Mental health services in the NHS

How common are mental health problems?

Very, very (very) common. If you need mental health services, first of all, you are in good company.

In fact, 20% of adults experience conditions like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and panic disorders. And over 7 million people in the UK are taking anti-depressant tablets (17% of population). It is the largest single cause of disability.

The good thing about most mental health problems (especially depression), is that they usually get better .. with time. In fact, time is the best healer (see below).

Fortunately there is alot you (and the NHS) can do. So, what are mental health services in the NHS?

What you can do

Remove the cause (stimulus) – as well as the top tips below on what to do, this is the place to start, and may be the most important thing you can do. Mental health issues usually have a cause (or something that sets them off) – e.g. problems at work, school or college, or with friends or family. You need to distance yourself from that cause. Commonly, this means having weeks or months off work – to enable you to organise the below, and get your life back into gear. You may need to move job or school or college.
Time. Time is the best healer for mental health problems. Allow yourself that time. You may need weeks or months to get better, not days.
Lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes – such as regular exercise – can be highly effective for a number of mental disorders such as mild depression and anxiety. This can be a long walk.
Alcohol and recreational drugs. Although it can seem like a good idea to ‘drown your sorrows’ in a cloud of alcohol or recreational drugs. Long term this is not a great solution. Try to control your intake.

How to get NHS mental health care

GP. Ask the receptionist if there is a GP with a special interest in mental health at your practice, and ask to see them. You can also ask for double appointments (20 minutes). A normal one may not be long enough to deal with your issues. Alternatively ask if there is a primary care mental health worker (such as a mental health trained nurse) at the practice.
IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy). These are NHS counsellors that offer talk therapy. There is a NHS target that says 75% of people should start treatment within 6 weeks of referral. Self referring is the quickest way to access the service but your GP can also refer you. Just ‘Google’ IAPT and your area, or your GP practice website/reception should have the contact details. This is an example of a self-referral NHS IAPT system.
Choose the treatment that is right for you. Many people worry that they will be forced to take medication. There are many highly effective, non-addictive tablets for mental health conditions. However your GP will not force you to take them. You should be given the option of talk therapy.
Sharing. Sometimes just sharing your difficulties with a health professional whilst you are going through a particularly stressful time, is all you would like, and that is fine too. That can be a GP, other staff at your GP’s surgery or an IAPT counsellor.
Physical causes. Physical disease can precipitate or worsen a mental health problem even it does not cause it directly. An example is longterm pain, like back pain. Also being overweight can be a cause or effect of a mental health problem. So it is important that your GP and hospital specialists address all aspects of your health – e.g. treating all physical diseases well, to help the mental health problem.
Physical/mental causes, e.g. ‘post-viral fatigue’. A lot of viruses (EBV, COVID-19 and many others) can cause a ‘post-viral fatigue’ syndrome. If you have one of these, referral to a specialist clinic is a good idea. They usually get better in time.

Less commonly, physical illness – such as a thyroid disorder, infection or epilepsy – can be the actual cause of the mental health problem (such as depression, confusion and hallucinations). So, if you have new symptoms of mental illness, your doctor should do tests including blood tests, blood pressure, pulse and temperature to rule out a physical cause before starting medication. Ask for these if they are not offered.

Charities. There are many mental health charities which offer online information and support as well as support groups which may be face-to-face. Mind is a national mental health charity which offers local groups and courses where you can learn skills to help you manage mental health conditions such as anxiety. Their website is a great source of reliable information. Some charities run activities groups such as walking, sports or art groups.

What the NHS’s Secondary Mental Healthcare Services can do

Secondary care services. These are the next step up from your GP (which is primary care). This means seeing a senior psychiatrist (a mental health specialist doctor) – either a consultant or a registrar – usually in an outpatient clinic at a psychiatric hospital. You should ask for a referral to secondary mental health services, if the treatment you are receiving is not working (such as trying two or more treatments for more than 6 weeks each).
Mental Health Crisis Team (MHCT). You can also ask to be referred to the local MHCT for urgent treatment if you are seriously unwell; such as having thoughts to harm yourself, or experiencing hallucinations (like seeing or hearing things that aren’t really there). Most people do not need secondary psychiatric care.

Remember .. don’t suffer in silence

Keeping stress to yourself can lead to poor mental health and mental illness. This can affect your work, relationships and physical health. Ask for help. Talk to your partner, friends, family and work colleagues. Many people will want to help you. Bizarrely, some mental health issues may have an advantage, as they can give you time to think about life plans, like your career. Stay close to, and accept the support, of your inner circle of friends and family.

Summary

We have explained mental health services in the NHS. We hope you now understand what the NHS can do for you, and want you can do for yourself.

Other resources

The Royal College of Psychiatrists website also has reliable information about a number of mental health conditions.

Be aware that there is a lot of false or misleading information on the internet.

Last Reviewed on 10 March 2024