Written by: Richie Perera, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Pharmaceuticals play an important but difficult role in mental health care. Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiolytics are important medications that help many people manage their symptoms and provide stability. Antidepressant prescriptions in the UK increased from 50.9 million in 2015 to 74.2 million in 2019, according to NHS figures. As of now, half of the adult population in the UK are taking antidepressants, and young people are using them at the highest rate ever recorded.
Similarly, the National Centre for Health Statistics stated that 13.2% of individuals in the United States used antidepressants between 2015 and 2018. Despite their benefits, the increase in prescription rates emphasises the importance of utilising these medications as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, rather than as stand-alone remedies.
Dependence poses a significant challenge that must not be overlooked. The opioid problem in the United States, with 10.1 million people misusing prescription opioids in 2019, and the issue in the United Kingdom, where half a million people were prescribed opioids for three years or more, underscore the dangers of long-term drug usage. This research emphasises the importance of taking a balanced approach to mental health care, combining medications with therapy, lifestyle changes, and support networks to guarantee long-term, effective treatment.
Mental health medications, which are essential for treating a variety of illnesses, provide great relief while also posing major hazards. These treatments can have a significant impact on people's lives by reducing the symptoms of mental health issues and enhancing everyday functioning and general well-being. However, due to the intricacies of these medications, their usage requires a balanced strategy that considers both their potential advantages and related hazards.
Concerns over the long-term use of benzodiazepines and antidepressants have led to requests for stricter monitoring in the United Kingdom. The British Medical Journal published research in 2020 that showed a rise in prescription durations throughout time, with some patients receiving prescriptions for much longer than indicated. This pattern raises issues regarding dependence, withdrawal, and the possibility of reduced efficacy over time.
In contrast, the United States has encountered its own challenges with prescription drug use, particularly with benzodiazepines, which are used to treat anxiety and sleeplessness. The American Psychiatric Association reports that prescriptions for these drugs climbed by 67% between 1996 and 2013, from 8.1 million to 13.5 million. The CDC found that benzodiazepine overdose deaths increased from 1,135 in 1999 to 11,537 in 2017, demonstrating the deadly effects of overuse and addiction.
These figures from the United Kingdom and the United States highlight the crucial importance of careful prescribing methods, extensive patient education, and comprehensive treatment programmes that involve regular evaluation and monitoring. By taking a cautious approach to the use of mental health medications, healthcare providers can assist reduce the risks of reliance and side effects, ensuring that the advantages of these treatments are realised safely and efficiently.
Sustainable recovery from mental health disorders requires a comprehensive approach that includes therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and strong support networks. In the United Kingdom, the combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with pharmaceutical therapies has been highly beneficial. According to NHS data, 49% of patients who use CBT plus medication find significant symptom relief. This demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating therapy approaches with medicine to address the complexities of mental health issues.
This comprehensive approach recognises that, while medication can address physiological imbalances, therapies such as CBT improve mental resilience by providing clients with coping methods for managing and overcoming their conditions. Lifestyle changes, as well as support from friends, family, and peers, help to lay the groundwork for long-term recovery. This combination of treatments promotes a more comprehensive, ongoing recovery process, ensuring that people are not just dependent on medication but are supported in a variety of ways to regain and maintain their mental health.
While rules for managing long-term pharmaceutical usage, such as antidepressants and antipsychotics, are well established in both the UK and the United States, these guidelines are not always strictly followed. In the United Kingdom, the NHS recommends annual reviews for individuals on chronic pharmaceutical prescriptions to reduce reliance and improve care. Similarly, in the United States, the CDC recommends regular follow-ups for patients with prescription opioids to reduce addiction risks. Despite these suggestions, it is typically up to patients to initiate these critical check-ins, as healthcare systems can be overburdened and scheduled reviews are not always offered proactively by doctors.
This disparity emphasises the critical need for patients being proactive in managing their health care. It is critical for those on long-term medications to actively seek follow-up appointments and medication reviews. This proactive approach ensures that any possible difficulties, like as dependency or adverse side effects, are identified and handled promptly, and that treatment remains consistent with their present health status and recovery progress. Active engagement with healthcare practitioners, as well as pushing for regular medication assessments, can considerably improve the effectiveness and safety of long-term medication management, making it an essential component of long-term health.
For effective mental health care, patients must take control of their treatment journey. This entails carefully regulating drug schedules, actively participating in therapy, and cultivating supportive connections. Patients must also take responsibility for their own health, advocating for regular updates and revisions to their treatment programmes as needed, rather than being passive participants.
Healthcare practitioners play an important part in this process, but the initiative often begins with the patient. In the United States, the deployment of Electronic Health Records (EHR) has opened up new channels for patient-provider contact; however, it is up to patients to use these technologies to stay informed and engaged. Similarly, the UK's NHS Long Term Plan emphasises personalised treatment, but its effectiveness is dependent on individuals expressing their wants and preferences.
Patients and healthcare providers must work closely together, but the initiative to seek comprehensive care and advocate for oneself rests with the patient. It is critical to recognise that long-term prescription use can lead to dependence, exacerbate existing mental health disorders, and even present new challenges.
Medications are not a cure, but rather a tool for managing symptoms as part of a larger therapy strategy. Taking ownership of one's mental health journey entails understanding these dynamics and actively participating in a balanced, multidimensional approach to care that focuses on cultivating long-term well-being rather than seeking solutions through medication alone.
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Richie Perera, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Richie is an award-winning CEO and Founder of Mental Health and Life, an organisation that delivers Mental Health First Aid, Race Equity and Suicide Intervention training. Richie is recognised as a global leader in people management and the author of the groundbreaking book, Managing People in the New Normal. Richie is a speaker and consultant on workplace mental health and wellbeing describing it as the most overlooked, undervalued, yet most lucrative facet of business.
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