Mental Health Treatment Options
Like any physical condition, the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions may vary based on the specific condition and the individual. There are many different options for treatment and support available. There is no treatment that works for everyone, so it’s important that you chose the treatment, or combination of treatments, that work best for you or your loved one.
Printable PDF of this resource available here
View this resource En Español
There are many treatment options for mental health available:
- “Talk” therapy or “Talking Treatments
- Also referred to as counseling, therapy, psychotherapy, talking therapy, or psychological therapy
- Explores thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors to improve an individual’s mental well-being
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Identifies connections between thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors and helps to develop practical skills to manage those thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
- Structured therapy where one focuses on a trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (usually eye movements) to reduce the vividness of and emotion associated with trauma memories
- Medications
- Medications do not cure mental health conditions, but can help ease symptoms. The medication prescribed will depend on the diagnosis, but may include antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, antianxiety medications, sleep medications, etc.
- Arts and creative therapies
- Uses music, dancing, drawing, and other art forms to help express and handle emotions and promote healing
- Complementary and alternative therapies
- These therapies can be helpful in managing stress and other symptoms of mental health conditions. This includes yoga, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, meditation, acupuncture, etc.
- Support groups
- A group meeting where members help each other express their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with a shared goal of recovery. Members are usually peers who have similar life experiences.
If you or someone you know is in crisis now, get help immediately by calling a 24-hour crisis center at 988 or if it’s an emergency, dial 911.