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Asked by Josh S to Nicola, Laurence on 24 Jun 2021.
Question: How well do you think mental health is approached from a professional standpoint? Is there anything that can be done better, or that you, personally, think should change?
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Laurence Quirk answered on 24 Jun 2021:
Hi Josh.
Great question. In the main its approached with sensitivity and linked to physical health. For example a health care professional will explore physical health issues to see if there are any physical issues that could be impacting on mental wellbeing. Generally clinicians look at a range of solutions and work with the patient to ask them what they would like to happen. They may talk about medication, getting good sleep, eating well, exercising and what might be causing them stress. They will encourage patients to check in, to see how things are going especially if they are taking any medication for their mental health such as anti-depressants. Thinking about mild mental health issues, they would talk about about alternatives to medication such as talking therapies. Sometimes access to those talking therapies may have long waiting times, which can be difficult for anyone in crisis or distress. That’s in part because of demand on the services and is perhaps one thing that could be done better. There may be other groups a healthcare professional can direct patients to e.g. self-help groups for men with mental health problems or for people with eating disorders or websites such as MIND. In Nottingham we have some staff called social prescribers who will know about local groups and activities which people may benefit from to help improve mental health. They can help connect them and possibly go with them on a first few occasions if they are shy or anxious about meeting others. It could be the local gym or help to find job or to access benefits or manage their finances in a way that could reduce their stress. I could probably write an essay!
Comments
Anna commented on :
It’s very personal to each person what support they need. Look at what support people have first in terms of friends, family what’s around them and ask what may help them rather than presume.
James commented on :
Great question Josh, and brilliant answer Laurence! This is exactly how we approach it – what we call a “biopsychsocial approach”. Because, mental health has such a significant impact on every part of a patients life its important that we consider everything. Bio(biology) – this covers things like sleep, eating, general health, psycho(psychological) – things like anxiety and depression but also paranoia or hallucinations and social – interactions with others, work, safety, housing and that sort of thing.
Do I think we can do better? I think overall in the country we could definitely do better.
Mental health has received as much funding as it needs for a long time and so resources – such as GP time, psychologists, social workers etc can be really stretched. We really need a lot more of all of these people and more time to help the patients!
Thankfully there are some good changes underway as mental health issues are becoming better accepted and more visible – I hope that this will encourage further investment from the government and allow us to give the patients the support and treatment that they need.