Treatment for mental illness varies by diagnosis and by person. Even people with the same diagnosis will have different needs, goals and objectives for treatment.
There are many different kinds of treatment available. Since your needs and responses to treatment are different from anyone else’s, it’s important to work with your mental health care provider to determine which options work best for you. Remember, a treatment that helps one person may not work for someone else.
If you feel like you’re not getting better with your current treatment, don’t give up. Talk to your health care provider. There are more options for relief than ever before, and together, you and your health care provider can find the approach that works best for you.
This page provides basic information on mental health treatment. It is not a complete source and should not be used as a guide when making medical decisions. Work with your mental health care provider to determine which treatment options work best for you.
Psychiatric medication helps treat mental health conditions by influencing the brain chemicals that regulate emotions and thought patterns. Medication doesn’t cure mental Illness, but it can ease the symptoms that interfere with daily life, and can prevent symptoms from coming back.
Basic Categories of Psychiatric Medications
Visit NAMI.org for more details about these medication categories.
Just as there are many different kinds of mental illness, there are many different medications that are used to treat them.
It’s important to be honest and open with your health care provider when discussing medication and your treatment plan. This will help them choose a medication and dosage that meets your needs and medical situation.
Your health care provider will choose medication based on:
Visit NAMI.org for a listing of medications, with details about each: what it is, what it is used to treat, what to discuss with your health care provider before taking it, possible side effects and interactions, and more.
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is an involuntary movement disorder that causes repetitive muscle movements in the face, neck, arms and legs. It is associated with the use of antipsychotic medications and some prescription medicines for gastrointestinal disorders. TD symptoms are beyond a person’s control, and can make routine physical functioning difficult, significantly affecting quality of life and mental well-being.
Since TD is a chronic condition that is unlikely to improve without treatment, routine screening for drug-induced movement disorders like TD can be helpful. If you have concerns about movement disorders, talk to your healthcare provider.
For More Information About Tardive Dyskinesia
Never change or stop taking your medication without talking to your healthcare provider.
Visit NAMI.org for common questions related to medication, including how it can play a part in treatment, managing side effects, and where to find reliable information.
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a form of treatment aimed at relieving emotional distress and improving symptoms of mental illness. It is practiced by a range of trained professionals – like psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and licensed counselors.
Talk therapy involves working with a trained therapist, and examining and gaining insight into life choices; exploring thoughts, feelings, behaviors and relationships; and learning coping strategies and skills. It can be used for individuals, families, couples or groups.
Psychotherapy encompasses many types of approaches that use a variety of strategies. A therapist will consider the nature of the condition being treated and the person’s personality when determining which approach will be most effective.
Types of therapy include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),psychodynamic therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), exposure therapy, and mentalization-based therapy, to name just a few.
Some approaches are designed to treat specific mental health conditions. For example, Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET) is often used specifically to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, while Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was developed for treating borderline personality disorder.
Work with your mental health care provider to determine which type of therapy might work best for you.
When treatments such as medication and therapy alone aren’t able to relieve the symptoms of a mental health condition, there are other options available.
Brain stimulation therapies can play an important role in treating people with mental illness who have not responded toother treatments. A treatment plan involving brain stimulation therapy is based on a person's individual needs and medical situation. It often includes psychotherapy, medication or both.
These therapies include:
Get more details about brain stimulation therapies on NAMI.org.
Ketamine is an anesthetic medication that, in very small doses, has been shown to rapidly relieve symptoms of depression – often within hours – in people for whom other treatments have not worked. It is delivered through an IV in low dose, under the supervision of a health care provider in a physician’s office or clinic.
Another form, a nasal spray approved by the FDA called esketamine, also is given in a physician’s office or clinic by a health care provider.
Ketamine and esketamine work in the brain in a different way than standard antidepressants, and each is typically used along with an oral antidepressant and/or psychotherapy.
Learn more about ketamine in this NAMI Ask the Expert Webinar about Ketamine for Depression
Learn more about esketamine on NAMI.org
Pharmacogenomics is the study of how a person’s genetics may affect medication outcomes like symptom improvement, common side effects, or rare hypersensitivity reactions.
A pharmacogenomic test analyses the genetic variants of a patient’s DNA that can impact how a drug is metabolized by our bodies or how the drug acts on our bodies.
This is a developing area of psychiatric and medical care, and it can provide information that may be helpful in making treatment choices. A pharmacogenomic test might help to identify or rule out known genetic factors known to impact medication treatment outcomes. A pharmacogenomic test does not help provide a diagnosis, nor will it identify which medication will work best for you.
Pharmacogenomic test results should be used to complement, not replace, a thorough and evidence-based approach to a person’s diagnosis and care.
Learn more about pharmacogenomic testing at NAMI.org
Psychosocial treatments provide support, education and guidance to people with mental illness, and their families. These treatments can lead to fewer hospitalizations and fewer difficulties at home, at school and at work.
Psychosocial treatments include:
Learn about NAMI Jacksonville’s free support groups, mental health education, skills training and outreach programs.
Contact the NAMI Jacksonville Helpline (call 904-323-4723 or email helpline@namijax.org) for non-emergency information about mental health services and resources in Northeast Florida.
Different types of mental health care professionals provide different kinds of help. Some prescribe and monitor medication, and others provide therapy and counseling. They also work in different settings, like hospitals and psychiatric facilities, mental health clinics, schools and private practices, depending what services they provide. Understanding the different types of professionals and their areas of training and expertise can help you decide which is right for you.
(Please note that health care job titles and specialties can vary by state.)
Psychologists hold a doctoral degree in clinical psychology or another specialty such as counseling or education. They are trained to evaluate mental health, make diagnoses and provide therapy.
Counselors, Clinicians, Therapists have a master’s degree in a mental health-related field. They are trained to evaluate mental health and use therapeutic techniques based on specific training programs. Job titles can vary based on the treatment setting.
Clinical Social Workers are trained to evaluate a person’s mental health, and use therapeutic techniques based on specific training programs. They also are trained in case management and advocacy services.
Psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors who have completed psychiatric training. They can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and monitor medications and provide therapy. Some complete additional training in child and adolescent mental health, substance use disorders or geriatric psychiatry.
Psychiatric or Mental Health Nurse Practitioners provide assessment, diagnosis and therapy for mental health conditions or substance use disorders. In some states, they also are qualified to prescribe and monitor medications.
Primary Care Physicians and Pediatricians can prescribe medication, but usually don’t provide mental health care. They should work with a person’s mental health care provider to develop the best treatment plan for that person.
Family Nurse Practitioners provide general medical services like primary care physicians, based on each state’s laws. They can prescribe medication, but usually don’t provide mental health care. They should work with a person’s mental health care provider to develop the best treatment plan for that person.
Psychiatric Pharmacists are advanced-practice pharmacists who specialize in mental health care. They can prescribe or recommend medications if allowed in their state and practice setting. They provide medication management and education. Many complete additional training in child/adolescent psychiatry, substance use disorders or geriatric psychiatry.
Certified Peer Specialists have lived experience with a mental health condition or substance use disorder. They are often trained, certified and prepared to assist with recovery by helping a person set goals and develop strengths. They provide support, mentoring and guidance.
Social Workers provide case management, inpatient discharge planning services, placement services and other services to support healthy living.
Pastoral Counselors are clergy members who are trained to diagnose and provide counseling. Pastoral counselors can have equivalents to a doctorate in counseling.
Visit NAMI.org for more details about mental health professionals: the services they provide, degree requirements, licensures and credentials.
Finding a Mental Health Professional on NAMI.org provides a plan that can help you find someone you feel comfortable working with.
Mental health treatment occurs in many different settings. Where you go for treatment depends on your situation and recovery needs.
Private Practice is a common setting for individual, family and group therapy sessions. A professional in private practice may workout of a variety of places, like an office or their home.
Community or County Mental Health Centers often provide public mental health care services when a referral to a private doctor or therapist is not possible. Services can include psychiatry, medication management, and case management; as well as help with employment and substance use issues.
Substance Abuse Treatment Centers provide treatment options for people who have substance use concerns co-occurring with a mental health condition. Types of substance abuse centers include Detoxification facilities, Acute Residential Treatment (ART) programs, and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP).
Teletherapy and Telepsychiatry are used by many mental health professionals to provide therapy sessions virtually, via a smart phone or computer. While it may not be ideal for everyone, it is as effective as in-person sessions for most people with most conditions.
Learn more about treatment settings at NAMI.org.
Contact the NAMI Jacksonville Helpline (call 904-323-4723 or email helpline@namijax.org) for non-emergency information on how to find mental health professionals and treatment resources in Northeast Florida. (Please note that we are unable to provide specific recommendations to individual providers.)
At NAMI Jacksonville, our mission is to support and improve the quality of life for people and families dealing with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorder through compassion, education, and advocacy.
NAMI Jacksonville, an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.
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