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One long term solution to this problem could be the normalization of preventative mental health treatment, analogous to a yearly "physical" doctor's visit. Man
by mhalle 10y ago
One long term solution to this problem could be the normalization of preventative mental health treatment, analogous to a yearly "physical" doctor's visit.
Many mental health issues are (at least in part) a result of reactions to events in everyday life. Sometimes they happen suddenly, or are exacerbated by a biological condition, but in the general population they often exist over time and never rise to a level that requires intervention on their own.
If we could catch potential problems at this early phase, we might be able to address some number of serious issues before they become emergent.
Imagine if insurance covered a yearly mental health checkup. If such a service were available, commonplace, cheap, and considered part of preventative care, we might start to destigmatize mental health care and treatment, addressing little problems early while flagging more serious ones. People who go to their "physical" general practitioner every year aren't usually considered "sick" by their friends. It would take time, of course.
Physical or mental, when the machine's broken you do something to get it fixed. There should never be shame in that. Perhaps we should also do more preventive maintenance.
- hiddencost 10y agoI think the point of this article is kinda "we should be caring for people in our communities" rather than "we should treat mental health as strictly a problem for specialists".
- mhalle 10y agoI agree, but destigmatization makes both approaches easier. Preventative physical health works the same way. Also, if many people had mental health checkups every year, they would probably be better equipped to help others as well.
- MaxfordAndSons 10y agoThis is a great idea. As you note, long-festering mental health issues often build and persist below the threshold of obviously needing intervention. I would add this anecdotal observation: the episodes associated with these long suppressed/ignored issues crossing that threshold seem to often lead to much worse outcomes (breakdowns, binges, harm to self or others) than comparable issues that are chronically at or above the treatment threshold. I think that much like cancer, early detection could do a lot to prevent these devastating outcomes.
- pasbesoin 10y agoImagine if we stopped viewing "pysical" and "mental" health as separate things. Imagine if we provided comprehensive health care and put wellness before ideology and dogma. Imagine if we caught and treated problems early, where possible, before they become more serious and entrenched -- and expensive, for society as well as for the individual, family, social circle suffering them. P.S. Before the Affordable Care Act, having a "mental health issue" severely impacted one's ability to get and participate in health insurance. If you weren't part of a substantial group policy, one episode -- maybe just seeing a counselor for some "therapy" -- of itself or followed by a "life transition" requiring acquiring new insurance, could leave you unable to purchase health care insurance or leave you with a very poor and overpriced plan. Mental health issues brought social ostracism not just in individuals' reactions, but from society's systems and social safety nets. Talk about "kicking them when they are down." The U.S. was absolutely brutal in this regard, with respect to "first world", Western civilizations. And, as we see now with the latest political transitions, those circumstances are not far away, if they ever were, from being once again realized.
- chrisweekly 10y ago> "Imagine if insurance covered a yearly mental health checkup." AFAIK in the US standard health insurance policies _do_ cover mental health visits. Also, where I live (Boston) there's really no stigma.