Mental Health Month: Psychiatrists share tips on mental illness – The Interior Journal

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues. This month is an opportunity to educate the public about the importance of mental health and the resources available to those in need.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, various organizations and individuals work to educate the public about mental health and advocate for access to resources and services.

The goal of Mental Health Awareness Month is to encourage open discussion about mental health and promote mental health as an important aspect of overall well-being. This is an opportunity for individuals to learn more about mental health issues, seek help if needed, and show support for those suffering from mental illness.

Psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Larson is a behavioral health physician at Ephraim McDowell Behavioral Health. Larson said he has a variety of mental health issues, but the main issues he deals with are depression and anxiety, a trend he sees nationwide.

Dr. Stuart Larson

Larson says much of the stigma against seeking help for mental illness stems from the idea that only “crazy” people need to seek professional medical help for mental illness. explained.

“One of the things I encourage people to do is not be afraid to speak up,” Larson said. “There’s always been a huge stigma around mental illness, but most of the people we work with are just normal, everyday people. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. It’s a sign of weakness or It’s not a character flaw.”

He said one of the first steps you can take is to talk to your GP.

“All family physicians are trained in psychiatry, and some are very good at psychiatry,” Larson said. “People shouldn’t be afraid to tell their GP. If that doesn’t work, they can refer you to us.”

Larson explained that drugs used to treat mental illnesses are proven and safe. What can be frustrating when using drugs is that some drugs may require continuous use for more than a month before the effect is felt.

“It’s hard to hold back when you’re depressed,” Larson says. “You take this drug day in and day out. You start wondering when it will finally start working. It’s frustrating and difficult, but it works in the end. It’s not rocket science, it’s just brain chemistry. It’s just a matter of matching the right drugs to the right people.”

Larson went on to say that everyone’s brain is a little different, so treatment can be a process. Two people may need different medications for the same condition.

Larson believes it’s important to discuss suicide and suicidal thoughts with all patients.

“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” Larson said. “It destroys the people you leave behind. The first thing I tell patients who come here is to realize that thoughts like that can be normal. Thoughts like that can be normal. You can’t stop it, but you need to be aware if it’s going in the wrong direction. Don’t be afraid to talk to your loved ones or your doctor about it.”

Larson explained that a particularly frustrating issue when dealing with mental health is that many people have uninformed opinions about mental illness and treatment.

“You may have to ignore well-meaning friends and family,” Larson said. “It’s funny how this doesn’t happen in other areas of medicine. No one gives you an opinion on what you should do with your heart medicine, your back surgery, or your diabetes medicine. But , everyone has an opinion about psychiatry. It can get in the way of people seeking treatment, and sometimes people feel like they have to protect themselves.”

Larson explained that there are many options other than medication for people suffering from mental illness. Live a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, eat healthy, and pursue hobbies and interests. Talking with a therapist is a very effective treatment.

“Take care of your body, take care of your brain,” Larson said.

Larson went on to say that healthy lifestyle changes can be very beneficial, but someone needs to be able to recognize when professional help is needed. He explained that a good way to determine whether you need professional help is whether your condition is affecting your daily life.

“Maybe people are waiting too long to get help,” Larson said. “There are many reasons why people don’t seek help. There’s never a wrong time to ask for help. If you’re having a hard time, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor. Ask for help or get an opinion. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s a lot of help out there, so I encourage people to not be afraid to get help.”

Larson encourages people to learn to recognize the signs that a loved one is suffering and not be afraid to talk to them.

“It’s okay to ask someone if they’re OK or if they’re suicidal,” Larson said. “I’m not going to force a thought like that into their head. People sometimes think, ‘If I asked that, they’d kill themselves.’ That’s not the case. Usually when you bring it up, people want to talk about it. ”