That Britain is experiencing a mental health crisis is hardly news these days. While it is true that more people than ever are willing to be open about their struggles and leave behind the stigmas of the past, it is equally arguable that the very fact so many people have issues is the reason it is no longer such a taboo subject.
Whatever the cause-and-effect sequence, mental health is now something we have more awareness of than ever. The Covid-19 pandemic was notable for its impact and social media has often been cited as a major factor in harming mental well-being, especially among the young.
It will be no surprise that so many people will enter therapy rooms seeking help for specific problems or simply seek to improve their general mental well-being with therapies, retreats and other exercises aimed at improving mental health.
Don’t Run Up A Bill On Quackery
However, that does not mean every solution on offer is actually effective. It helps to be aware that while some work extremely well, others are the mental health equivalent of ‘quack’ medicine.
This topic was recently highlighted by Wales Online in an article on the subject of the ‘wild west’ landscape of therapies that are widely promoted but are largely or wholly counterproductive, meaning they should be avoided.
It highlighted objections raised by experts at the London Centre for Applied Psychology (LCAP) over ideas like ‘brainspotting‘ – which involves allegedly finding hidden areas of the brain by looking closely at the eye (supposedly a trauma cure method) or ‘cuddle curing’, which claims long hugs can cure depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Another idea is ‘rebirthing’, where attachment disorders are supposedly resolved by people being wrapped up in blankets and then pushing their way out in a simulated reconstruction of their birth.
What The Experts Say
The LCAP said such ‘cures’, for which some practitioners would charge handsomely, were not supported by the evidence and could do a lot more harm than good, with any benefits being little more than a short-term placebo effect.
Graham Johnson of the LCAP, a former government advisor on mental health, said in a new book on the subject that these therapies could lead people down the wrong road just when the right kind of therapy could make a huge positive difference instead.
He said a lack of regulation in the therapy sector means “there is a rapidly growing number of quack therapies, as well as quack therapists, on the market“.
Mr Johnson added: “That’s particularly awful, because we know that good quality therapy helps more than 75 per cent of people experience better mental health”.
Why Proper Therapy Works
If you want to be among that 75 per cent, it is clear that the first thing you should do is check that you are only using therapies that have been shown to be effective, rather than pseudoscientific news ones.
Mr Johnson’s words were echoed by his colleague Matt Wootton, who criticised some alternative therapies as “snake oil”.
The pair have written before about the importance of using tried-and-tested therapies and not opting for fads. In their article for the LCAP website last year, they said the key to success is found in understanding how therapy can change lives for the better.
Focusing on effective treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy and couples’ therapy, the article noted how the key factors were not just about having trust in the therapist and the method of therapy used, but also the practical benefits of confronting thoughts usually avoided and being more aware of the root cause of problems.
Bringing these together in ‘reality testing’ to help clients note the impact therapy is having can create a “virtuous circle” that increases the effectiveness of each of these elements, they added.
By emphasising such points, these psychotherapists highlighted the fact that there are various therapies out there that really do work. And it is because of this we should note the twin dangers of ‘quack’ therapies.
Firstly, those undertaking them are not getting the effective help they need, while, secondly, they can bring the whole area of therapy into disrepute, giving it an unwarranted reputation. It would be the equivalent of modern medicine being doubted because pharmacies were full of quack ‘cures’ – except, of course, that in reality that sector is regulated far more rigorously.
Check In With Your Mates
Of course, that does not mean that all other activities are of no use. For example, the Colchester Gazette has reported on the establishment of a chess club aimed at helping men with anxiety and other mental health issues.
It has been established by Changing Lives, a charity that also focuses on preventing crime and gang violence among youngsters.
The plan is not based on some pseudoscientific idea that playing chess offers a magical cure for mental health issues, but instead is focused on the reality that getting people to socialise more and share common experiences with others can be therapeutic.
Speaking to the paper, the founder of the chess sessions Jay Rusecki explained that anxiety has been a major problem of his for over a decade and he had lost jobs because of it, but being able to mix more socially has been a mark of his “massive progress” in recent months.
“These sessions try to help people who are suffering from anxiety get together and be social in a welcoming environment,” he remarked.
Supplements, Not Replacements
Other activities may include sporting clubs, walking groups, or more female-orientated activities like crochet or baking. These can all bring benefits of socialising, sharing and also personal achievements in making things, improving skills, or completing races.
As such, these kinds of activities can undoubtedly help supplement effective therapies for many people. The difference, however, is that they are not being promoted as some kind of silver bullet.
Instead, such activities can be a useful extra means of improving mental health alongside therapy sessions. Indeed, it may be that your therapist will encourage this; if social situations are a problem, therapy can help you approach them more confidently and being in a position to do this alongside people with similar experiences and, thus, empathy will be invaluable.
