3 Reasons Why Not All Mental Health Professionals are Created Equal

The biggest regret of those who have lived through a depressive or bipolar disorder episode is that they didn’t obtain a rigorous diagnosis and treatment plan early enough. Lora Inman is one such person, interviewed in my book Back From The Brink. A long-time depression sufferer and passionate mental health advocate, she went for decades without a proper diagnosis or treatment, which prolonged her suffering and made postpartum depression even harder to manage. Lora’s story perfectly illustrates three very good reasons why you need a trusted mental health professional. Not all doctors are well-versed in mental health issues In the 1960s and 1970s, precious little information was available on depression and bipolar disorder. The Internet didn’t exist as we know it today. Lora visited medical experts in several states in America who couldn’t diagnose or help her. She was eventually diagnosed with postpartum depression by her OB/GYN. Today, mental health issues are better understood and information is more accessible. Despite this, levels of training in mental health, particularly among primary care physicians — already under significant pressure and who have to deal with a huge range of medical conditions — can be alarmingly low. For example, medical students in Australia training to be primary care physicians (general practitioners) receive formal lectures about depression and bipolar which account for just one percent of the content in their six years of ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Tags: Antidepressant Bipolar Depression Disorders General Medications Motivation and Inspiration Psychiatry Psychology Psychotherapy Treatment Bipolar Disorder Clinical Psychology General Practitioners getting help Graeme Cowan M Source Type: blogs