Psychiatry’s Future Progress Depends on Innovation, Collaboration, and Access The future of psychiatry holds promise and potential for transformative change, bringing us closer to more effective and accessible mental health care. In a world characterized by rapid technological advancements, shifting healthcare landscapes, and evolving patient needs, psychiatry must evolve too. Dr. Carlene MacMillan, MD, a dedicated psychiatrist, envisions a brighter future for mental health care, one that leverages innovation, fosters collaboration, and ensures access for all. One of the challenges in the current mental health landscape is the lack of seamless access to patients' historical data. In an age when retail businesses can access comprehensive customer data with ease, psychiatry often struggles to retrieve essential patient information, such as past medications or therapist history. Dr. MacMillan envisions a future where mental health care fully embraces technological progress. This future includes easy access to the latest research on mental health treatments, the ability to offer evidence-based insurance coverage, and a comprehensive living document containing a patient's psychiatric and medical history. Innovation in psychiatry is already well underway, and it's changing the way we approach mental health care. Telehealth has brought care to patients' homes, offering convenience and accessibility. Emerging treatments, such as psychedelics and MDMA-assisted therapy, are being explored as potential solutions for treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. Additionally, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is evolving with innovations like the SNT Neuromodulation System, offering faster relief for depression. Collaboration is another key driver of progress in psychiatry. Primary care providers are increasingly addressing mental health issues, emphasizing the need for a more collaborative care model. She emphasizes the importance of a healthcare system where primary care physicians work in tandem with psychiatrists, ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time. The concept of hybrid care, combining telehealth and in-person care when necessary, is gaining traction, providing a flexible approach to mental health treatment. However, there are significant barriers to overcome on the path to a brighter future for psychiatry. Payment structures must evolve to support innovative treatments adequately. Historically, insurance systems have undervalued mental health care, focusing on procedural metrics that may not capture the full impact of mental health treatments. #telehealth #tms #tmstherapy #depressiontreat #mdma #mentalhealthcare #mentalhealthmatters #psychiatry #psychiatrist #mentalhealthprofessionals #mentalhealthtreatment https://lnkd.in/emZzKdSZ
Russ Scala
7mo
We have know for year the Testosterone, Estrogen, Thyroid, Progesterone Cortisol affect Brain Chemisty sleep mood and Behavior yet very fre Psychiatrists test for deficiencies in the HPAG axis , we can also think about the Microbiome and mitochondrial function once we correct metabolic pathways then go to Psychedelics,
Thanks for sharing this piece and the sentiment!
Marcelle Stastny
7mo
Beautifully put!
In the UK, collaboration between partner agencies is getting much better. However, funding for mental health over physical health is still an issue. This is largely due to the decision makers being business people rather than how it used to be where decision makers (Senior Managers) would have worked their way up from the 'factory floor' so to speak and still the lack of understand and acknowledgement that 'mind and body' work together. We also have the issue of the 'chicken and egg' whereby if someone has mental illness but self-medicate with recreational drugs and alcohol, as is so commonly seen, they drug and alcohol services wont see them because it is a 'mental health problem' and the psychiatric services wont see them until they have addressed their drug and alcohol problem. This collaboration between partners really needs to improve!