The World Health Organization (WHO) reports about the rise of anxiety and depression in the post-pandemic world look alarming. It says that there has been a 15% increase in the number of depression and anxiety cases.
Further, women and young people are affected the most in the post-pandemic world, with young people being more prone to self-harming or suicidal activities.
As a result, 90% of countries worldwide have included psychosocial support and mental health services in their response plans for COVID-19.
Having said that, there are major gaps and challenges in anxiety and depression treatment in the post-pandemic world.
In this blog, we will discuss all these challenges and how we can overcome them to make some plus to our existing lifestyles.
The Limitations of Traditional Approaches: Understanding the Challenges of Depression Treatment in the Post-Pandemic Era
| “The information we have now about the impact of COVID-19 on the world’s mental health is just the tip of the iceberg.” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO |
So, the challenges in depression treatment in a post-pandemic world begin with the lack of complete information about the scenario.
Further, the combination of talk therapy and antidepressant medications or the traditional approach to depression treatment is falling short now.
Again, the pandemic made the limitations of mental healthcare services more visible. For example, the healthcare systems were overburdened, and the wait times for access to therapies became longer. So, many people kept struggling to access the help when they needed it the most.
Further, with loopholes in the system being more visible in the mental health system, there has been momentum to look for immediate solutions and more effective alternatives.
Having said that, there are more challenges in anxiety and depression treatment in the post-pandemic world. In this section, we will delve deeper into the problems to find more effective solutions.
1. Assessment of Mental Health Issues
Each person affected by COVID-19 had to experience a cytokine rush in their body. Now, with the elevated levels of inflammatory cytokine, each of them became a victim of mood disorders, depression, and anxiety.
However, there were no specific screening processes or diagnoses to identify mental health issues caused by a cytokine storm in the body.
2. The Infodemic or the Spread of Misinformation
Now, this is one of the most challenging hurdles to overcome for someone dealing with mental health issues and someone offering help to alleviate their suffering
Various religious and political beliefs have prompted the spread of misinformation about COVID-19, which we can call an infodemic.
This infodemic has further made it difficult to get a clear picture of the mental health conditions of many communities or sections of people in society.
And it goes without saying that women are bearing the biggest brunt of it.
3. A Lack of Access to Mental Healthcare Treatment and Support
With the outbreak of COVID-19, many mental health services became inaccessible, and many of them were even converted to facilities to fight COVID-19.
Further, disrupting physical and social connections made psychotherapeutic services more challenging to access.
4. Inability to Reach out to the People Who Need it the Most
The paradox or injustice in the public health system has become more prominent in the post-pandemic era.
Economic recession, unemployment, and lack of resources have made mental health services inaccessible to the people who need them the most.
A Shift Toward Personalized and Rapid Treatment: How Can We Overcome the Challenges in Depression Treatment?
Fortunately, these challenges in depression treatment in the post-pandemic era have been an eye-opener for everyone associated with mental healthcare services.
Mental healthcare professionals are now focusing more on individualized treatment plans. They now understand that the pangs of depression are different for every individual.
Again, this understanding has promoted the rise of innovative treatments that can help individuals with treatment-resistant or severe depression.
So, here we will discuss how we can overcome the challenges in anxiety and depression treatment highlighted in the COVID-19 era.
1. Use of Ketamine for Individuals with Treatment-Resistant Depression
One such breakthrough is the use of ketamine and its derivative, esketamine, as fast-acting antidepressants.
Originally an anesthetic, ketamine has been studied extensively for its effects on mood disorders and has shown promising results, especially in patients who haven’t responded to traditional antidepressants.
2. Use of Esketamine as an FDA-Approved Nasal Spray for People with Treatment-Resistant Depression
SPRAVATO (esketamine) is an FDA-approved nasal spray specifically for adults with treatment-resistant depression.
SPRAVATO is administered in a clinic under complete medical supervision. Further, it targets the glutamate system of our brain.
So, once the patients take it, they notice improvements within hours or days.
If standard treatments haven’t worked for you or someone you care about, it may be time to discover SPRAVATO nasal spray for depression at Daydream MD. However, it can be a relief system and is not a cure for depression.
3. Accessibility and the Role of Telehealth: Understanding the Role of Telepsychiatry
The growth of telehealth has made therapy and psychiatric support more accessible to the following groups of people.
- Rural people
- People with mobility challenges
- People who have busy schedules
Furthermore, the rise of online therapy platforms has brought a paradigm shift in the mental healthcare system. Virtual appointments and correspondence have created a more comforting space to open up about their problems.
Moreover, with these online platforms being in place, more people now have overcome the stigma of talking about mental illness. They now fear less about being judged or isolated.
Having said that, integrating telepsychiatry into a mental health care system can be challenging in some cases. For example, in places with a marginalized population or people suffering from poverty, telepsychiatry may not work.
So, in these scenarios, healthcare workers need to reach out to the patients and work toward establishing equitable access to telepsychiatry for everyone.
What the Future Holds for Depression Treatment in the Post-Pandemic World
Depression is a complex, deeply personal condition, and it requires a treatment approach that reflects that complexity.
The post-pandemic world has highlighted the areas we lack in addressing this mental health condition. There is also a gap in offering the necessary treatment and support.
Further, innovation, empathy, and flexibility are going to be most important in improving depression treatment in the post-pandemic era.
We must aim to provide long-lasting relief and improve the quality of life for people suffering from mental health conditions. It can happen with the mix of traditional therapies and modern medications like SPRAVATO.
