The mental health umbrella covers our psychological, emotional, and social well-being. Our mental health affects how we feel, think, act, handle stress, and relate to and interact with those around us. Hence, it is vital to ensure mental health provisions are of quality and easily accessible.
According to the Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), one in five Americans can experience a mental illness or disorder in a year. Over the years, the world of psychiatry and mental health has evolved to cater to the rising numbers of people in need of medical attention. Here are some of the most significant positive developments in mental healthcare.
1. More Professionals for Mental Healthcare
The most integral part of an excellent mental healthcare system is the timely reception by a qualified mental healthcare provider. Usually, psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists are there to welcome anyone who reaches out for care. However, with the escalating patient count, the traditional mental healthcare providers fell short. Merritt Hawkins’ report highlighted that in 2018, only nine psychiatrists were available for every 100,000 Americans at any given time.
However, before this shortage could become a massive hurdle in the functioning of the healthcare industry, the healthcare force readjusted and gave rise to Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. More nurses are interested in psychiatric and mental healthcare certifications, owing to their demand, great sense of fulfillment, and lucrative psychiatric nurse practitioner salary. This rising interest can further increase the number of mental healthcare providers a patient can ring and reach out to.
Psychiatric pharmacists have also taken the lead in reducing the length of waiting-patient lines. These specialized pharmacists are trained in medication management by dealing with drug interactions and reactions and providing support when needed. They can even recommend medications in a few states, reducing the stress on the limited mental healthcare providers.
2. Use of Technology and Telehealth
It is no surprise that technology has also left its print on mental healthcare. The app market is loaded with self-help therapy and feel-good apps. Patients can keep track of their moods and medicines by downloading these apps on their smartphones. This technology assists with accurate and hassle-free record-keeping with little to no monetary investment. Many apps also allow the users to connect with mental health providers who fit their requirements.
So while the numbers of people receiving mental health services during the pandemic via telehealth were at an all-time high, the numbers post-pandemic are still higher than pre-corona times. Telehealth benefits people with busy schedules and those living in less developed areas.
Among the many technological innovations that have revolutionized the way mental health is provided, using biological records to make inferences about mental health is on the rise too. For example, a pilot study highlighted it might be possible to diagnose depression just by observing the heart rate for one whole day. The accuracy rate of this diagnosis could be 90%. Still, limitations apply since healthcare professionals might not be available for 24 hours. For this reason, medical-grade armbands were made that can collect accurate vitals even without professionals making their jobs easier.
3. Fast Acting Anti-depressants
Many mental illnesses are characterized by a chemical imbalance in the brain, which directly affects mood and emotions. It is why many doctors prescribe anti-depressants to patients. These neurotransmitter-balancing pills can help manage symptoms for many. Yet, traditional medicines could take one to two weeks before bringing any positive change. In addition, over one-third of the patients do not respond to the many conventional anti-depressants and have treatment-resistant depression.
Waiting for the anti-depressants to kick in can be a frustrating state to be stuck in. Thanks to newer rapid-action anti-depressants, many patients no longer have to deal with this frustration. One such example is ketamine and its derived products. According to Yale medicine, ketamine results in cascading chemical reactions that produce new neural networks. As a result, it enables more positive thoughts and actions. Other clinical trials have confirmed that ketamine promptly reduces suicidal thoughts. This wonder treatment was finally allowed by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in 2019 in the form of Esketamine – a nasal spray.
Likewise, more rapid-action drugs for depression and anxiety are available, offering relief in days instead of weeks. These new drugs have proved to be effective against drug-resistant depression; they have reduced struggle in the lives of many patients.
4. Work On the Gut-Brain Relationship
When checking for poor mental health, the gut doesn’t seem like the place a doctor would be interested in. But now, studies show that gut and brain health might be linked. The nauseous feeling of anxiety and abdominal cramps in times of stress are some evident proofs that the brain has a direct connection with the intestines and stomach. But this connection isn’t one way – a troubled gut can communicate with the brain too. Likewise, a distressed intestine or stomach can cause anxiety or stress too.
Studies have found that microbes in the gut can have an impact on mental health. For example, suppose you have a lack of good microbes in your stomach, which leads to chemicals called cytokines making their way into the blood. It could lead to your brain experiencing an inflammatory reaction and chemical imbalance. Correcting the microbial balance can develop more probiotics in the system, decreasing anxiety, and depression.
This development has given another dimension to mental health provision; doctors now focus on diet plans and use physical symptoms for diagnosis. In addition, many researchers are working on microbe balancing studies and drugs. They are also trying to find relationships between microbial levels and other mental health issues like bipolar disorder.
Final Thoughts
In an attempt to increase efficiency and effectiveness, mental healthcare has developed in many ways. With new apps, you can keep a digital record of your progress while you meet with your therapist through telehealth. With increased accessibility, mental healthcare services are just a few clicks away. Your healthcare provider might also introduce you to new fast-relief anti-depressants or suggest a change in diet. All these routes are blessings of the recent developments in mental healthcare.