Help Therapy Newsletter - February 2023
The Mental Health Connection
It’s February—the month of hearts, flowers and chocolate.
As mental healthcare providers, we need to be aware of the impact of Valentine’s Day on our patients—especially those with relationship issues and depression. It can be a time of romance and love for some, but many see it as a time to emphasize how lonely or alone they are. In fact, relationship issues are among the significant causes of suicide. Children who commit suicide often experience relationship issues with family members, while adolescents' problems with romantic partners are often the cause of suicide.
It’s appropriate that February is International Boost Self-Esteem Month and Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Read more below.
Annette Conway, PsyD
CEO and President
Help Therapy
February is International Boost Self-Esteem Month and Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
Mental Wellness Month International Boost Self-Esteem Month
February is the designated time of year to focus on believing in and appreciating ourselves more. When we have high self-esteem and learn to love ourselves, we can better help and support others and ourselves.
Here are a few ways to boost your self-esteem.
Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
This observance aims to break the cycle of violence by providing support and services to victims and their families. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Program is working to bring visibility to this issue by hosting social media events and webinars throughout the month.
Learn more here.
Is Telehealth Therapy Replacing In-Person Therapy? A study published in JAMA Health Forum, based on data for more than 5.1 million adults with private health insurance, found that the use of telehealth for common mental health issues increased 16 to 20 times during the first year of the pandemic. The study also found that telehealth usage increased the most for anxiety disorders and the least for bipolar disorder. Receiving counseling and treatment via telehealth can positively and negatively impact mental health patients. On the positive side, telehealth can increase access to care for patients in remote or underserved areas. It can allow for more flexible scheduling and can save patients time. On the negative side, the lack of in-person interaction can make it harder for patients to form a relationship with their therapist—which is particularly important in building trust. Overall, telehealth may be effective for specific patient populations and conditions, but it is not the best option in all cases. In-person therapy sessions may be a better option in certain situations. Some examples include:
When a patient is experiencing a severe mental health crisis
When a patient does not have access to reliable technology
When a patient has difficulty communicating verbally due to a language barrier or hearing or speech impairment