Mental Health Services: An Overview
Mental health disorders, which profoundly disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, moods, ability to relate to others, and capacity for coping with the demands of life, are common throughout the world. Some mental illnesses are severe enough to require treatment as they create problems that prevent those living with mental illness from enjoying their lives.
Even though treatments for mental illnesses today are effective, there are still people with diagnosable mental disorders that do not seek treatment. Stigma surrounding mental health treatment and cost are among the barriers that discourage people from obtaining care.
If individuals with a mental disorder get the treatment they need, especially if it is early, many will fully recover from their disorder or be able to successfully control their symptoms. Below is an overview of mental health services and treatment options available to help you or someone you know with a mental health disorder take action.
Where to Go for Help
Although mental health disorders can be debilitating, there is hope for those who suffer from them. First, it is important to be able to recognize symptoms of mental illness. Some common and disabling manifestations to look out for are:
- Feeling like your life is hopeless and you are worthless
- Wanting to end your life
- Feeling anxious
- Being afraid of common things
- Being very shaky, nervous, continually upset, and irritable
- Doing things over and over again
- Hearing voices in your head or seeing things you know that are not there
- Feeling like you want to hurt yourself physically
If you think you might need help (particularly if your feelings and experiences are overwhelming), there are a number of places you can turn to and things you can do to ease the situation. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends that you:
- Arrange an appointment with your doctor, or other healthcare provider, or with a mental health agency. If your symptoms make you a danger to yourself or someone else, insist on immediate care and treatment. A family member or friend may need to do this for you if your symptoms are too severe.
- Ask friends or family members to take turns staying with you until you feel better. Then talk, play cards, watch a funny video together, listen to music. Do things that keep you from feeling any worse and that may give you some relief.
- Do some simple things that you usually enjoy like reading a good book, viewing a beautiful picture, playing with your pet, or writing in your journal.
For information about resources available in your community, a good place to start is SAMHSA’s Mental Health Services Locator, which allows you to find what is available in your state. In addition, you might want to contact your local mental health center (the National Council for Community Behavioral Health Care can help you locate a community mental health center in your area) or an affiliate of a national self-help organization (such as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill or the National Empowerment Center), which will tell you about services designed to meet your specific needs.
Points to Remember
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. They are not caused by weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing. And yet, stigmatization of people with mental disorders persists. Do not let this stop you from seeking the care you need. The consequences for people with a mental health disorder who fail to obtain treatment include disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, or suicide. The sooner you get help, the sooner you will feel better.
Treatment Options: A Brief Summary
Many mental health conditions can be effectively treated with one or a combination of the therapies listed below.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy (or “talk therapyâ€) is a learning process in which mental health professionals help individuals who have mental health disorders through the exchange of verbal communication. Some types of psychotherapy are:
- Psychodynamic—The role of the past in shaping the present is emphasized to try to understand a person’s behavior (how people come to act and feel as they do, including the influences of which people are not aware).
- Behavioral—This type of therapy focuses on the patient's current behavior patterns rather than on early behavior patterns.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy—This is a blend of behavioral therapy and cogntive therapy. It focuses on changing a person's thinking and actions so that she is more adaptive and healthy.
- Humanistic—Also known as existential, experiential, or Gestalt therapy, humanistic therapy focuses on the immediate experience of the client.
Pharmacological Therapies
Medications can be used to help treat many mental health disorders include:
- Antipsychotics (neuroleptics)
- Antidepressants
- Stimulants
- Mood stabilizers
- Anti-anxiety (anxiolytics)
If you need pharmacologic therapy, your doctor will be able to determine which type of medication is right for you. In some severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used.
Payment Methods
There are many options for payment of mental health services and treatments.
If You Have Private Insurance
Health plans vary in terms of what they cover. Find out what treatments and services your plan covers or shop around if you are in the process of selecting a plan. If you are not satisfied with your mental health benefits, consider talking to your employee benefits manager or union representative to try to improve your coverage.
If You Are Underinsured or Uninsured
There are several resources available to people who do not have health insurance:
-
Public assistance
(for the uninsured)—This includes:
- Medicare—a federal insurance program for people 65 years and above and some with disabilities under 65
- Medicaid—a federal and state insurance program that pays for healthcare for the poorest and most vulnerable Americans
- Community-based resources—Community mental health centers offer a range of treatment and counseling services. For people without private insurance, they generally require that you are a recipient of public assistance.
- Pastoral counseling—Your church or synagogue may offer counseling, often on a sliding-scale fee basis.
- Self-help groups—Groups give people the chance to learn about, talk about, and work on common problems. They are generally free and can be found in virtually every community.
- Sliding-scales—Many private practices offer sliding scales, so that individuals with financial need can still seek help. Always ask whether such an arrangement is available.
Asking for Help Is Not Easy
If you feel something is wrong, do not hesitate to ask for help. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it. Chances are, with the right treatments and services, you will be able to control your mental health disorder.
Resources:
National Institute of Mental Health
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Canadian Resources:
Canadian Mental Health Association
Canadian Psychiatric Association
References:
About mental illness. National Alliance for Mental Illness website.
Available at: http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Mental_Illness/About...ntal_Illness.htm. Accessed March 23, 2011.
Mental disorders in America: the numbers count. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website. Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/numbers.cfm. Accessed July 14, 2003.
Mental health: a report of the surgeon general (1999). Available at: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/home.html. Accessed July 14, 2003.
Olfson M, Marcus SC, Druss B, Elinson L, Tanielian T, Pineus HA. National trends in the outpatient treatment of depression. JAMA. 2002;287:203-209.
Parity for mental illness health insurance. American Psychiatric Association website. Available at: http://www.psych.org/public_info/men_insurance.cfm. Accessed July 14, 2003.
People can recover from mental illness. National Empowerment Center website.
Available at: http://www.power2u.org/recovery/people_can.html. Accessed July 18, 2003.
Psychotherapies. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website.
Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychoth...pies/index.shtml. Accessed March 17, 2011.
Last reviewed March 2011 by Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.