Better Mental Health Care Treatment Needed

CBC News from Toronto, Canada reported in November 2012 that drugs given for mental illness are not as effective as we had assumed. One woman CBC interviewed says she felt better once she got off the drugs she used for depression. Thomas Insel, MD, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health in the USA, said that since 2010 large pharmaceutical companies are shifting out of the mental healthcare business to areas of less risk where there is a higher profit margin. Over the long term, the drugs are not working as they had hoped.

Integrative Mental Healthcare

If the psychiatric drugs are not meeting the need, where does one turn? Integrative mental healthcare combines effective treatments from various models of health care, not limited to bio-medicine. Some examples include certain compounds of vitamins and minerals proven effective with Bipolar Disorder; certain herbal remedies proven effective in overcoming depression and anxiety; dietary changes that can reduce problems with attention and learning disabilities; particular family systems therapies shown to reduce psychosis; exercise routines for combating stress; particular kinds of meditation practices; and peer support among experiencers.

Where does a person go to get guidance? The Integrative Mental Health University, IMHU.org, is a unique online central location that aims to fill the need for information about available effective options.

Let the Buyer Be Aware

Most other mental health websites are still dwelling on the obsolete and outdated model of care, limited to psychotropic drugs, because most are sponsored by big pharmaceutical drug companies. Our mainstream mental healthcare system has not re-educated itself and kept up to date with treatments that are more effective than drugs.