Mental Health Intercept Map
Treatment & Recovery
Treatment
Now Treatment is broken down into two main boxes—Medical and Non-Medical. The former is the route which involves medical management or intervention. The latter is any other form of treatment that does not require medicine. These include therapy, groups, and communities. However, both have some issues:
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Lack of knowledge about mental health coverage
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Some people are unaware of the fact that mental health is covered on health insurance.
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It is not "advertised" as much as regular health insurance.
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Lack of professionals.
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This is an ongoing theme for Arizona.
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Difficult to find information about nonmedical treatments beyond therapy
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People may not know where to find them or if they can be credible.
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Some possible solutions to make it easier:
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Promote behavioral health insurance coverage the same as physical health (like intervention)
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Telehealth services to be able to extend to communities in underserved areas.
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Most help beyond therapy is small and community based, how can the word be spread?
Recovery
Finally, Recovery. This is the intercept when people are on track to achieving a state of mental health that does not require intervention. This could look like beginning to wean off medication, seeing a therapist less frequently, etc.
It important to keep in mind that people may flow back and forth between this intercept and the previous one, treatment. Sometimes, this intercept can be skipped altogether-- for example, being on antidepressants for life to manage depression. People can still have good mental health even if they stay in treatment.
There are some issues within this intercept:
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Based on how the person feels.
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while this also a good thing, stopping treatment "cold turkey" can have regressive effects on mental health.
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Lack of professionals for continued guidance.
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The theme!
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Potential solutions may include
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Create a plan that can be stuck to long term
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Include professional guidance to ease off treatment and create the plan.
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Have a unified definition about the person's subjective feeling.
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possibly use concepts such as quality and outlook on life, and one's drive.
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Maintain continued support through peers and family.
