For years, I have been a critic of the barriers that exist to provide equal access to mental health treatment for people who need it the most. As a psychotherapist and mental health trainer for 12 years, I have seen the sad limitations that are placed on mental health professionals when they work in institutions or nursing homes. Nurses and doctors are often the first line of defense against the stigmatization of mental illness and mental health disorders. They are tasked with the heavy responsibility of treating patients with behaviors that may be indicative of or caused by mental health disorders. While nurses and doctors may practice compassion and love towards their patients, mental health professionals often practice indifference and fear towards patients suffering from mental disorders.
I have become deeply concerned as to the lack of compassion and understanding exhibited by many mental health professionals in the field of medicine. The recent rash of deaths in hospitals of medical professionals who are trained in psychiatric care has me galvanized into action. As a psychotherapist who works with people experiencing mental illnesses, there is no reason why people with mental health issues should suffer while others are not treated with compassion and fairness. I want to see a concerted effort by mental health professionals to create an integrated barrier to mental health treatment in order to move the field forwards and offer true care to those who need it the most.
Many mental health professionals argue that the mentally ill are often misdiagnosed and undiagnosed, resulting in ineffective care and a lack of improvement in a patient’s condition. This creates a barrier to treatment for those suffering from mental health disorders. Those that do suffer need constant supervision and assistance in order to remain safe and prevent relapse. I see the barriers to mental health treatment being created in the form of regulations that are overly strict for teaching and research practices. The result is that mental health professionals are becoming overwhelmed and unable to perform their duties because of budget restraints.
Many organizations have been formed to address these problems. However, they only go so far as to provide guidelines and training for doctors and other mental health professionals. For example, the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association have set up task forces to evaluate the implementation of mental health treatments in the United States. The two associations have called on all psychiatrists and mental health professionals to work collaboratively in order to improve the mental health of patients. They have also called on hospitals to provide better support services for mentally ill patients and for the families of such patients.
However, these agencies are only in place as a reminder. The problem goes much deeper than that. Mental health professionals need to take a proactive stance and step outside of their offices in order to see what is really going on. They need to be willing to call out doctors and nurses when they notice that poor mental health treatment is occurring. Forcing mental health professionals to perform their duties may mean lessening the chance that patients get the treatment that they need.
Mental Health Professionals
By creating that opportunity, mental health professionals can do their job properly. They can hold doctors and other health professionals accountable for the way they treat their patients. In turn, this will ensure that patients continue to receive the care and attention that they need. Doctors and other mental health professionals who are willing to implement quality control measures in their practices can prevent a lot of problems before they occur.
