Mental Health in the UK
Since the NHS was launched 70 years ago, medical advances and treatments have been provided at no cost to people in need. However, mental health has yet to see the same advancements.
The majority of respondents reported feeling positive about their own mental health, but a lot were worried that others weren't. People also discussed the impact that poor economic conditions have on their mental health and that of others.
1. Getting help
The first step to taking care of your mental health. It's crucial to seek assistance regardless of whether it's difficult. There are several ways to get assistance such as therapy and lifestyle changes. Each treatment is different and you must choose the one that is most effective for your particular situation.
The first step to seek help is to recognize that you or someone you know suffers from mental health issues. If you notice an alteration in the way someone you know thinks, feels or acts, it's important to act. This could mean speaking to the person and asking their help. You may also consider joining a support group, which can be helpful in finding others who are able to understand what you're experiencing.
You should also talk to your family and your friends about how you're experiencing. They can lend a sympathetic ear and may even recommend you to professionals. Talking about your feelings is a great way to relieve anxiety and gain a fresh perspective on your life.
Mental health issues can cause many symptoms. These can range from depression and anxiety, to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The severity of mental health problems differs from person to. It isn't easy to determine if a symptom is an normal reaction to a stressful situation or an indication that there is a serious illness that is developing.
Mental illnesses can have an enormous impact on the daily life. Mental illnesses can have a profound impact on the daily life, from their work to their relationships, to their happiness and overall wellbeing. Additionally, they may have a significant effect on physical health. For example, people with mental health problems are more likely to have medically unexplained physical symptoms.
In recent times, there has been an alteration in the way we view mental health. The stigma surrounding mental illness is decreasing and more people are seeking treatment. Making yourself more comfortable is the first step to living a more positive, healthier lifestyle. It is recommended to start by talking to your primary care physician. They can usually suggest a psychologist, psychiatrist or a professional counselor who specializes in mental health issues.
2. Keeping it up
Mental health issues are finally receiving the attention they deserve. Numerous tragic stories in the media and high-profile campaigns, as well as growing awareness, have brought them to light. But, we have a long way be before physical and mental health are treated as equal in the UK.
In England, mental healthcare services aren't ringfenced and are therefore under the same funding pressures as acute/physical health care services. It has led to anecdotal evidence suggesting that the same level of disinvestment is taking place, but evidence is difficult to come by. The lack of consolidated data about the state of local services and the fact that the key performance indicators are similar across the entire system (e.g. The maximum referral time from primary care to specialists is 18 weeks. This is the case for both physical and psychological health. However the budget and monitoring of service availability and quality are distinct.
To address this, a new method is required to build mental health resilience. And this should be facilitated at the local level by people who are familiar with their communities - such as religious groups, community groups, local charities, children's organizations and community-based peer support groups. These groups must be supported and facilitated with the proper training, resources, and support to develop their role in creating mental wellbeing across all age groups.
Doctors should also be given the tools they need to provide regular check-ins which aren't overloaded by the demand. They could then connect patients to self-management advice based on evidence and peer support. This will help reduce the pressure on the NHS as a whole and increase the capacity in mental health services.
Additionally, the general public must be encouraged to take a more active role in their own wellbeing by taking control of how they spend their leisure time, making healthier lifestyle choices and seeking help when they need it. This can be done through volunteering, attending local events, and raising money for mental health charities, as and also by organizing or attending workplace health activities like mindfulness sessions.
3. Taking control
The UK is a leading country in the world in terms of mental health. There is still plenty of work to be done. Many people who suffer from mental health issues still don't seek help because of the stigma associated with them. In reality, they typically wait until their symptoms get severe before seeking medical assistance. This can result in an extended period of suffering, greater costs and greater risk of life-threatening diseases such as cancer or heart disease.
The positive side is that mental healthcare has advanced since the NHS was created 70 years ago. Mental illness is now being discussed more openly and the treatment options are more sophisticated. But there is still more to be done, and stigma is still a major obstacle.
The pressure on services increases as the number of people suffering from mental health issues grows. assess mental health is committing to investing an additional PS2.3 billion per year to expand and transform services across the nation. This will allow 2 million people to get help and improve outcomes.
There is also a greater effort being made to address the disparity in funding between mental and physical health, and also remove the barriers that block people from accessing assistance. For example, a new fund is being created to provide culturally-appropriate advocacy services for people from minority communities, and a national programme is being developed to support the training of frontline staff in mental health.
Plans are also being developed to establish a network that is specialized in mental health ambulances. This will reduce the number of general ambulance calls for patients in crisis and improve response time and care for those with mental health issues. The government is also increasing its investment in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) by another PS7 million to cut down waiting times and increase the number of people who receive assistance.
There is always someone who can help you if you are going through a difficult time. The Samaritans can be reached at 116 123 or go to one of their local branches. They provide free, non-judgmental and confidential support to anyone experiencing emotional distress. They are accessible via email, phone or mail 24 hours a days.
4. Take action
It's important to act when you're concerned about your mental well-being. The right support can keep you in good health and well.
One out of four people in UK will suffer from mental illness at some time in their lives, but it's important to know that you can recover from many mental health problems. The majority of mental health issues are short-term and mild and can be managed by a doctor using medication. Certain conditions, such as depression and anxiety, may be a result of stressful life events like bereavement or a breakup in a relationship, however stress at work may cause these.
We can all take steps to ensure our mental health and well-being, such as eating healthy, having a balanced diet, sleeping enough and exercising, as well as taking control of stress. Each person's needs differ and, at times, we require additional assistance. This could include things like talking therapies, occupational therapy or medication.
There is also a wide array of support and charity services that can help with a myriad of issues like addiction, debt, housing and eating disorders. The government has set out its aspirations for the mental health services in the Five Year Forward View however it is up to us all to ensure that those goals are realized.
Insuring youngsters and young people's mental health, as stated in the Time for Action report, is essential. However, public spending on CAMHS is currently falling behind spending on adult mental health services and funding is a postcode lottery.
Prevention is increasingly at the center of the efforts of health and social care providers to improve the mental health of their communities. This is reflected by the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health which brings together more than 140 organizations from the health and social care sectors who have committed to making the prevention of mental illness their priority.
The NHS has made it clear that it is determined to address the stigma and inequalities of mental health, and the gap between physical and mental healthcare. However, there is still much to be done. We need to change the mental health and how we talk about it. We must eliminate the barriers that divide us and to build an environment where people value mental wellbeing as much as physical health.