Treatment FAQ

what is treatment gap mental health

by Willy Abernathy Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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The “treatment gap” (TG) for mental disorders refers to the difference that exists between the number of people who need care and those who receive care. The concept is strongly promoted by the World Health Organization and widely used in the context of low- and middle-income countries.

The “treatment gap” (TG) for mental disorders refers to the difference that exists between the number of people who need care and those who receive care. The concept is strongly promoted by the World Health Organization and widely used in the context of low- and middle-income countries.Nov 19, 2015

Full Answer

What is the treatment gap for Mental Disorders?

The “treatment gap” (TG) for mental disorders refers to the difference that exists between the number of people who need care and those who receive care. The concept is strongly promoted by the World Health Organization and widely used in the context of low- and middle-income countries.

What is the treatment gap for non-affective psychosis?

The median treatment gap for schizophrenia, including other non-affective psychosis, was 32.2%. For other disorders the gap was: depression, 56.3%; dysthymia, 56.0%; bipolar disorder, 50.2%; panic disorder, 55.9%; GAD, 57.5%; and OCD, 57.3%.

Are you not getting the mental health care help you need?

Increasingly, people are not getting the mental health care help they need. The mental health care system is overloaded, resulting in long wait times for appointments, or complicated systems of care that are difficult to understand. In some cases, there is nothing to offer a patient in need.

Is the gap between you and your loved one getting worse?

These gaps have grown over time, and continue to worsen. If you’ve ever tried to find help for a loved one in a mental health crisis, it can be a nightmare.

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What is the gap on depression?

Globally, there is a significant gap between the number of individuals in need of mental health care and those who actually receive treatment, with prior estimates suggesting that more than 56% of persons with depression [1–4] and 78% of persons with alcohol abuse and dependence [3] have not received care.

What are the 3 basic forms of treatment for mental disorders?

Mental Health TreatmentsPsychotherapy. Psychotherapy is the therapeutic treatment of mental illness provided by a trained mental health professional. ... Medication. Medication does not outright cure mental illness. ... Hospitalization. ... Support Group. ... Complementary & Alternative Medicine. ... Self Help Plan. ... Peer Support.

What are Recovery Strategies for mental health?

Create a Healthy RoutineGet enough sleep.Quit smoking.Eat healthy and exercise.Take your medication regularly as prescribed.

How many mental health professionals are there in India?

As is clear from the above sources, the number of psychiatrists in India currently is about 9000 and counting. Added to this, about 700 psychiatrists graduate every year. Going by this figure, India has 0.75 Psychiatrists per 100,000 populations, while the desirable number is anything above 3 Psychiatrists per 100,000.

What is the most common treatment for mental illness?

Psychotherapy or counseling. It is one of the most common treatments for mental health disorders. It involves talking about your problems with a mental health professional. There are many types of talk therapy. Some common ones include cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy.

What are 4 possible treatments to mental disorders?

To help, here is a list of some of the more common types of medications used to treat the symptoms of mental illnesses.Antidepressants. ... Anti-anxiety medications. ... Mood stabilizers. ... Antipsychotic medications. ... Long-acting injectable antipsychotics. ... Psychotherapy. ... Rehabilitation and skills training. ... Support groups.

What are the 5 stages of recovery?

The five stages of addiction recovery are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance....Read on to find out more about the various stages.Precontemplation Stage. ... Contemplation Stage. ... Preparation Stage. ... Action Stage. ... Maintenance Stage.

What are the 5 Pathways to recovery?

Pathways may include clinical treatment, faith-based approaches, medications, peer support, family support, self-care, and/or holistic practices to heal the body and the mind.

What are the 6 principles of recovery?

It has often been said to be about: gaining and retaining hope, understanding of ones abilities and limitations, engagement in an active life, personal autonomy, social identity, meaning and purpose in life, and a positive sense of self.

Who is the No 1 psychiatrist in India?

1. Dr Gorav Gupta. Dr Gorav Gupta is associated with Tulasi Psychiatric & Rehab Centre in Delhi, where he works as a senior psychiatrist. The center runs under the guidance of Dr Gorav,which is licensed by Delhi's State Mental Health Authority.

Why mental health is not taken seriously in India?

In India, people with severe mental illnesses often turn to temples and shrines, not to doctors. The foremost reason for India to lose its mental health is the lack of awareness and sensitivity about the issue. There is a big stigma around people suffering from any kind of mental health issues.

What causes mental health problems?

Stressful life situations, such as financial problems, a loved one's death or a divorce. An ongoing (chronic) medical condition, such as diabetes. Brain damage as a result of a serious injury (traumatic brain injury), such as a violent blow to the head. Traumatic experiences, such as military combat or assault.

How Can We Understand the Treatment Gap?

While the acknowledgment of mental wellness feels long overdue in many ways, it isn’t without its issues. There are barriers to care for all, especially for those with marginalized identities.

The Stark Reality

The disparity in access to treatment for folks of color has been well-documented in recent years. A 2021 study from the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 4 finds both Black and Latinx disparities in access to treatment and medication amongst youth aged 5 to 17.

Where Did This All Begin?

There are many points throughout history one can examine and use to trace inequality in mental health treatment all the way to today.

Change Is Rising

Freedom fighters are everywhere and they are especially present amongst mental health practitioners. Socorro ‘Soco’ Reynoso, LCSW, psychotherapist and owner of South Los Angeles-based therapy practice Soco Rey Therapy, happens to be one of them.

Embodying the Shift

We have our work cut out for us if we want to close the mental health treatment gap for good. If you are fortunate enough to have financial stability during these times, please consider giving to The Loveland Foundation or the Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network.

Reimagining Mental Healthcare

Mental health care is only one part of the healing needed in BIPOC communities. In a pre-colonial world, many of us lived in cultures that thrived in communities, some of which even relied on communal wellness as a cornerstone of health.

A Word From Verywell

Change can be slow and arduous, our current state of nationwide mental health disheartening. We implore you to see this as an invitation rather than a seemingly unending fight–an invitation to give more than you get, lean in and listen when it feels uncomfortable, and hold the vision of collective mental wellness for all.

What is the poverty gap?

The poverty gap: People of color are more likely to live under the poverty line and are thus less likely to have insurance or be able to afford proper mental health treatment. Cultural and racial underrepresentation in the mental health field: People of color make up only 16% of the psychology workforce. Therefore, people of color seeking treatment ...

What is stigma in therapy?

They may also worry that providers would disregard the real problems causes by such discrimination when discussed in therapy. Stigma: Stigma about mental illness exists across all populations. However, many minority cultures view mental illness as humiliating, unimportant or a sign of weakness.

How does racism affect mental health?

The Effect of Racism on Mental Health. Facing racial discrimination comes in many forms and can have negative impacts on mental health: from people assuming you have lesser intelligence, to treating your head like a petting zoo.

What is culturally sensitive care?

For mental health providers or others who want to better serve diverse populations, culturally sensitive care means an understanding of systemic racism — from microaggressions to direct discrimination and harassment.

What are the gaps in the mental health system?

GAPS in the Mental Health Care System. Increasingly, people are not getting the mental health care help they need. The mental health care system is overloaded, resulting in long wait times for appointments, or complicated systems of care that are difficult to understand. In some cases, there is nothing to offer a patient in need. Major GAPS include:

Can people with mental illness be thrown out of care?

People with chronic mental illness who fail to follow the complicated policies in the public mental health system may be thrown out of care, and have to start over from the beginning to get necessary treatment.

Can a primary care doctor treat mental health?

Primary care doctors can start treatment, but many times mental health cases are complicated and require the involvement of a specialist with a months long wait. Emergency rooms assess people in crisis and may recommend hospitalization, but they don’t prescribe treatments for the long term psychiatric needs of people who come in, ...

Abstract

The “treatment gap” (TG) for mental disorders, widely advocated by the WHO in low-and middle-income countries, is an important indicator of the extent to which a health system fails to meet the care needs of people with mental disorder at the population level.

Background

The treatment gap is an important concept in global health advocacy with applicability across a range of chronic medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS [ 1 ], hypertension [ 2 ], cardiovascular diseases [ 3 ], diabetes [ 3 ], epilepsy [ 4] and mental disorders [ 5 ].

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional assessment of adults with confirmed diagnosis of psychosis. The study participants were identified through community case detection and subsequent structured clinical evaluation of diagnosis.

Discussion

To our knowledge this is the first in-depth exploration of the mental health treatment gap and its potential impact in Africa or any other LMIC setting.

Conclusion

Viewing the treatment gap in psychosis as a multi-dimensional construct offers a more realistic and holistic understanding of the need for care and may assist policy and advocacy efforts. The community and NGOs can play a bigger role in supporting mental healthcare in rural Ethiopia.

Availability of data and materials

The data are part of the PRIME project and will be made available at the end of the project. But the data may be requested from the corresponding author for verification of the analyses in this paper.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the substantial support and partnership of the Sodo district administration and health office.

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How Can We Understand The Treatment Gap?

The Stark Reality

Covid-19’S Impact on People of Color

Where Did This All Begin?

Change Is Rising

Embodying The Shift

Reimagining Mental Healthcare

  • Mental health care is only one part of the healing needed in BIPOC communities. In a pre-colonial world, many of us lived in cultures that thrived in communities, some of which even relied on communal wellness as a cornerstone of health. Beyond closing the mental health treatment gap is a world of healing that research has hardly begun to conceptua...
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