Is Our Old Mental Health Model Out?
Feb 16, 2023
I'll start by saying this...while there are flaws in our mental health system, there are a LOT of people who are getting the support they need. I don't believe we are in a place that we need to throw away what's working.
With that said, I want to point out some of the flaws in the way we think about mental health support that could really improve outcomes for many.
First, let me define what I mean by our current mental health model. What I see is that most of the time, we wait until we are in crisis to seek support with our mental health care. Thinking specifically about anxiety, here's what that can look like.
First, someone begins to feel more and more anxious in their life. Maybe work is overwhelming and they have kids in multiple sports. They are busy and stretched thin. One negative event occurs and then another. The emotional weight begins to pile on. This person's mantra becomes, "suck it up...this too shall pass".
They are holding on by a thread when BOOM, another negative life event occurs and it's just too much.
Now, she is in full crisis mode. She is overwhelmed, anxious, and feels completely lost. She needs help. AND, there is no lifeboat, no guide who is coming to tell her HOW to get that help. She is in a state of complete overwhelm and SHE is also the captain who must find her own path forward.
Most people have not been taught how to navigate the mental health system. Most people don't know the process for finding a counselor who is the right fit. Most people don't know (until they are overwhelmed and NEED the help) that it can often take weeks (and often, more realistically, MONTHS), to get into a therapists office.
When we wait until crisis, it can be more costly, take longer to recover, and make us feel, at times, hopeless.
What I really dream of is that we will normalize building resilience, learning skills and practicing the tools for proactive and preventative mental health care.
THAT is the heart behind all of the work I am doing right now. I want to support you NOW, while the hard parts are still manageable.
Did you know that EVERY SINGLE PERSON will experience anxiety in some form at some point in their life. It's not an "IF", it's a "WHEN" question. So, why not build yourself up now?
I have more ideas about improvements we can make...one day, I'll get into that too.
But for now, if you're not yet in crisis. What is one thing you could do to build up your resilience right now?
Meditation, prayer, find a book, change some habits, seek out help, get some coaching, or take an online course?
Have a great week!
Til next Thursday!
Much Love,
Stacey