10 Things We Hate About Mental Health

Mental Health in the UK The responses revealed that mental health issues are seen as 'afflictions that affect the brain and the mind'. They were seen as different from other illnesses such as cancer. The British tradition of'stiff upper lips' means that many are hesitant to seek treatment. People who are suffering from mental illness are often sent out of the area for treatment in a hospital. Treatment In the UK, mental health care is part of the country's well-loved National Health Service (NHS) that provides quality, free healthcare to all regardless of income. This includes accessing the GP, surgeries and hospital stays. The NHS has existed since 1948, and its purpose is to provide high-quality medical care to the people of Britain. However it is true that the NHS is not without its challenges. Many patients with mental health issues complain of long waits to visit an expert. The NHS must take action to ensure that patients receive prompt care. The NHS also needs to intensify its focus on prevention and early intervention, which could aid patients suffering from mental health issues avoid the more serious issues. Mental health problems can be experienced by anyone at any time. However, certain groups are more susceptible than others. This includes women, young people and LGBTQIA+. People with low incomes are more likely to suffer from mental illness. A number of different treatment options are available to those with a mental health condition like depression. The NHS suggests a mix of self-help, talk therapies, and medication. The type of depression a person is suffering from will determine the kind of medication prescribed. For instance the NHS might prescribe antidepressants for mild to moderate depression, and anti-anxiety medicines for severe anxiety disorders. Stigma continues to plague the UK despite the growing awareness of mental health issues. People are hesitant to seek treatment, and a lot aren't receiving the help they need. The NHS has been working to reduce stigma but there is more to be done. The stigma is particularly harmful to young people. Mental health services need to be properly resourced, as the current levels of investment are not enough to meet demand. read the article demands the government to invest more money in mental health services, and to set ambitious and quantifiable goals for the expansion of the workforce. This should include a thorough and frequent collection of workforce information by NHS Digital, a plan to increase the number of mental health clinicians and a set of measures that will help the current staff to keep them. Prevention People with mental health issues can avail a variety of prevention options. These include talking therapies (also known as cognitive behavioural therapy) and psychiatric medication. These services are offered in England by the NHS and certain local authorities. These services are often free and are extremely helpful to many people. It is important to remember that most mental health conditions can be treated and patients are able to recover. Due to funding cuts the NHS as well as other organizations are unable to provide these services in response to a rising demand. This has led to long wait lists and sometimes delays in getting the appropriate treatment and assistance. Preventing mental illness is a key aspect of prevention. This is particularly important for those who are young and at a higher chance of developing mental illness and who are suffering from severe symptoms. Doctors are crucial in identifying and providing preventive treatment. In the UK, there is a significant focus on providing preventive healthcare for mental health issues as part of the National Health Service. This system was introduced in 1948 to provide high-quality, free healthcare to all. It covers mental health services as well as access to a doctor as well as other medical treatments. This system is under pressure because of budget cuts but it's an effective system overall. It provides people with regular check-ins to discuss their mental health. This can be very useful for those who have concerns or are at greater risk of a mental health problem. It also offers information and links to self-management tips and peer support services. Also, suicide prevention is a top priority. This is a serious issue that affects everyone of all ages. However it is most prevalent among young people and is one of UK's most significant causes of premature deaths. There is much work to be done in reducing the number of suicides, and this includes training mental health workers and enhancing the accessibility of community-based help and ensuring that people can get the help they need near to home. Support Anyone with mental health issues can get assistance and support. You can contact the NHS helplines if you are concerned about someone you know. You can find information on how to access NHS services on the NHS website. You can call 911 if you suspect someone is in immediate harm. This will connect them to ambulance and police services. They can also go to their local hospital's A&E department, where they will receive medical care from medical experts. They will treat any symptoms that are physical and notify the local mental health team. Individuals who require more specific and specialized assistance are sent to community mental health teams. These teams may include psychiatrists, a nurse, an occupational therapist, psychologist and a care coordinator. If someone requires food, housing or financial assistance they can refer them to the local authority's social services. There are usually long wait lists for appointments with consultants. This is a problem that the government is seeking to improve. The Mental Health Act allows for the hospitalization of a person in the event of a risk of harming them or others. This option is only available to those considered to be in immediate danger of harm, and have undergone an evaluation of their psychiatric condition. The government is trying to increase the quality and accessibility of this service. Many people who suffer from mental health problems discover that alternative and complementary therapies are helpful. There are a variety of organizations that provide these kinds of treatments. You can go to Hub of Hope to search for a clinic in your local area. The long-term plan of the government will ensure that all people can get a comprehensive set of crisis and acute mental health services across England. This includes adult crisis and home treatment teams, ensuring that every region has a 24 hour service by 2021. A new universal 111 number with three digits, which will make it simpler to get urgent mental health assistance. Crisis alternatives, such as safe havens and crisis cafes, which offer a different option to A&E or inpatient psychiatric admission. Specialized liaison mental teams within A&E departments or general hospital wards to ensure people get the right treatment both for their mental and physical health. Resources For those suffering from mental health problems, there are a range of paid and free NHS services that are available to patients. These include psychiatrists who use evidence-based treatment as psychologists and social work professionals. Psychiatrists are trained medically and can prescribe medication as well as psychologists employ therapy through talk to help patients manage their conditions. Many people with mental health issues struggle to get the assistance they require, and they may not know where to go. There are a variety of charities that offer guidance and support in addition to specialist support. They include the Samaritans Mind and Place2Be. People who struggle with anxiety or depression should attempt to get in touch with the help of a psychotherapist. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts should call a suicide hotline or go to a crisis center. Despite some improvements in the mental health services provided by the NHS since the COVID-19 pandemic, demand continues to exceed supply. This is made worse by budget cuts, which have decreased overall funding. The NHS Long Term Plan includes plans to establish a new local investment fund ring-fenced at minimum PS2.3 billion a year by 2023/24. This is just a small part of the total NHS budget. Despite these issues however, there is a lot that can be done to improve mental health services. JSNAs can be used to determine the most pressing mental health needs of a community and can be used to make informed the decisions regarding the funding, services 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 such as ward stays, ward visits and other activities. The pandemic has resulted in a significant rise in the number of people being referred for treatment and assessment. The pandemic has put more pressure on NHS mental health services. In many locations there is a lack of capacity and patients are sent far away from home to receive their treatment. This is also affecting older individuals, children and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. Public Health England has been monitoring the health of the population throughout the pandemic using a range of close-to-real-time surveys, and is reporting that self-reported mental health levels have increased in comparison to pre-pandemic levels.