Where do I Begin? : Tips about how to get Professional Mental Health Help

Hi Everyone,

You may have heard that May is Mental Health Month. For this month, I am excited to provide a roadmap about how to begin the process of finding professional support when one is suffering from a mental health problem. If you are suffering or are concerned about a loved one or friend and do not know where to start, then this is for you. 🙂

How do I know if there is a problem? Sometimes people are reluctant to seek help because they are uncertain if there is a real problem to address or if it is just a "phase". One of the best ways to decide on when to get help is to ask yourself if there is a decrease in functioning (e.g. social withdrawal, decrease or increase in sleep/energy/appetite/things that once brought someone pleasure, etc.) These may be signs that indicate that it is time to seek counseling. If you need more direction, please make sure to visit reputable websites and complete screening questionnaires that you can then bring with you when you decide to meet with a provider/therapist. For college students, Ulifeline.org is an excellent resource for screenings and mental health information. You can also go here :http://screening.mentalhealthamerica.net/screening-tools. Also, if there is ever any concern or wish to improve one's life or you have a gut feeling that something is "off" with you or a loved one, don't wait. Earlier intervention is always best. Mental check-ups or tune-ups are recommended too. You don't have to wait until your car is broken down to get help and service. Prevention and maintenance is a great health practice.

If you are concerned about a loved one, it is time to start a conversation with your loved one and explain why you are concerned. Please stay objective and point out behaviors that are concerning and invite that person to share how he/she is doing. The goals are to get this person to hopefully share how he/she is doing, to hear and understand your concerns, to help your loved one learn about resources, and better yet to decide to seek services if that is warranted. Sometimes, it can be really helpful and calming if you offer to accompany your loved one to the first appointment.

If you are suicidal or are concerned that someone may be suicidal, please read on to learn the warning signs of suicide, where to get help, and how to intervene if someone is suicidal. Risk factors and warning signs are below:

________________________________________________________________________

Know the Risk Factors

Risk factors are characteristics that make it more likely that someone will consider, attempt, or die by suicide. They can't cause or predict a suicide attempt, but they're important to be aware of.

Mental disorders, particularly mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and certain personality disorders
Alcohol and other substance use disorders
Hopelessness
Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
History of trauma or abuse
Major physical illnesses
Previous suicide attempt(s)
Family history of suicide
Job or financial loss
Loss of relationship(s)
Loss of a loved one/friend
Easy access to lethal means
Local clusters of suicide

Lack of social support and sense of isolation
Stigma associated with asking for help
Lack of healthcare, especially mental health and substance abuse treatment
Cultural and religious beliefs, such as the belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma
Exposure to others who have died by suicide (in real life or via the media and Internet)

Know the Warning Signs

Some warning signs may help you determine if a loved one is at risk for suicide, especially if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change. If you or someone you know exhibits any of these, seek help by calling the Lifeline.

Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live, stating life would be better without them
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
Talking about being a burden to others
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
Sleeping too little or too much
Withdrawing or isolating themselves
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
Extreme mood swings
Giving away prized possessions

Adapted From: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/how-we-can-all-prevent-suicide/

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Never keep suicide a secret. All bets are off on this one. It is always better to error on the side of caution. The JED Foundation and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention are excellent resources. See these links for tips: https://afsp.org/about-suicide/risk-factors-and-warning-signs/.

Please use these resources if you or someone you know might be in danger of suicide https://www.jedfoundation.org/mental-health-resource-center/. Call 911 or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. Lifeline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255).

Access to Care Navigating health issues can be extremely difficult and due to a myriad of issues, it is even harder to navigate the world of mental health. 56% of American adults who have a mental health condition do not get treatment and an increasing number of adolescents are suffering as well. Some of the reasons why people do not get support include lack of education and awareness of mental health conditions, denial of a problem, stigma against mental health issues, poor funding,and inadequate health insurance coverage for mental health conditions. To gain more knowledge about mental health issues, please check out the following websites for additional information (National Institute of Mental Health; National Alliance for Mental Illness, and then specific associations for the specific condition (see below for additional resources).

Regarding stigma, we have come a long way as a society with regard to de-stigmatizing mental health problems. Unfortunately, we still have a long long way to go in making sure that people who need treatment get effective care. I am flabbergasted that there are people, even health care professionals, who do not believe in depression. It is so important that your health professional puts just as much importance on your physical health as your mental health. Today, when I went to see my physician, I was happy to see mental health screening questions posted on the board in the examining room and earlier today, when I took my daughter to the pediatrician's office, there was a pamphlet for DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) for teens. Seeing these tools and resources is reassuring to me that our providers value people's mental health just like their physical health.

The question of who to see can feel overwhelming. It rarely feels good to have a huge list and not know anything about the clinicians. Here are some steps to hone in on desired providers. When we are suffering, we may first start our treatment journey by talking to our primary care provider. Your primary care provider may recommend health and wellness changes and possibly psychotherapy. You can ask your provider for recommendations for a therapist or start with your insurance company (if applicable), obtain a list and start getting some recommendations from trusted health care providers/friends/loved ones based on the list. Next, take that list and start researching providers in your area who you think might be a good fit. See if any of these providers have a website/blog, Psychology Today profile or Good Therapy profile and/or social media presence to learn about their specialties, their clinical approach and therapy style. Once you have a list, contact the provider to start the conversation about your wishes for therapy and to continue evaluating if you are a good fit for each other. Collect a list of questions and make sure that you ask/learn about sessions,fees, insurance, policies etc. so you know exactly what to expect regarding services. After that, if you are comfortable and ready to proceed, schedule the intake and then evaluate the fit and your comfort level with that provider. Fit is really important. If you are feeling like it is not a good fit, reflect on why and speak up. Perhaps, you are unclear about the therapy's direction, goals, or timeline. You also may want to get a second resource and see if someone else is a better fit, if matters don't improve. As a mental health clinician, I respect and understand how important fit is in the therapeutic alliance. I would rather make a recommendation and know that I steered someone in the right direction than not know what the client wanted or worse, that perhaps the client prematurely gave up and stopped seeking any kind of services. Our egos can handle knowing if the fit isn't there. 🙂

Finally, cost, for most health problems, unfortunately, can be a huge factor in whether someone has access to mental health care. If one does not have insurance and out of pocket rates are too expensive, you do have some options.

See if any local clinics offer sliding scale fees. Basically, rates are determined on your ability to pay.
Contact a local church to see what kind of resources they might be able to recommend.
Contact a university training clinic to learn who they serve and if they have referral sources they can provide who offer lower cost psychotherapy.
Reach out to local community mental health clinics and ask who provides low cost psychotherapy.
There are online services where people offer teletherapy or some degree of coaching. While I think that there are more advantages to face-to face interaction, it is still some kind of support. In some rural settings where local services are limited, this may be a good opportunity.
Support groups can be a great place to get started. One can find support groups by searching online and/or contacting professional mental health organizations.

In summary, deciding on whether to seek treatment and how to seek treatment can be daunting. First, it is important to know what issues need to be addressed and how to have conversations when concerned about a loved one or one's self. There are many resources and screening tools that can help orient treatment. If needs are imminent, one must seek immediate intervention by contacting the suicide prevention line 1-800-273-TALK or 911.

To start narrowing in on a provider, contact your primary care provider, talk to trusted friends/loved ones, find a list of local providers by obtaining a list of sources from your insurance company, and/or find providers online, via social media outlets and through provider websites like Psychology Today or Good Therapy. The fit between one and his/her therapist is really important for therapy to be effective. If you need a second referral, speak up or reach out to find someone else. There are many options and ways to access lower cost mental health treatment. Your health is paramount.

What has the process been like for initiating mental health treatment? How easy/hard have you found it to be? Please share any tips or comments about your experience or let me know if there is any topic that you would like to me to address. Also, I am happy to answer general questions about accessing care. Remember, your health is everything.

Thank you for reading.

With Kindness,

Kerry

Resources

DEPRESSION, SUICIDE and MENTAL HEALTH

1) The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

2) The JED Foundation

3) Mental Health America- http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/state-mental-health-america

4) The National Alliance for Mental Illness

5) The National Institute of Mental Health

6) Mental Health America- http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/state-mental-health-america

BODY IMAGE and EATING DISORDERS