Theodoric Chew’s Post

BEYOND THE TAIL: Multidisciplinary Care Integration — I had the fortune of attending both the “BPD Multidisciplinary Strategies to Navigate Feelings of Rejection and Fear of Abandonment” webinar by Mental Health Professionals' Network and the “Mental Health Models & Facilities Forum” run by Informa Australia this week. A highlight of both was A/Professor Sathya Rao OAM from Spectrum: Personality Disorder and Complex Trauma. His presentations emphasised compassion and the integration of care competency frameworks at all levels of care services and hierarchy. This approach resonated with me, particularly in my wondering if an effort to fully broaden competency within every industry, community, technology, and those in roles who affect wellness (not in the care sector) would be beneficial. Maya Zerman from Dialectical Consulting also struck a chord with me with her sustainable approach. Trauma, self-fragmentation, and harm occur primarily within the broader world. It is collectively multidisciplinary and complex. Their combined effect and affect lead to predictable presentations. Relying only on the health industry to have knowledge of workable preventative and health-centric tools is still a Band-Aided, myopic approach. I wonder if this is a reason why data-driven decisions often fall short. We are inspecting the tail of a dragon. Viewing every aspect of the human experience as one entity is realised holistic care, in my opinion. Would starting with the relationship with ourselves.. and understanding and accepting our parts as a whole lead to a more care-informed culture? The discussions at both events gave me hope and I saw an opportunity for broader conversations. Is it possible for the health industry to guide all sectors, including government, rather than the other way around? Can health be the foundation, from base to tip? While hierarchy and authority have their place, should they decide how health is encoded? If care potential in people, industry, things, and ideas are overlooked, are we all missing out on potential care opportunities?

✨New Article I am thrilled to share that our article titled "Digital Support for Wellbeing: Addressing COVID-19-Related Mental Health Challenges in a Developing Country via Web-Based Telehealth" has been successfully published in the prestigious journal, InfoScience Trends! 📚✨ Aynaz Lotfata, Ph.D. Mehrdad Karajizadeh Mohammad Hassanzadeh, PhD, CKM Nasrin Ghiasi In this groundbreaking research, we delve into the transformative impact of web-based telehealth in overcoming barriers to mental health care, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings highlight how this innovative approach not only bridges geographical gaps but also enhances accessibility and flexibility in mental health support services. 💻🌍 Read the full article in InfoScience Trends and let's continue to champion innovation and progress in healthcare together! Link Article : https://lnkd.in/dw4GtmSN Journal Homepage: https://www.isjtrend.com/ #DigitalHealth #Telehealth #MentalHealthSupport #ResearchPublication #InfoScienceTrends 🚀🔬

As a passionate advocate for public health and mental well-being, I recently had the privilege of presenting my research virtually at the prestigious 3rd Edition of the International Public Health Conference (IPHC) 2024, held in Singapore. Titled "An inquiry into physicians' mindsets: Attitude and perceptions of technology-enabled mental health care for supporting occupational mental health and well-being among doctors in India," my presentation delved into a critical yet often overlooked aspect of healthcare – the mental well-being of our doctors. Our study unveiled a unanimous acknowledgement of the importance of mental health among doctors, attributed largely to the demanding nature of their profession. However, a glaring gap in institutional support and policies for mental health emerged as a significant concern. While doctors recognized the potential of technology in enhancing mental well-being, the absence of a personal touch in digital interventions posed a notable challenge. Despite the recognition of technology's utility, its adoption remained limited among our participants. For policymakers, mental health practitioners, educators, and technology developers, our findings offer actionable insights into crafting targeted interventions. From fostering supportive workplace environments to designing technology solutions with a human-centric approach, there exists a plethora of opportunities to enhance mental health support for doctors in Community Medicine. The integration of apps offering meditation, yoga, and mental health services holds promise in catering to the unique needs of these professionals amidst their demanding schedules. I invite fellow healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and advocates to engage in dialogue and action towards prioritizing mental health in our healthcare systems. Together, we can foster a culture of care and resilience, ensuring that those who heal others are supported in their journey towards well-being. Let's champion mental health together! ⭐ 😇 https://lnkd.in/gM4YpYbM #MentalHealth #PublicHealth #CommunityMedicine #TechnologyInHealthcare #IPHC2024

Staying abreast of changes and trends in the mental health field is essential for maintaining relevance, providing quality care to clients, and ensuring the long-term success of your practice. The landscape of mental health care is continuously evolving, with new approaches, technologies, and societal shifts influencing how therapy is practiced. Here are some valuable tips to help you adapt to changes and trends in the mental health field: Stay Informed: Take charge of your professional growth by dedicating time to staying informed about current research, innovative therapies, and emerging trends in the mental health field. Subscribe to reputable journals, attend conferences, participate in webinars, and engage in professional development opportunities to expand your knowledge base. This empowerment will not only keep you relevant but also boost your confidence in providing quality care to your clients. Embrace Telehealth: The rise of telehealth services has not only transformed the way therapy is delivered but also opened up new avenues for growth and expansion, especially in light of recent global events. Consider how you incorporate telehealth into your practice. Are you using it to reach a broader client base, improve accessibility, and/ or accommodate busy schedules? Familiarize yourself with telehealth platforms and ensure compliance with ethical and legal guidelines. This shift can bring about exciting opportunities for your practice. Cultivate Cultural Competence: With increasing diversity in client populations, cultivating cultural competence is not just a necessity but also a powerful tool for providing effective and inclusive therapy services. Educate yourself on cultural considerations, biases, and disparities in mental health care to better serve clients from diverse backgrounds. Integrate Technology: Explore using technology tools and resources to enhance your practice efficiency, client engagement, and therapeutic outcomes. Incorporate relevant apps and practice management software that offers client portals, online scheduling, paperless intakes, electronic health records, payment processing, and more, to streamline workflow and improve client communication. Collaborate and Network: Foster professional collaborations with other mental health professionals, healthcare providers, and community organizations to stay connected, share insights, and provide holistic care to clients. Networking can also open referrals, interdisciplinary partnerships, and mentorship opportunities. Embracing innovation, staying informed, and fostering a commitment to ongoing learning will benefit your clients, enhance your professional satisfaction and impact in the ever-evolving field of mental health care. Change is inevitable, but with a flexible mindset and a willingness to adapt, you can navigate transitions confidently and resiliently. - #mentalhealthfield #privatepractice #growingyourprivatepractice

Online therapy works 🤓 Cognitive behavioural therapy or #CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps us recognize and modify detrimental thought patterns and behaviours. It has been proven to be effective for a variety of #mentalhealth concerns, like depression and anxiety but also chronic pain. A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found little to no difference in the effectivenes of in-person and therapist-guided remote CBT across a range of mental health and somatic disorders. This finding was unaffected by type of clinical condition, length of follow-up, or whether CBT was provided individually or through group sessions. This is good news as therapist-guided, remotely delivered CBT can be used to facilitate greater access to mental health care, as well as remove both financial and physical constraints for users. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, #virtualhealthcare, spanning from walk-in appointments to therapy sessions, has surged in popularity because of its convenience and accessibility, particularly benefiting individuals residing in remote communities. Connect with our team today to learn more about our mental health programs that include virtual therapy and iCBT programs, so your employees can gain access to ongoing mental health support in a timely and accessible manner.

Another late post but our paper finally got published! 🎉 This descriptive paper highlights our journey from conceptualization to implementation and some preliminary learnings in our first 2 years. Some key learnings: ✨ While government origins on the landing page will give some users confidence, overt associations with the government could deter others. That's why mindline.sg was created without a .gov.sg suffix. ✨ Digital well-being solutions aimed at population-level intervention require substantial and systematic marketing and outreach efforts to achieve desired reach and economies of scale. ✨ Maintaining anonymity helps to encourage convenient help seeking but also severely limits evaluation efforts because we can't track individual users accurately Hopefully our learnings from this help to guide the development of similar platforms around the world for communities with similar needs. There's more that can be done to realise the full potential of digital mental health solutions. Happy to hear any feedback and suggestions! #digitalmentalhealth #selfcare #technology Janice Weng Yanyan Hu Creighton Heaukulani Clarence Tan Julian Kuiyu CHANG Phang Ye Sheng Priyanka Rajendram Weng Mooi Tan Wai Chiong Loke Robert JT Morris

It was great to put more faces to names at the fifth Mental Health Innovation Network meet-up last week 💚. The Network was founded to encourage and facilitate the sharing of information and collaboration across the mental health sector - since then, it has grown quickly and organically to become a thriving #community of innovative organisations and individuals, representing different #stakeholders , truly dedicated to drive #digitalmentalhealth solutions forward. For this quarter’s event we were heard presentations from 9 different businesses, all of whom are leading the way in digital health solutions by employing their own creative and unique approach: big thank you to Wysa, Assembly, Quiet Forces, Tellmi, Flow Neuroscience, Thalamos, Yes We Can Healthcare Group, Kara Connect & Clerkenwell Health for sharing your inspiring work 👏 . Gathering so many #digitalhealth pioneers in one room always highlights how far we’ve come and how many great #technologies are out there. The innovations presented spanned support for a variety of stakeholders, including young people, parents, employers, communities, and the NHS. The #tech was used in a similarly diverse manner: some companies used it to enable new processes; others for data and analytics; whilst some had created new software-based solutions for treatment. Many of the businesses cleverly incorporate #ai capabilities into their solutions to provide a tailored, personalised approach to support, whilst others make use of #interactive #hardware . The creativity and diversity of solutions presented demonstrate that there's no shortage of #innovation, and tech is very much at the forefront of redefining how we view #mentalhealthsupport. Gone are the days of relying on 1-1 face time with an expert, thereby contributing to the heavy burden on an overwhelmed #nhs. Instead, thanks to the creative use of tech, we are setting the foundations for a transformative era in mental health care where we can support ourselves and each other, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the mental health space. Although the solutions are out there, and the #changemakers in our community are tirelessly working to create and improve innovations, access to them remains limited. This speaks to how challenging it continues to be to enter the 'system', with its countless barriers and challenges around funding, capacity, adoption and distribution. That’s why we urgently need education, awareness, and systemic changes to ensure these technologies reach those who need them most. Still, encouraging times ahead as we continue to push for a more progressive, inclusive and accessible mental health landscape. Thanks to everyone who came along, those who contributed and to MQ Mental Health Research. A special thank you 🙏 to x+why for their generosity in providing such a lovely space for us to meet and connect. 👉 Our next meet-up is scheduled for May 2024 – send me a DM if you’d like to come along. 

💡 Did you know? The NHS Confederation outlined 3 key purposes for maximising the potential of digital in mental health: ✅ Supporting patient care ✅ Enhancing service delivery ✅ Fostering innovation In a recent blog post, we explored these 3 purposes in light of the multiple user journeys involved in developing a digital healthcare product. Check out the full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/dJRKjyZT Or for further reading from the NHS Confederation then check out this report: https://lnkd.in/eE6Rg5hz

Understanding the Cost of Understory's Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Programs   At Understory, we believe in transparency and providing top-notch care. This is reflected in the pricing of our individual and group psychedelic-assisted therapy programs and is why our pricing is always available on our website. How does our pricing help ensure top-notch care and transparency?     Clinical Expertise: All our clinicians are registered healthcare professionals with extensive backgrounds in relevant care areas. Their expertise ensures a safe, supportive, and transformative experience.   Legal Compliance: Understory Wellness is committed to adhering to legal standards and clinical guidelines. Our services are entirely legal, and we prioritize patient safety by following all necessary protocols and regulations.   Specialized Training: Our clinicians undergo specialized training in psychedelic-assisted therapy, ensuring they are well-equipped to guide individuals through their transformative journeys. This knowledge contributes to the overall effectiveness of our programs.   Extended Clinican Support: Our group program, which involves approximately 50 clinical hours, provides a comprehensive therapeutic experience. This extended duration allows for in-depth exploration and support, enhancing the overall impact of our programs.   Wrap-Around Care: Understory Wellness' commitment to quality care extends beyond the psychedelic experience. Our programs include pre- and post-session integration support, ensuring a holistic approach to mental well-being.   We understand that investing in mental health is invaluable, and our pricing reflects our commitment to providing exceptional, legally compliant, and transformative psychedelic-assisted therapy experiences. At Understory, we also understand that cost is a barrier for many who could benefit from Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. This is why we have created the Understory Equitable Access Fund and continue to support government initiatives that would increase access to our programs. Join us at Understory for a journey towards healing and self-discovery! Come home to yourself at understorywellness.com. #PsychedelicTherapy #MentalHealthJourney #MentalHealth #NelsonBC #comehometoyourself

Saturday morning reflections: In the intimate moments of therapeutic engagement, I witness resilience and transformation firsthand, guiding individuals and families towards healing and empowerment. These interactions remind me of the profound privilege and responsibility inherent in the work that we do, reinforcing my commitment to fostering positive change at the individual level. Simultaneously, my involvement in shaping hospital systems policies alongside a talented team of experts allows me to contribute to broader systemic improvements. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, we strive to create environments that prioritize patient care, efficiency, and equity. It's a testament to the power of collaboration and collective vision in effecting meaningful change on a larger scale. As I navigate between these micro and macro spheres, I'm continually inspired by the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for collective action. Additionally, this gives me great pride knowing that as a Social Worker, I am effectively contributing at each level. Each role, each interaction, reaffirms my belief in the importance of holistic approaches to healthcare and the profound impact of every individual contribution. Today, I'm filled with gratitude for the opportunity to engage in work that not only challenges and fulfills me, but also enables me to make a difference, one connection, one policy, at a time. #socialwork #healthcare #therapy #psychotherapy #microlevelwork #macrolevelwork #reflections