Mental health services

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Research suggests that about one in four people experience mental distress at any one time, with the most common problems being anxiety and depression. However, more serious conditions are also common, with one in every hundred people in the UK diagnosed with schizophrenia, and about 630,000 adults in contact with specialist mental health services in England.(1)

The mental health service in England comprises a variety of organisations. The first point of contact for most people will be:

Primary care services (GPs, outpatient clinics, counsellors), or
Social services (for example, social workers).

There are also a number of specialist agencies, including:

National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) development centres - put policy into practice, provide learning and development resources, and resolve local challenges
Mental Health Trusts - improve services for people with mental health problems and provide local specialist mental health services.
Local Implementation Teams - coordinate local plans and identify priorities in mental health services.
Crisis Resolution Team - provide intensive support for people in mental health crises, in their own home.
Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) - support people with mental health problems and their families in community settings; reduce the stigma associated with mental health care; ensure that care is delivered in the most suitable manner possible; provide support and advice to other healthcare services.
Prison Service workers â€“ support inmates with mental health problems.

These services work together to tackle different aspects of mental health problems in communities, from providing medication to tackling discrimination. They aim to raise the level of mental health of the whole population. As part of this, they deal with the abuse of certain substances (including solvents and alcohol, but excluding tobacco), and with anti-social behaviours, because these can cause or affect mental health problems.

Mental health problems are very common. Each person is affected differently and requires individual help, so it is important to have services that cover all these needs. The structure of these services is complex, but your GP will be able to guide you to the most appropriate resources.