MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT: WHEN PREVENTION AND CURE MEET

 

 

A problem shared, is a problem half solved they say, or is it?

From stigma, societal and cultural norms, alienation/marginalization, it feels quite squeezed in the space of our mind, to get any room for them to breath, right?

The fateful moment comes when you look yourself in the mirror to face the trouble of any mental or emotional anguish. Especially when it is unannounced and unpredictable.

Furthermore, it could be a friend or loved one, who is undergoing mental or emotional trouble and it has become overbearing to deal with, and you are completely lost in terms of how to help them. More so, if you really cherish the relationship you have with the individual or group of people.

When you are torn between looking out for yourself or helping others, in terms of your own mental and emotional health, we at times get lost and wonder who to seek for help and who is the adequate person.

In the confusion, some efforts go unfruitful while others do not exactly hit the mark. Therefore, we shall learn what mental health treatment entails and how individuals and those around them can get proper understanding of how to get help.

 

Diagnosis of Mental disorders and their treatment

Upon the realization or arising of signs and symptoms of any mental disorder or significant mental or emotional challenges, it is important that one should get a clear diagnosis before proceeding to any other actions. Why is this important?

Without the right diagnosis, signs and symptoms of certain mental disorders, may get the inappropriate attention and therefore leading to poor outcomes, in terms of treatment.

However, another problem or dilemma looms for many, which is trying to know who to get help from and which professional will assist you the best way. Is it a psychologist? Psychiatrist? Or other mental health professionals?

 

 

Therefore, as mentioned, a diagnosis is important. Getting a diagnosis may involve:

-      A physical examination, which would rule out any other factors that may contribute or causes related complications.

-      Lab tests to confirm if any presence or absence of substances or tissues may be having a contribution to signs and symptoms

-      A mental health professional will asses and question about any thoughts, emotions and behaviour patterns, which may involve a questionnaire, in some cases.

 

Determining the type of mental disorder or illness, one may have can take some time or a few attempts before it is accurate, but it is not always the case. Some of the reasons may involve, two or more mental illnesses existing together or a physical ailment that is also present. The existence of two or more mental disorders occurring in an individual is known as comorbidity.

After getting a diagnosis, the treatment that is prescribed by the mental health professional may be determined by the specific mental disorder that an individual may be diagnosed with. This could range from medication, counselling therapy sessions or rehabilitation centers.

The role of mental health professionals

When it comes to getting the adequate help to an individual living with a mental illness or disorder, it often doesn’t come from one individual but a team of people who specialize in various areas, depending on the mental disorder. However, for the main mental health professionals involved include:

-      General practitioner: A general practitioner may do physical assessments, lab tests and a basic assessment of your mental health, to be able to determine if you may be having a mental disorder. Depending on the outcomes of your assessment or diagnosis, they may give you a mental health treatment plan, however, if your diagnosis may need a more specialized approach, they may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist.

-      Psychologist: A psychologist, is a mental health professional, who specializes in understanding human behaviour. This involves how people think, feel and behave. They often conduct research and therapies to assist individuals, who are undergoing overwhelming stressful situations, which includes, relationship and marital problems, trauma, parenting issues, the grief of loss of loved ones and managing effects of a chronic mental illness. They cannot prescribe medication. Psychologists work at schools, hospitals, prisons, defence forces or private practice.

-      Psychiatrists: They are licensed medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing mental disorders, as well as being able to prescribe the adequate medication to the patient living with a mental disorder, if required. If your mental illness may require medication, a psychiatrist is the one who will prescribe and monitor your medication as you progress with them. Some psychiatrists specialize in areas such as child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, emergency psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, sleep medicine and pain medicine.

-      Psychiatric nurse: They are registered and licensed nurses who deal with the care of mentally ill patients, who may be in-patient or out-patient, by building therapeutic relationships with clients, provide psychological therapy, administer psychiatric medication to mentally ill patients and help manage challenging conditions that come with mental disorders.

-      Psychotherapist: A psychotherapist may be a psychologist, psychiatrist or mental health professional who has furthered their studies in psychotherapy. By learning these methods of therapy, they can therefore become a psychotherapist. The therapies learnt, are used to help people living with mental disorders or overwhelming stressful situations. They can include cognitive behavioural therapies, psychoanalytic therapies, systemic and family therapies, arts and family therapies, humanistic and interrogative therapies, hypno-therapies and experiential constructive therapies.

-      Counselors and counselling: Unlike psychologists and psychotherapists, who deal with complex and deep-rooted psychological issues, counselors are mental health professionals, who often support couples, families and groups through specific life challenges and provide practical solutions. Specific types of counselors include, mental health counselor, who help people work through challenges such as grief, anger, or work and career problems; family and marriage counselor, who address the challenges that come up in relationships, such as communication issues, conflict resolution and parenting concerns. The sessions are often goal oriented aimed to achieve practical solutions; addiction counselors, specialize in the care and rehabilitation of people with issues such as substance abuse, gambling, sexual addictions or hoarding by offering practical solutions work or overcome their issues; finally, religious counselor, They provide support in faith crises, marriage and family issues which incorporate spiritual views into mental health care. Church leaders, religious counselors often have extensive training in mental health and religion.

 

Considerations when seeking mental health treatment

In the attempts to finding adequate mental health treatment, it is not only important to find the right professional or get the right diagnosis, but it is equally important to verify the eligibility of the professional attending to you or a loved one. Some of the considerations when looking for a mental health professional include:

-      Credentials and experience: It’s important to look for professionals who have the adequate credentials and experiences, which can help you advise their level of competence and ability to address the concerns you may have and furthermore helping you attend to any questions you may have.

-      Therapeutic approach: It is important to learn about a mental health professionals’ approach towards their therapeutic methods and if they align with you. This helps create clarity between patient and mental health professional, in terms of how they will work and if they need ways to approach different issues or even look for more suited mental health professionals for the patient.

-      Accessibility and availability: This can help in terms of knowing which ways and times your sessions can be carried out and also at what times, you can be attended to do. This can involve emergency situations and other situations that may be complex depending on the issue.

-      Cost and acceptance of insurance: This can help give insight into how payment can be done and if there will be any need of funding or payment options necessary to cover the costs of treatment, dependent on country, region or community.

-      Compatibility and trust: Being able to consider this helps to know whether you work well with a therapist and felt understood in your issues, instead of being offended or intimidated by the therapist remarks or actions. It is okay, if the therapist you are dealing with is unable to effectively communicate, because you can always look for another one.

 

Mental health professionals can be found in a variety of areas which include hospitals, online therapy platforms, community mental health centers, health insurance providers and directories and referral services.

 

Conclusion

 

Apart from people having trouble being able to accept help or treatment for mental health conditions due to stigma and societal and cultural norms, not having the right idea of which professional, which institution or how to vet and what to consider when seeking out professionals can lead to a troublesome and frustrating path in terms of getting proper treatment.

 

It is important to acknowledge that mental health treatment, does not only involve, one mental health professional but a group of mental health professionals who work together to ensure the best results for their patient. Thus, being able to know the role of each mental health professionals helps advise the patient or person living with a mental health condition, which area in their treatment could be needing help or assistance to help them move forward.

 

Taking time to get the right diagnosis can be a great step to advising the patient as well as those around them to make the best and most informed actions going forward.

 

However, in what ways may have you faced challenges while getting mental health treatment and how have you overcome them?

 

Feel free to share.

 

References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374974

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health-professionals-types#types

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/whos-who-in-mental-health-services

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/differences-between-psychology-psychiatry-and-psychotherapy