Patients with complex mental health challenges are falling through the cracks.
This pattern has been present for decades. With COVID-19, it has gotten worse, and our health system is struggling more than ever to meet the needs.
In this article, we explore why traditional approaches fail these patients and how RCM Health’s integrated village model offers a more effective path forward.
Why Traditional Mental Health Services Isn’t Enough
RCM Health has many specialised programmes – the result of addressing varied complex problems one patient at a time for many years – including complex mental health and substance use disorders including gambling and sex addiction.
The simplistic idea of the solitary psychiatrist fixing the problem with a few visits and a prescription is, in most cases, pure fantasy. And accessing psychiatry is a non-trivial problem. Waitlists for psychiatry can be 12 to 24 months in many locations. Some smaller communities lack total access to psychiatry.
RCM Health’s Integrated Village Approach to Complex Mental Health Challenges
RCM Health’s specialised programme for mental health redesigns the treatment journey and patient experience for an individual with complex mental health challenges from start to resolution.
And we know, complex mental health patients require a village. RCM Health assembles an integrated team with complementary skill sets to be your village of support.
Through a discovery process, we speak to all parties involved in the case. The patient, the family members, the family doctor, current and past therapists, and/or psychiatrists. There is a need to unpack and organise the details to understand the context and identify the most urgent needs of the person of concern.
Through this process, RCM Health can determine a treatment pathway with the patient and health advocate for and gain access to resources needed as part of treatment. If needed, it may include additional and/or further assessment, selection of the most appropriate type of psychotherapy, and providers, including a spiritual and energetic form of therapy using meditative practices.
Adding Coaching to Strengthen the Care Experience
Coaching has a role in complex mental health. The coach is often a peer with lived experience. The coach relates much more closely to the person of concern and has an approach that is practical and goal-oriented. We use both psychotherapists and coaches on the team.
Our job at RCM Health is to organise this entire process in our version of the “integrated outpatient treatment plan”. While hospitalisation is sometimes required, we are hopeful the patient can be kept safe and out of the hospital.
RCM Health: Accessible Care for Individuals, Families, and Organizations
RCM’s specialised programme for complex mental health is available to families and corporate clients throughout Canada. We are very collaborative and are always open to working with patients and providers in their local communities.
To learn more about RCM Health’s approach to complex mental health, reach out to RCM Health at 647-350-5500 or email us at info@rcmhealth.ca