access services. If someone is in immediate danger, they can call 999, which will connect them with ambulance and police services. Alternatively they can visit the A&E department of their local hospital where they will be seen by medical specialists. They will treat any symptoms that are physical and alert the local mental health team.
People who need more detailed and specialized care are directed to community mental health teams. These teams could comprise a psychiatric nurse, occupational therapist, psychologist, and a coordinator of care. They can also refer people to local authorities' social services when the person requires assistance in locating housing, food or money. There are often long waiting lists for appointments with consultants. This is an area that the government is seeking to improve.
If a person is at risk of harming themselves, or others they could be placed in a hospital pursuant to the Mental Health Act. This is only possible when the person is deemed to be at risk of harm and a psychiatric evaluation is carried out. The government is working to improve the quality and availability of this service.
Many people with mental health issues find that alternative and complementary therapies can be helpful. There are a myriad of charities that offer these kinds of treatments. You can go to Hub of Hope to search for help in your region.
The long-term plan of the government aims to provide a wide range of mental health services in England which includes acute and crisis care. This includes adult crisis and home treatment teams, making sure each area has a 24-hour service by 2021. A new universal 111 number will help people access urgent mental health care. Crisis cafes, safe havens and other alternatives to A&E and inpatient psychiatric treatment are readily available. Specialized liaison mental teams in A&E departments or general hospital wards to make sure that patients receive the appropriate treatment for their mental and physical health.
Resources
Patients suffering from mental health issues have access to a variety of NHS services, both free and paid. This includes psychiatrists who provide evidence-based treatments, as psychologists and social workers. Psychiatrists are trained medically and can prescribe medications while psychologists help patients manage their condition using therapy with talk.
Many people suffering from mental illness aren't able to access the assistance they need and may not even know where to begin. There are many charities that offer advice and support as well as specialist assistance. Samaritans and Place2Be are among the charities that can offer assistance and advice. People who struggle with anxiety or depression should attempt to contact an therapist. Suicidal individuals should call a suicide hotline, or visit a crisis center.
Although there have been some improvements in NHS mental health services since the COVID-19 pandemic began, overall demand continues to exceed supply. This is further exacerbated by budget cuts, which have cut funding overall. The NHS Long Term Plan includes plans to establish a new local investment fund that is ringfenced and worth at minimum PS2.3 billion per year by 2023/24. This is only a small portion of the overall NHS budget.
Despite these difficulties, there is much that can done to improve the quality of services for mental health. JSNAs can be used to identify the most pressing mental health needs of a community and they can be used to inform decisions regarding funding, service provision and delivery. NHS England has produced a toolkit for mental health commissioners to aid in the development of local JSNAs, and NHS Digital has a monthly dataset on mental health services, such as referrals to services, ward stays and other activities.
In mental health screening of the pandemic caused by the pandemic, there has been an increase in number of patients referred for assessment and treatment. This has put more stress on NHS mental health services and a lack of capacity in many areas means that patients are sent far from home for their care. This is also affecting older individuals as well as children and those who identify themselves as LGBTQIA+. Public Health England has monitored the mental health of the population throughout this pandemic by conducting various surveys that are conducted in real-time. They have found that self-reported levels have worsened when compared to prior to the pandemic.