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Mental Health support should be so much more than just talking

Employees with mental health conditions can significantly benefit from a broad range of help that goes beyond the standard ‘talking’ therapies that are often associated with typical Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), according to RedArc nurses. Comment from Christine Husbands.
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Employees with mental health conditions can significantly benefit from a broad range of help that goes beyond the standard ‘talking’ therapies that are often associated with typical Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), according to RedArc nurses. Comment from Christine Husbands.

Of the referrals that RedArc receives to its personal nurse adviser service – which includes experienced registered mental health nurses – around two thirds (63 percent) of mental health patients require additional support from an external third-party to provide specialist help. Whilst many people benefit from general counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or psychotherapy, the company can also provide a wide range of other complementary therapies. In fact, one in ten external interventions are for ‘non-talking’ therapies, such as massage, reflexology and acupuncture, which are aimed at improving the patient’s wellbeing as a whole.

Christine Husbands, managing director for RedArc says: “The clinical judgment of a specialist mental health nurse enables us to assess peoples’ needs and provide the most appropriate intervention. This determines the most effective therapy for the individual, and hence helps to get the patient back on their feet more quickly. They find it invaluable that we are able to provide them with the most appropriate therapy for them, which otherwise they may not have even been aware of.

“Talking therapies are always a core part of mental health support but a range of other therapies may often be more appropriate, depending on the individual’s needs. For instance, if a patient can’t sleep, hypnotherapy may be a good option to help them manage their sleep patterns. This can also help them be more receptive to talking therapies, so can be used in conjunction. And if a patient needs help to relax, acupuncture might allow them to do so. So complementary therapies can play a crucial part in treating the individual holistically.”

Other therapies
Alongside the mainstream therapies, such as massage or reflexology, other more unfamiliar ones may also be helpful, such as: Aromatherapy massage : the practice of using the natural oils to enhance psychological and physical well-being; Sound Therapy: the use of sonic frequencies to re-attune energies; Bowen Technique: the rolling type movement of soft tissue to stimulate the tissue and nerve pathways, creating a focus for the brain; Craniosacral therapy: an understanding of the rhythmic motions of the cranial bones and their manipulation.

Christine Husbands continued: “Many insurers offer EAPs which already deliver a reasonable amount of talking therapy, but an increasing number of insurers and employers understand that if they want their policy holders or employees to get the most appropriate support, they need to consider going further than this. It is undoubtedly good to talk but it’s also good for an employer, insurer or EAP to have a variety of therapies available in their tool kit and the expertise to be able to assess and source the most appropriate.

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