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Mental Health Services – Introducing
Mental Health Services is the community has faced many social and financial obstacles throughout the plague that have affected our well-being, including mental health. However, mental health and available mental health resources are not typically discussed within our community, leaving many to suffer without proper diagnosis or treatment. As part of our Mental Health series, we recently had the opportunity to speak with Dr Gino Issenberg, professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work and co-director of the about the biases surrounding mental health in our community and ways we can access and address the limited resources available. Read on to find out what he takes to say.
There Barriers in our Community to Accessing Mental Health Services
Three main factors contribute to these obstacles.
Health Limited knowledge and understanding of Circumstances are affecting mental. Many Latin American countries are not used to or even do not have the terms to identify various mental health conditions. For example, when someone feels very depressed, we usually call that person “crazy” or “weak.” But this would generally be diagnosed and treated as depression here in the United States. We need to understand that family history or biological factors can affect a person’s mental health. Other environmental factors such as stress, community violence, lack of housing, food or insurance, and immigrant experiences can also affect mental health.
Fear of Medication as a Treatment Option for Mental Health Services
Many may worry not only about paying for drugs but also about their side effects. Our community prefers to have a connection with someone they can trust. Studies reveal that most Hispanic/Latinx people prefer therapy to medication to treat depression or anxiety. However, there are no bilingual psychiatrists, mental health care providers, or social workers in many rural communities to identify when a person may be suffering from depression or another condition and medication stays needed. That may leave medicines as the only option available. Can go the person deprived of the treatment they need that can help.
Lack of Health Care Providers who speak Spanish
A study conducted by the Latino Centre for Health last year revealed that there are only 435 Hispanic/Latinx physicians in the entire state of Washington. Represents 3.1% of physicians overall in our form, while our population represents 13.5%. There are not enough health care earners to understand and support the mental health needs of our community, and our community must have access to health services in their desired language.
How has the Pandemic Opened up the Conversation about Mental Health Services?
The Pandemic has helped us realize the importance of mental health and its connection to physical health. It has affected everyone. We have experienced many changes and insecurities that have increased the stress in our lives and the need to seek professional mental health support. Because so many are experiencing anxiety, it has been easier to share our experiences and symptoms without feeling judged. We have begun to accept that mental health symptoms are not something personal but the result of our environment and, in this case, the context of our lives during this difficult time.
What stand the Different forms of Mental Health Services Providers?
Partner to partner: Promotors are members of the local community who have received training and are very active. They can visit us in our homes to answer questions and offer different health-related information in Spanish. They are a great resource and can offer suggestions on where to find more specialized mental health services if needed.
Social workers can identify mental health needs based on our personal experiences and environment to determine the social conditions that impact us. Social workers are the leading group of mental health providers offering therapy. About 60% of the treatment provided across the country is by a social worker.
Mental Health Therapist: Psychologists can identify mental health needs by focusing on our symptoms, often deeply rooted in past experiences. They can provide different forms of therapy to improve our mental health and function.
Psychiatrists treat more severe cases, such as bipolar disorders or when a person needs to be admitted to the hospital for treatment and also are the only mental health providers able to prescribe medication.
What are the Different Types of Treatments?
Therapy is available to us in many different forms. There is no refuting that something as simple as listening to music can be therapeutic and also help us feel better. But when it comes to therapy, most instances of mental health improvement are the direct result of a positive relationship or connection experienced with a trained therapist offering specific treatment, such as the Following Examples:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy : Many studies tell us that CBT is very influential among Hispanic / Latinx people.
Psychoanalysis focuses on identifying events from our past that affect our current behaviours, decisions, or feelings. The intention is not to change the past but rather to change how we deal with and cope with our historical traumas.
Mindfulness focuses on the present (Mindfulness). Life current, our body feels and also breathing can help us relax our anxieties and also be more attentive to our bodies and everything around us.
Where can I Find this Kind of Service?
Some examples of services that may be available in your area include:
Sea Mar Community Health Centres have clinics in the western part of the state, from Vancouver, Washington, to Bellingham. They offer services to our community of bilingual therapists.
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic has about 17 clinics in the Yakima Valley and also throughout the eastern. Part of the state and in the northernmost part of the state of Oregon. They also offer bilingual support from psychiatrists.
Conseco Counselling and Referral Service but Its Outpatient Mental Health Program helps people of all ages and families. They offer bilingual support.
Essential health services delivered online or over the phone are also more commonly available. Studies have shown that this method is very effective for depression. In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Washington has launched an advocacy program called Washington Listens. People who use Washington Listen to services by phone at 1–833–681–0211 receive support for coping with heightened stress and change due to COVID-19. Washington Listens available to everyone in Washington. Callers speak to a specialist who can connect them with community resources in their area. The program is anonymous. Language access services are available.
How can we Take care of our Mental Health During the Pandemic?
. We need to find routines that can help us stay active, like exercise. It can be using humility as a 5-minute walk outside the house as a starting point. We also need to maintain our relationships and connections with our family and friends. Although hosting a video call is not the same as seeing them in person. It still helps us interact and maintain these relationships during these unprecedented times. We can also meditate or pray. Practice things that relax us, so help us be the good people we are, and try to be for our families and communities.
Conclusion
Behavioural health services focus on whole-body, whole-person health. This means ensuring our patients are physically healthy and mentally and emotionally healthy. We teach our patients how to engage in healthy behaviours to live a whole and satisfying life.
Positive behavioural and mental health allows people to work more productively. Cope with everyday stress, maintain a positive outlook, and engage in healthy eating, sleeping, and exercise habits.