Hundreds of millions of people worldwide suffer from mental health conditions.
The problem is getting worse and traditional treatments have been terribly effective.
Due to the scope of the problem, more and more research is being done into new mental health/illness treatments that can bring relief to the millions of people who are dealing with these issues.
Up next, we’ll look at some of these new treatments that show promise in treating those suffering from mental illness.
First up, mobile phone apps for mental illness.
Mobile Phone Apps for Mental Illness
There’s an app for everything these days.
And, increasingly, treatment providers and those suffering from mental health are turning to apps.
In some cases, this may just be as basic a service as being able to text a crisis center and connect someone to a counselor. Others are more sophisticated and may actively monitor the behavior of someone with mental illness. When a change is detected, it can provide an alert that help is needed before things get too bad.
Benefits of Mental Health Apps
- Low cost
- Convenient
- 24 hour support
- Anonymity
- Easier, objective data collection
Potential Downsides of Mental Health Apps
- Privacy
- Lack of data on their effectiveness
- Lack of industry standards and regulation
- Not knowing which apps are trustworthy
Up next, psychedelics.
Psychedelics
There has been a big increase in research into the use of psychoactive substances such as psilocybin, MDMA and LSD in the treatment of mental illness.
Psychedelics have been shown to lessen ruminating behaviors – something many mental illnesses have in common. In one study, all patients showed a reduction in the severity of their depression after going through psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy a week after treatment. Positive results were still experienced by most patients up to 6 months after treatment.
MDMA has been shown to reduce the effects of PTSD and clinical trials are advancing in the United States. And LSD appears to be successful in treating those with alcohol use disorder.
While more research and studies need to be done, the results of these new treatments for mental illness are very promising. Hopefully they will be able to bring relief to millions suffering from mental illness and their families.
