Orthomolecular Medicine – A Leading Light For Mental Health and Nutrition, Mental Diseases
Are we in The Dark Ages When it comes to mental health diagnoses in the 21st century, it often seems that way. Yes, drugs can help extreme symptoms, but with a 10% ‘success’ rate, modern drugs seldom help anyone truly recover. Parents and other family members of those with serious mental diseases are often at their wits’ end.
Too many people are suffering-not getting well on present day medication only policies of mental wards of our leading hospitals. Seldom do patients’ physical health get investigated for deficiencies of healthy nutrients such as B12, other B vitamins, Vitamin D or Omega 3 fatty acids, bowel problems, food allergies or mineral deficiencies, such as zinc.
read moreMental Health First Aid – Learn How to Help Someone Experiencing a Mental Health Problem
As a newly qualified therapist back in 2004, one area where I knew I definitely needed to know more was mental illness. I wanted to be better informed about the different common types of mental ill-health; to be able to recognise their symptoms in a client, and know what to do. This, I reasoned, would give me a better understanding of clients with a past history of mental health problems – whatever their current reason for consulting me – and would also equip me to cope if I encountered someone in serious crisis. I had heard of clients experiencing a psychotic episode during therapy as a responsible practitioner, what should I do in that situation I honestly wasn’t sure.
Then, late in 2005, I heard a radio discussion about Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a new Scottish NHS initiative which seemed to offer what I wanted in an intensive 12-hour course. Researching further, I discovered it had originated in Australia, and that Scotland was one of a growing number of countries to adopt it. It covered a wide range of mental health problems, was aimed at ordinary people not doctors, and taught the diagnosis, support and signposting skills I wanted. Bingo! I hurried to book a place – only to discover that I couldn’t. Scottish residents only; no exceptions. Until the English NHS adopted the scheme, which they might do sometime (or not), I couldn’t take the course. It was infuriating – I was happy to pay; I just wanted the training.
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