Rehab Near Me Notes the Rising Popularity of Online Therapy for Mental Health

Rehab Near Me, an online resource for drug and alcohol rehab treatment, has noted the rise in the number of people preferring to use telehealth or online mental health counseling for their mental health issues. Statistics show an increase in the search volume and needs of people for online therapy for mental health. Telehealth increases access to the care offered by mental health professionals through the use of videoconferencing technology, such as Zoom. This is vital for drug and alcohol rehab treatment because there is a strong link between mental health and addiction. It has been observed that many people who are struggling with substance use disorder are also suffering from a co-occurring mental health disorder.

Anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder are only some of the examples of mental health issues that usually co-occur with substance abuse disorders. A spokesperson for Rehab Near Me explains, “Interestingly, mental illnesses and substance use disorders usually have their own unique symptoms. These effects may overlap, making it even more difficult for a person to function normally and maintain a stable home life. They may struggle with work or have a hard time keeping up with their daily responsibilities. Even their relationships with other people may suffer.”

If left untreated, both mental health disorders and substance abuse disorder can worsen over time. That is why they need to be attended to at the same time with a cohesive addiction treatment program. Unfortunately, despite some progress, people suffering from mental health problems continue to suffer from discrimination and stigma. It is because of this social stigma that only a few people will try to find the treatment that they require.

Meanwhile, a link between social media and mental health disorders has also been observed. Apparently, the fame provided by social media has resulted in a rise in the number of influencers who are turning to alcohol and drugs in order to cope with the pressures that fame exerts on them. These young people who suddenly find themselves in the limelight are not prepared for the pressures of the scrutiny and expectations that come with their online popularity. Thus, Rehab Near Me wants to stress the need to address the mental health needs of social media influencers and the resulting dangers of addiction.

Telehealth or online mental health counseling may offer a solution by providing easier access to the services of mental health professionals. Hybrid group therapy sessions may also be provided where patients can attend a group therapy session either online or in person. The usual mental health problems include generalized anxiety disorders, panic disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

In anxiety disorders, the patient worries too much considering the actual situation. Panic disorder occurs when the patient experiences unpredictable and recurring panic attacks. In depression, the patient has lost interest in those things that were usually enjoyable for them with sadness as one of the symptoms. The patient may also feel guilt, worthlessness, and may have negative thoughts. In PTSD, the patient has recurring flashbacks and nightmares. In bipolar disorder, the patient experiences sudden and unusual changes in mood, energy, concentration, and energy levels. In OCD, the patient experiences repeated thoughts, images, and impulses.

Founded in 2016, Rehab Near Me is an online resource with the goal of helping people who are struggling with drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues in connecting with the proper, accredited medical treatment alternative. They have a team of trained addiction and mental professionals who can offer the advice and assistance to people who contact them on the phone regarding inpatient and outpatient rehab and the relevant therapeutic methods to use based on the specific substance abuse issue and the unique needs of a particular patient.

Those who would like to know more about outpatient and inpatient treatment programs, including the link between addiction & mental health, can check out the Rehab Near Me website or contact them on the phone or through email.

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For more information about Rehab Near Me, contact the company here:

Rehab Near MeJames Thomas855-227-9535hi@rehabnear.meJames Thomas

02

Street medicine filling a major gap by providing behavioral health care for people who are homeless

Mental health and substance use disorders are prevalent among people experiencing homelessness, yet access to care for these health issues is challenging for people living on the streets. Now, a new survey conducted by a team of researchers from USC Street Medicine found that, in California, street medicine programs are helping to fill this gap, delivering critical, high-level mental health and substance use treatments to the state’s unsheltered population.

The survey, published in Community Mental Health Journal, shows that street medicine has the potential to serve as the basis for a strategy to expand access to behavioral health care for people who are unhoused.

“This survey showed that there is tremendous need for mental health and substance use services and that street medicine programs are providing more services and higher-level care out of necessity,” said Brett Feldman, director and co-founder of USC Street Medicine, assistant professor of family medicine at Keck School of Medicine of USC, and one of the authors of the study. “We found that street medicine teams have trained up to provide a higher level of behavioral health care because there’s little access to psychiatric care, especially on the street.”

The authors noted that addressing the mental health and substance use problems, common among the state’s homeless population, is one key to improving communities’ efforts to address homelessness.Need is great, resources are sparse

The researchers from the Keck School of Medicine surveyed 29 street medicine teams in California, 26 of which completed the survey. One was excluded because it is too new a program to have meaningful data. Street medicine organizations reported that 64% of their patients have mental health problems and 67% have substance use disorders. All but one of the street medicine programs provides some mental health and treatment for substance use disorders.

Despite the need, most of the street medicine programs reported having difficulty successfully referring their patients to mental health and addiction treatment programs. Referring unhoused patients to specialists is often difficult, noted Feldman, since many have no address, phone number or transportation to make visits to specialists.

Eight of the street medicine programs surveyed include a psychiatrist, but only two of them are full-time. Six of the teams have part-time psychiatrists who provide between four to 10 hours a week of care. Feldman added that there is a national shortage of psychiatrists, which has made it increasingly difficult for disadvantaged people, such as people living on the streets, to access psychiatric services.

Street medicine programs are typically staffed with primary care providers who are trained to treat some mental health issues, but people with complex or severe mental health problems often need the type of care that only a psychiatrist can provide.Addressing the problem of access

The study concludes that street medicine is a promising approach to improving access to mental health and substance use care for people who are unsheltered. Feldman said 60% of the state’s programs provide very high-level care, such as medication-assisted therapy, which involves treating substance use disorders with medications, such as suboxone, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapy.

Street medicine providers have also embraced using long-acting antipsychotics for people with severe mental illness. These drugs last up to about a month, which makes adherence simpler for people living on the street and stabilizes them for longer periods of time than daily oral medications.

The study’s authors also suggest novel approaches to providing behavioral health services should be explored, such as using telehealth during street visits to provide patients with access to psychiatric care or treatment for addiction. They also assert that additional research should be done to understand the barriers that exist to providing medications to treat psychiatric problems and substance use disorders and find new ways to improve access.

Finally, the authors conclude that the all of the strategies for providing behavioral health care through street medicine should be further studied and evaluated to allow for the development of evidence-based practices that can be tested, replicated, reimbursed and operationalized.

Additional authors of this study include Kimberly Y. Su, Corinne T. Feldman, Sonali Saluja, Alexis M. Coulourides Kogan and Michael R. Cousineau of the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

More information: Kimberly Y. Su et al, Behavioral Health Care Delivery Through Street Medicine Programs in California, Community Mental Health Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s10597-023-01169-z

Citation: Street medicine filling a major gap by providing behavioral health care for people who are homeless (2023, September 7) retrieved 12 September 2023 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-09-street-medicine-major-gap-behavioral.html

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03

Is psilocybin a promising therapy for treatment-resistant depression?

A growing body of evidence suggests that psychedelic drugs may be useful in treating various mental health conditions. However, many challenges remain in defining their clinical benefits and overcoming the complex regulatory obstacles to their use. The September issue of Journal of Psychiatric Practice presents a research review and update on therapeutic use of psychedelics—focusing on the use of psilocybin for treatment of depression.

“At a time of growing excitement regarding the potential use of psychedelic agents to improve outcomes of otherwise intractable disorders, psychiatrists and patients alike need perspective on the current state of the evidence and the prospects moving forward,” comments lead author Amir Garakani, MD, of Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich, Conn., and the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.

“In this article, members of the Psychopharmacology Committee of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry and consultants discuss current research findings to provide guidance to clinicians concerning the prospects for psilocybin treatment for their patients struggling with debilitating depression.”The psychedelic experience—how does psilocybin affect the brain?

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic substance found in so-called “magic mushrooms.” Many recent clinical trials have reported positive effects of psilocybin in treating psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Evidence suggests that therapeutic responses to psilocybin “stem from, or at least go hand-in-hand with, an intense emotional or mystical experience,” Dr. Garakani and colleagues write. Studies suggest that psilocybin leads to increased “openness to experience” and psychological flexibility—enabling patients to “reconsider stereotyped perspectives and move beyond accustomed patterns of thinking.”

Research into psilocybin’s biological effects suggest increased activity between brain networks, without corresponding increases within single networks. Greater changes in brain network flexibility have been linked to lasting reductions in depression symptoms six months later.Clinical trials show progress—but research questions and regulatory issues remain

To date, all psilocybin treatment studies have included a psychotherapy component, including preparation, dosing, and integration phases. In integration sessions, “Participants are encouraged to share their experiences, with the goal of helping them generate insights, and facilitating behavioral change,” according to the authors.

Various dosing strategies are being evaluated in academic and commercial settings. These studies follow highly controlled protocols in carefully selected populations, with special attention to maximizing patient safety during the psychedelic experience.

Clinical trial registries show a “multitude” of studies planned or in progress, targeting MDD, TRD, and other conditions such as cancer-related anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. “The large number and wide-ranging scope of ongoing and future psilocybin trials not only show the interest in this drug in the scientific community but also the potential therapeutic role of psychedelics across diagnoses and clinical domains,” the researchers write.

Earlier this year, the Australian regulatory agency announced approval for psychiatrists to prescribe psilocybin treatment for TRD. In the United States, psilocybin has been designated as a “breakthrough therapy” for TRD and MDD. While two states have legalized or decriminalized psilocybin (Oregon and Colorado, respectively), it remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law.

An official American Psychiatric Association position states that there is “currently inadequate scientific evidence” to endorse the use of psychedelics for treatment of any psychiatric disorder, outside of approved research studies. Nevertheless, “The research evidence presented here offers further support for the potential of psychedelics in mental health care,” Dr. Garakani and colleagues conclude.

“Psilocybin has demonstrated promise as a novel therapeutic and offers new perspectives on the function and dysfunction of the brain,” according to the authors. However, they add, “It remains to be seen if the current clinical, legal, and research landscapes will allow delivery on that promise.”

More information: Amir Garakani et al, Psychedelics, With a Focus on Psilocybin: Issues for the Clinician, Journal of Psychiatric Practice (2023). DOI: 10.1097/PRA.0000000000000729

Citation: Is psilocybin a promising therapy for treatment-resistant depression? (2023, September 7) retrieved 12 September 2023 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-09-psilocybin-therapy-treatment-resistant-depression.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.