When seeking mental health treatment, it's crucial to understand what constitutes good practice and what might be cause for concern. This guide aims to help you navigate the complex world of mental health care, empowering you to make informed decisions about your treatment.

Best Practices

While many mental health professionals provide excellent care, it's important to be aware of practices that may not serve your best interests. Some red flags include:

1. Overconfidence and Rigidity: Practitioners who present unproven theories as indisputable facts (such as “chemical imbalances” or “Serotonin levels are related to depression”) or are unwilling to consider alternative viewpoints.
2. Rush to Diagnose and Medicate: Quick diagnoses without thorough evaluation or immediate reliance on medication as the primary solution.  No one should be medicated based upon an incomplete and short evaluation (or over the telephone).  
3. One-Size-Fits-All Approach: Ignoring individual circumstances and relying heavily on standardized diagnostic criteria from the DSM without including context.
4. Using Chemical Imbalance as a rationale for medication treatment: Attributing all mental health issues to chemical imbalances is a red flag as there is no scientic evidence of any mental health condition being due to a chemical imbalance, despite big pharma marketing to the contrary.  There is evidence that psychiatric medication can CAUSE a Chemical Imbalance
5. Creating Dependence: Promoting a permanent disability or disease model (for which there is little evidence) that may discourage patients from believing in their capacity for recovery.
6. Dismissing Side Effects: Attributing treatment side effects to the underlying condition rather than the treatment itself.  In other words, many medications create “iatrogenic damage”, or issues actually created by the medication 
7. Lack of Long-term Focus: Concentrating primarily on short-term symptom relief without considering long-term outcomes.
8. Overpromising Results: Unrealistically promising quick fixes, especially in crisis situations. Beware of those promoting “cure” or “complete recovery” of addiction or of the human condition.  
9. Expanding Diagnostic Boundaries: Broadening the definition of mental disorder or illness in ways that may pathologize normal human experiences.  This is often done when referring to “spectrum disorders” which creates a larger treatment and medication umbrella
10. Resistance to Discontinuation: Difficulty in helping patients discontinue psychiatric medications when appropriate, or rather than discontinuing ineffective medications adding more medications.

Characteristics of Quality Mental Health Care

On the positive side, here are some hallmarks of good mental health practice:

1. Acknowledges Limitations: Practitioners who are comfortable admitting uncertainty and the limitations of current knowledge.
2. Patient-Centered Approach: Focuses on the individual, not just the diagnosis, and involves patients in decision-making.
3. Balanced Treatment Plans: Considers both short-term symptom management and long-term outcomes.
4. Promotes Autonomy: Encourages patients to take appropriate responsibility for their actions and recovery.
5. Cautious Approach to Diagnosis: Is careful about applying psychiatric labels and is open to changing or removing diagnoses as needed.
6. Transparent Communication: Shares information about treatment options, including potential risks and limitations.
7. Holistic Perspective: Understands the complexities of human behavior and considers various factors contributing to mental health.
8. Ethical Practice: Maintains professional integrity and is willing to address concerning practices in the field.
9. Appropriate Use of Medication: Uses psychiatric medications judiciously, in minimal therapeutic doses, based on robust evidence.
10. Continuous Learning: Stays updated with current research and is open to changing approaches based on new evidence.

Empowering Your Mental Health Journey

Understanding these aspects of mental health care can help you advocate for yourself or your loved ones. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Ask Questions: Don't hesitate to inquire about how programs apply diagnoses, explore and present treatment options, and their potential risks and benefits of pharmacological treatment.  Does the program provide true Informed Consent.
2. Seek Second Opinions: If you're unsure about a diagnosis or treatment plan, consider getting another professional's perspective.
3. Be an Active Participant: Engage in your treatment planning and share your goals and concerns with your provider.  Be a partner in treatment, not a passive recipient
4. Monitor Progress: Keep track of how you're feeling and any side effects from treatment. Share this information with your provider.
5. Research Responsibly: While it's good to be informed, be cautious of online sources. Stick to reputable mental health organizations for information.

Navigating mental health care can be challenging, but understanding what constitutes good practice can help you make informed decisions. Remember, quality mental health care should empower you, respect your autonomy, and work towards your long-term well-being.

If you're unsure about your current mental health care or are looking to start treatment, don't hesitate to reach out to trusted professionals or seek additional resources. Your mental health journey is unique, and you deserve care that respects your individual needs and goals.