How functional psychiatry can improve mental health

In the UK, one in four of us experiences a dip in mental health each year – that’s over 16 million people. This raises a big question. With so many in the country needing support, why are so few taking the steps to get help?

Life is even more complicated right now because of lockdown and it’s well documented how much the current situation is affecting mental health. People are feeling stuck and dealing with stresses they’ve never previously had to confront.

At Green Door Clinic, we’ve seen a sharp increase in issues related to work and the suffering of relationships. Add all these together and it’s no wonder so many of us are feeling burnt out. However, it can still feel like a daunting task getting therapy.

Adapting to a patient’s needs
To make it easier for people to take the first all-important step, clinics need to make sure they adapt to a patient’s needs, not the other way around. Each person is unique, and should be treated as such. In mental health treatment, the ‘cookie cutter’ arrangement simply doesn’t work.

The key is to deliver bespoke therapy that is completely tailored to an individual: a recovery plan built around life, work and commitments. No fixed times, no singular system. People should still be able to work and live their lives. They should even be able to access treatment online if that is what’s best for them.

Dealing with problems
One approach that we think works really well is functional psychiatry. This technique treats the whole body, and because of that, it’s one of the quickest and most effective ways to get to the root cause of an illness. In addition to individual psychiatry, it provides a wide variety of therapeutic methods like nutrition, exercise and mindfulness practices. Functional psychiatry emphasises a holistic style, providing tactics to deal with problems, rather than masking symptoms solely with prescription drugs. It’s a more natural, focused and modern way to deal with any issue.

As we approach what could be the end of lockdown, there is a lot of anxiety around what will happen next and the fallout of what’s just been. With Mental Health Week shining a light on the topic, we hope that it gets everyone talking about and addressing their own needs, and seeking help where required.