Three mental health trends for 2022
A quarter of Americans have made a New Year’s resolution to improve their mental health in 2022, according to a poll by the American Psychiatric Association.
The last two years have taken their toll. So the mental health crisis that the industry is increasingly concerned about is only getting worse.
For example, The New York Times reported, “Nine out of 10 therapists say the number of clients seeking care is on the rise, and most are experiencing a significant increase in calls for appointments, longer waiting lists and difficulties in meeting patient demand. Our analysis revealed that higher therapy demands occur in all regions and at similar rates in red and blue states. Former patients have returned for care and new clients are seeking therapy for the first time.
ADDITIONAL CREDIT: Three red flags, signs and symptoms of burnout.
Their reasons for care included:
- Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Racial justice issues
- Financial stress
- Other issues that have surfaced during the upheaval of the past 18 months
With all of this information, it’s important to stay on top of mental health trends. Here are several from Psych Central’s list:
-
Blood tests for mental illness:
In April 2021, Indiana University School of Medicine developed a blood test for mental illness. This could help identify biological markers of depression and the risk of developing depression and bipolar disorder. Additionally, it could potentially help tailor drug choices.
-
Healthy boundaries with social media:
We are talking more and more about the negative effects of social networks. For example, a former Facebook employee testified before Congress in October 2021 about Instagram’s impact on teen mental health. There’s even a thing called “doom scrolling” – the habit of scrolling through many new stories on the web and social media. So the question becomes: what role should your organization and/or your marketing play in helping to define those healthy boundaries? If you want to learn more about the impact of social media, the Center of Humane Technology has great toolkits with presentations and discussion questions that might be useful for workshops or development.
-
Virtual Mental Health Services:
Telehealth has resumed in 2020 and 2021. And it’s not going anywhere. Like virtual fitness, virtual mental health services are convenient. On top of that, they help open doors for people with varying needs. These could include those who are immunocompromised, have transportation problems, or have physical disabilities. In fact, Fierce Healthcare’s 2022 forecast called for five digital health markets to watch, including telehealth and digital mental health apps.
In conclusion, trends in mental health must remain at the top of the conversation. How can you use them to serve students, faculty, and staff in the field of mental health?
