Our overall well-being is critically dependent on our mental health. It speaks of our psychological, emotional, and social health and has an effect on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A happy and fulfilling life depends on having a healthy mental state, which directly affects how we deal with stress, interact with others, and make decisions.
Worldwide, millions of people of all ages, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds suffer from mental health issues. One in four people will experience mental health problems at some point in their lives, making this affliction a large-scale concern. Nearly 20% of adults in the US, for instance, go through some kind of mental illness every year, according to Mental Health America.
Mental Health Warning Signs
Understanding the warning signs of mental health issues is crucial so that we can respond appropriately. Changes in mood, excessive worrying, feeling overburdened, having trouble concentrating, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and feelings of hopelessness are some common symptoms of mental health issues. When these symptoms continue for a long period of time, they can make it difficult to do daily tasks, work, and socialize. Therefore, it’s imperative to get help if you or your loved ones experience such symptoms.
Mental Health Presentation
There are numerous ways that mental disorders can present themselves. Here is a quick list of the various categories of mental health issues. Anxiety disorders involve excessive and enduring worry, fear, and apprehension. Persistent sadness, hopelessness, or irritability are hallmarks of mood disorders. Personality disorders manifest as patterns of feeling, thinking, and acting that differ from social norms and seriously impair a person’s life. Delusions, hallucinations, and other symptoms of psychotic disorders include a disconnection from reality. There are numerous other categories of mental health problems, such as disorders linked to trauma, substance use disorders, and eating disorders.
Obstacles to Receiving Support
Sadly, many people may find it extremely difficult to get the mental health support they require. The two most common obstacles to receiving assistance include stigma and a lack of access to mental health services. People may be reluctant to seek help due to stigma surrounding mental health, which can cause feelings of shame and embarrassment. Besides this, it’s probable that waiting periods to see a professional are lengthy and that mental health services aren’t readily available, particularly in low-income areas.
Compounding this, there are not nearly enough mental health professionals in the United States to treat everyone who is affected. More than 150 million people already reside in areas where there is a federally declared shortage of mental health professionals. According to experts, the number of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals needed in the nation within a few years will fall between 14,280 and 31,109 and other professionals will also be overworked.
The Life-Changing Impact of Telemedicine
As in other medical specialties, the pandemic increased demand for mental health care online and it has remained high, which is important to mention because virtual care can also help increase the workforce. One of telemedicine’s major advantages is its ability to reach underserved communities. Telemedicine can be life-changing for people who reside in places where there is no access to psychiatrists.
It is crucial to prioritize and address issues and ultimately widen access to mental health services to ensure that everyone can receive the care they need. Eagle Telemedicine can alleviate the severe scarcity of essential mental health resources, reducing the impact of mental health problems on individuals and society as a whole.
Eagle Telemedicine offers a comprehensive TelePsychiatry program to help enable hospitals with the hard to source psychiatrists they need. Learn more about Eagle TelePsychiatry services here, then contact us today to see how you can add this program to your care delivery program.
