Orygen’s Post

Why are our psychiatry didactics stuck in a bygone era, when the minds we're learning to treat are living in a dynamic, ever-evolving world? 🔄✨ The essence of psychiatric education is not just about diagnosing and treating based on textbooks written decades ago. It's about understanding the nuanced nature of mental health in today’s society, embracing technological advancements, and acknowledging the diversity of human experiences. Let's breathe new life into how we train future psychiatrists, making room for innovation, empathy, and real-world relevance. Are we ready to challenge the status quo and forge a path that truly prepares us for the complexities of modern mental health care? Let’s reshape psychiatric education together!

Positive Psychiatry goes beyond traditional methods by not only treating illness but also focusing on building resilience, promoting healthy lifestyles, and enhancing well-being and happiness. The World Health Organization defines health not as an absence of a disease but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Research shows that Positive Psychosocial Characteristics (PPCs) like: Resilience, Optimism, and Social Engagement are linked to better health outcomes, including longer life and improved well-being. Despite their importance, PPCs are rarely covered in psychiatric textbooks or reports, limiting psychiatry’s impact on patients' lives. It's time to integrate positive mental health into psychiatric practice, training, and research to fully address the spectrum of mental functioning.

We have work to do, and it starts with you! The best gift we can give our children and our children's children is to heal ourselves. It is a critical step. How can you better care for your own mental and emotional health, thus be better equipped to support our young? #MentalHealthCrisis #Parenting #Leadership #EndTheStigma #SelfCareMatters

World Psychiatric Association-Asian Journal of Psychiatry Commission on the Mental Health and Wellbeing of International Medical Graduates (2024): This comprehensive report addresses the pivotal concerns and challenges faced by IMGs, offering a wealth of recommendations aimed at enhancing their mental health and overall wellbeing. A must-read for all who advocate for or identify with the unique journey of IMGs. Dinesh Bhugra, Alexander J. Smith, Antonio Ventriglio, Nyapati Rao, Roger Ng, Afzal Javed, Margaret S. Chisolm, Gin Malhi, Anindya Kar, Egor Chumakov,  Michael Liebrenz.(2024). Asian Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 93, 2024, 103943, DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.103943. #imgs #img #emotionalhealth #emotionalwellbeing #emotionalwellness #burnoutprevention #burnoutrecovery IMG Helping Hands IMG Section , AMA World Psychiatric Association (WPA). South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Brook Choulet, M.D., President of the American Board of Sports and Performance Psychiatry, and Dr. Michael Bowen, have published the first Special Report covering Sports Psychiatry in Psychiatric News, the American Psychiatric Association's publication. In this special report, they explore the rapidly growing field and its potential to revolutionize mental health care for athletes. This groundbreaking feature highlights how sports psychiatrists not only diagnose and treat psychiatric conditions but also help athletes navigate challenges and optimize performance. By understanding the unique environments athletes operate in, sports psychiatrists can offer specialized care that reduces symptoms while minimizing the impact on athletic ability. #SportsPsychiatry #SportsPsychiatrist #ABSPP #AmericanBoardofSportsandPerformancePsychiatry

Psychological Assessments in Medico-Legal Cases: Lessons from the Field 🔍 At King George's Medical University (KGMU), Department of Psychiatry, we often get medico-legal cases for major crimes like murder. Recently, I had a particularly challenging one involving a severe crime. This experience reinforced the importance of having an in-depth knowledge of psychological tests, such as the Rorschach. Basic knowledge simply isn’t enough. When reliable informants or detailed patient histories are unavailable, our tests become the cornerstone of accurate diagnosis. It's imperative to be adept with these tools to navigate the nuances and complexities of each case. Mental Status Examination (MSE) stands out as an invaluable ally to our assessments. A thorough MSE not only guides us towards a precise diagnosis but also fortifies our confidence in the conclusions we draw. This level of thoroughness is essential, as our reports can significantly impact lives and the course of justice. My learning: The importance of doing a thorough MSE and having mastery in it is vital. As clinical psychologists, we must develop this skill. Being certain and confident in our assessments and reports is not just a professional responsibility; it’s a moral one. The stakes are incredibly high, and our work has profound implications. It can and will affect someone's life. I am grateful to have encountered such cases in my MPhil training at KGMU. These cases provide lifetime learning and invaluable lessons. #Psychology #MedicoLegal #MentalHealth #ClinicalPsychology #PsychologicalAssessment #MentalStatusExamination #ProfessionalResponsibility

I have so many thoughts on this topic, as both a parent and a pediatric primary care provider (PCP). My journey into the world of pediatric mental health was born out of necessity, but continues because of the huge rewards I see to children and their families when the right care is given. Simply put, there are nowhere near enough pediatric mental/behavioral health providers to meet the current demands. Most pediatric PCPs are trained extensively in child development, but are given very little training in the worlds of psychiatry and mental health disorders. Screening tools for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and social determinants of health have improved identification of youth and families that are at risk, but as for the question of what to do next, many providers still feel inadequately prepared to give sufficient answers. See psychiatry? No one is taking new patients. No one takes our insurance. The wait for an appointment is 6-9 months. My spouse doesn't think my kid needs a shrink. See a therapist? I've called 3 offices and no one is calling us back. I don't know who to trust I did therapy in the past and it didn't help. We had a therapist we loved and she moved away. These responses either make us feel like there is no hope for our patients to get the care they need, or drive us to step up and find a way to offer that care. I, and a handful of my peers, sought to learn more, about the diagnostic criteria, the medication options, the behavioral health interventions that lead to successful outcomes for our patients and their families. We sought and continue to seek out educational opportunities, both formal and informal, on the diagnosis and treatment of the mental health disorders that affect today's youth. And we are seeing the difference. Our patients are seeing the difference. Daily I hear statements like the ones below: "We've seen so many people, and no one has ever done this for us before." "I know that you really care about how she is, and that makes such a difference to her and me." "How come no one ever gave us information like this before? This is so helpful." "We appreciate how you take the time to actually listen." "This medication has been a miracle for him. We feel like we have our child back." "We are seeing improvements and are so hopeful." We know primary care is an ideal setting for pediatric behavioral health. We are the ones who have known these children from birth, we are a place where families feel safe, we are people they already trust. More opportunities are needed to certify providers who are doing the work to become primary care mental health specialists, and insurance companies need to be pushed to prioritize aka pay for this care, for it is at the heart of lifelong health and wellness.

Did you know that Schizophrenia affects approximately 1% of the global population? It's time we shed light on this complex mental health condition and offer support for those on their journey to recovery. At iCare Psychiatry and Behavioral Services, we are committed to providing compassionate and personalized care for individuals with Schizophrenia. #iCareBehavioralHealth #Schizophrenia #SchizophreniaTreatments

As clinicians, the terms we are given to describe our work inevitably shape the work itself, even if we don’t agree with them, and the patient is even more powerless is this configuration. The language performs a simplification and literalization of treatment, and since public psychiatry only improves itself within it own terms, it cannot see beyond this serious limitation. I believe that there is a crisis going on in our culture that mental health care does end up addressing, but where treatment is effective, it is certainly not because of the quantity or quality of the records it produces. Indeed, these records and the bureaucracy they reflect are patronizing and absurd in the face of the magnitude of human suffering psychiatry faces #mentalhealth #clinical #devotionstartswithin