The NHS should consider enabling people to self refer for treatment of common mental health disorders, suggest new national guidelines, in order to address the fact that many people suffering from conditions such as anxiety are not currently receiving treatment.
The guidance on common mental health disorders published today by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides GPs with detailed advice on how to identify disorders such as depression and anxiety and refer patients to the right treatment. It also suggests that there should be a wider variety of ways that people can access treatment.
NICE suggests that access could be improved by offering treatment outside normal working hours and enabling people to self-refer to services.
In common with existing guidelines on mental health, a stepped care approach to treatment is recommended, with patients first receiving the least intrusive treatment such as self-help programmes but able to be referred up a ladder of treatment to more intense interventions such as psychotherapy.
Common mental health disorders including depression and anxiety may affect up to 15% of the population at any one time. The vast majority of depression and anxiety problems that are diagnosed are treated in primary care. However, the guidance notes that many people affected do not seek treatment and common disorders “often go unrecognised”. This is particularly the case with anxiety disorders.