Title : A 3-tiered approach to managing mental health beyond medications
Abstract:
There is an extensive toolbox of pharmaceutical medications available for managing mental health disorders, which are a cornerstone in the treatment of mental health illnesses. Yet, global rates of mental illness continue to rise, with mental illness remaining one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. This suggests the important exploration of the question “What else can we do to support mental health that goes beyond the realm of pharmaceutical medications”? In this presentation, I will outline a robust 3-tiered framework that allows any individual, of any age and gender, at whichever stage of their recovery process they are at, to access a toolbox of evidence-based methodologies to support their recovery from mental illness, which goes beyond the use of pharmaceutical medications. The approach begins with either the first or second tier, which when achieved can dramatically change the trajectory of mental illness, with the third tier an appropriate step for only a subset of individuals. The first tier utilizes nutrition, lifestyle, herbs, and nutraceuticals, based on the latest evidence-base and decades of clinical data from the field. The latest findings in diet and nutraceuticals that impact mental health will thereby be expounded upon. The second tier utilizes Mind-Body Medicine frameworks and skills to regulate the nervous system, support the brain’s neuroplasticity, and reintegrate Mind & Body through the elicitation of the individual’s parasympathetic nervous system. The relevant research highlighting the effective outcomes of such methodologies will also be shared here. The third tier works with an individual’s cognition and subconscious mind, whilst also supporting them in the transmutation of their sympathetic nervous system’s response. The elaboration of Tier 3 will be shared through case studies. However, without first engaging with Tiers 1 and 2, Tier 3 can risk re-traumatizing or worsening an individual’s symptoms, which is why this step-wise approach is taken. The combination of the 3 tiers creates an environment for individuals in which a vibrant and vital framework unfolds, from which their mental illness can recover and their mental health be restored.
