Mental healthcare and awareness in the United States has much to be desired. Sadly, the bulk of resources are used to fund mental health treatment centers that cater to populations with a significant disorder. And many of these government-funded programs are still lacking in quality care! To improve overall mental wellbeing across the United States, we must also devote resources to prevention efforts and early intervention.
What do the terms “prevention” and “early intervention” mean in this context?
Prevention efforts aim to minimize the risk of developing a diagnosed mental health disorder. They do so by increasing community awareness and accessibility to mental healthcare, therefore illness can be prevented, appropriately intervened, or properly managed. Prevention typically includes an educational component, in addition to ensuring that the basic needs of the community are met.
For example, (a) hiring a mental health professional to speak on important issues, (b) scheduling events [e.g. a walk, parade] for awareness of suicide or common psychological struggles, or (c) funding food pantries and professional development classes, thereby allowing citizens to contemplate their mental health rather than survival.
Early intervention is the most effective approach to managing a mental health concern, once one is identified. Early intervention aims to address mental health issues at the earliest stage, making treatment more effective and long-term success more achievable.
For example, (a) the integration of positive mental health practices in preschool/elementary school curricula, (b) the implementation of school-wide mental health screeners to assess for “red flags,” or (c) systems in place to support vulnerable populations, helping them to afford and learn about adaptive coping and parenting strategies.
Prevention and early intervention work together to decrease the emergence of mental health disorders and increase the likelihood of successful management when negative mental health symptoms do arise.
Prevention and early intervention differ from the typical mental health intervention–or “treatment”–by utilizing assessment, education, self-help, and professional guidance in a proactive manner. Moreover, typical intervention usually occurs after a mental health concern has escalated to a disorder, and that mental health disorder has begun to significantly and negatively impact a person’s quality of life.
Typical mental health intervention–or “treatment”–becomes more complex after a threshold of severity is reached, making symptom management more difficult. Severe mental health challenges can limit a person’s ability to participate in treatment, or to even recognize their need for help.
For example, they might (a) skip important counseling sessions, (b) take the wrong dosage of medication, or (c) refuse assistance altogether. Prevention and early intervention offer gentler, more successful paths to wellness–they are critical to community wellbeing! Do NOT wait for the problem to escalate.
Prevention and early intervention cannot completely stop mental health challenges from emerging. Humans have the capacity to be mentally well, mentally unwell, or somewhere in-between, and there are countless genetic and environmental factors that influence the outcome.
However, prevention and early intervention provide the greatest opportunity for success by reducing the likelihood and severity of many mental health struggles. Being proactive about your–or your community’s–mental wellbeing will facilitate coping and resiliency, optimism, and quality of life, meanwhile decreasing the damage caused by untreated mental illness.
What can you do with this information? How can prevention and early intervention help you individually and safeguard your family/community?
A. If you are unsure about your degree of mental wellness/unwellness:
You might benefit from assessment. Completing a mental health assessment (e.g. evaluation, screener, questionnaire) will help to identify your unique strengths and weaknesses. With a detailed understanding of your mental health needs, you can develop personalized goals and choose more effective routes to treatment. Assessment is a key starting point for those who are unsure about their mental health needs or have recently started their wellness journey.
B. If you are not currently struggling with a diagnosed mental health disorder:
You can practice prevention and early intervention in your life by educating yourself on mental wellness techniques. Learn new coping strategies and/or how to overcome psychological challenges. Likewise, you can create a list of self-help and self-care activities. What actions improve your mood, decrease negative thoughts, or promote mindfulness? By studying and incorporating wellness into your daily routine, you will be prepared for any future life events that test your fortitude. Confidently face the unexpected!
C. If you are currently struggling with a diagnosed mental health disorder:
Seek professional treatment. Professional counseling and/or medical intervention can help clients to manage disruptive mental health symptoms and achieve a more balanced, functional lifestyle. Afterward, you can supplement your professional guidance with education and self-help. Mental wellbeing is a lifelong practice. Putting effort into becoming more aware of your symptoms, stressors, and stress-relievers–in addition to knowing when to seek help–will reduce the chance of “relapsing” back into old, unhelpful ways of thinking, feeling, and doing.
Summary
Prevention and early intervention must be an integral part of our community focus if we wish to decrease suffering. We cannot keep waiting to work on mental health issues, putting it off til the symptoms become severe or life-threatening. Mental health is for EVERYONE (not just the “mentally ill”), therefore everyone should include some degree of mental wellness into their routine.
If you are unsure about your mental health needs or have just recently committed to working on them, a key starting point is assessment. Education and self-help are common prevention and early intervention techniques, yet they are beneficial at any stage. When mental health symptoms are left untreated, they can develop into severe disorders that require extensive care (e.g. counseling, medication) and more effort to improve/manage.
The best time to work on your mental health is when life is going relatively well, thus, you can prepare yourself to face life’s challenges with a metaphorical suit of armor. Altogether, prevention and early intervention are the most effective approaches to long-term mental wellbeing, and mental wellness provides the framework for a successful, satisfying life.
MIND the First Step 