Top Ways To Treat Mental Illnesses

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately one in six American adults are living with some form of mental illness. Due to the stubborn stigma surrounding mental illness, there is also a distinct chance this number could be even larger, since many individuals may be living undiagnosed, whether they are aware of this or not, and are fearful of seeking treatment and having the stigma affect them.

Treatment for mental illnesses is quite varied, and most of the specifics depend on the mental illness in question, the patient, and the severity of each case. Learn more about the approach many mental health professionals take when treating patients and the top methods they use now.

Approaching Treatment For Mental Illnesses

When patients talk to doctors and mental health specialists about treatment, there are many avenues they may take. While there are standard options and those with scientific backing, most mental health professionals will approach each patient individually when determining what course of action, or a combination thereof, they want to take. The reason for this, most will cite, is because one method of treatment that works for one person may not work for another. This is also why patients may go through a few different treatments before finding what works for them.

Medication

When most individuals think about treatment for mental illnesses, chances are the first thing, or one of the first things, their minds land on is medication. There are medications dedicated to treating specific mental illnesses, such as medication for schizophrenia, as well as others that have proven useful at treating more than one mental illness, such as antidepressants. In addition to treating depression, antidepressants are also helpful with generalized anxiety disorder.

It is important to note due to the many types of medication, even within one mental illness, patients often have to try more than one medication and adjust dosages over a period for their doctors to discover what works best. As an example, one common type of antidepressant is serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Even if one patient receives the same SSRI as a friend or relative also suffering from depression, it could be at a different dose. Alternatively, it could be a different SSRI in addition to a different dose.