SJM_MentalHealth_4_24_Dept 4 / 25 / 24 2 : 58 PM Page 1 the ultimate goal of a month dedicated to mental health awareness , making help more accessible overall benefits S J M | H E A L T H everyone , not just those presently in turmoil . “ Because we specialize in difficult - to - treat depression , what we’ve noticed H is that health care providers have started to come to us for second opinions , med - ication management opinions and also treatments , ” he says , adding that the practice’s cutting - edge offerings — the Breaking noninvasiveTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation ( TMS ) and Spravato , the nasal - spray form of Esketamine — are the Silence gaining in popularity as their success rates become common knowledge . AS ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES “ Weoffer what is basically a free BECOMES LESS OF A TABOO TOPIC , SOUTH screening:Our team members go through a screening questionnaire to see JERSEY’S CARE PROVIDERS ARE RISING TO THE if a patient qualifies for TMS or Spravato OCCASION AS THE HELPING HANDS AND EAGER becausethose are very specialized . … If EARS THEIR PATIENTS NEED . by Madeleine Maccar anyone still has questions , then I do offer a free 10 - minute phone call answering ith May ushering in Mental theirquestions , and talk about their Health Awareness Month , the struggleregarding depression and treat - Wregion’s experts in the field of mentoptions , ” says Dalkilic . mental wellness are doing their part to Meetingthe multiple emotional shatter misconceptions , provide vital edu - needsof a diverse region requires a plu - cation and ensure that none of their neigh - ralityof specialties and practitioners . bors suffer alone . Andwhile it is promising for the patient And while it’s OK to not be OK , populationto have more individualized everyone deserves to be the best , happiest servicesand a wealth of resources avail - versions of themselves . Whether that ableto them as it becomes less taboo to means seeking help to overcome one of discussmental wellness , DeFiccio says life’s inevitable but ultimately temporary low points or figuring out how to manage a there is “ an incredible shortage of long - term diagnosis , South Jersey residents have access to not only a variety of solu - mentalhealth therapists , case man - tions , but also an abundance of compassionate care providers who understand how agers , advanced practice nurses , psychi - crucial it is to treat the individual , identify the root cause of their challenges and atrists — basically , all mental health and address how their condition uniquely manifests itself . recovery providers ” able to satisfy that In fact , with the advent of Mental Health Awareness Month , some of the area’s growingdemand . It is “ a nationwide , experts in all matters of mental wellness have embraced the timely opportunity to perhapseven a worldwide , issue ” that keep chipping away at undeserved stigmas , correcting mental health misconceptions willhave to be addressed sooner rather and promoting community education to ensure that their neighbors know help is than later . both close at hand and readily available to them — though those efforts are certainly ButDeFiccio also notes that critical more of a year - round mission than a one - month undertaking . dearth of professionals has led to some At Acenda Integrated Health , Senior Vice President of Integrated Health Bridget innovativeand impactful solutions as DeFiccio , LPC , affirms that while she has seen “ movement from awareness to accep - themental health field continues to tance , we still need to be aware that it’s not at 100 % . ” And with new demographics emphasizethat “ we need to be aware indicating an unprecedented need for professional intervention especially as peak thatmental wellness and mental health COVID’s emotional aftermath is still being examined and understood , it’s imperative lookdifferent and are different for every to reach those most at risk before it’s too late . single person [ because ] everyone has a “ I believe our youth and young adults have been mostly negatively impacted over differentlevel of resiliency and mental the past few years , ” DeFiccio continues , pointing out that school - and college - age well - being . ” That’s why Acenda offers a individuals have absorbed “ an incredible shift ” in both their personal and academic comprehensivesuite of care including lives that has brought with it a wave of consequences . “ We are seeing a rise in all - agescrisis services , outpatient coun - youth / adolescent and young - adult suicide attempts and completions . Youth between seling , clinical and prevention services the ages of 10 - 24 account for 15 % of all suicides — suicide is the second - leading cause inschools , and substance - recovery of death for this age group , and suicide risk is higher among youth who identify as les - counseling . bian , gay or bisexual . ” “ Manyclinical providers now desire Dr . Alican Dalkilic , a board - certified psychiatrist at Depression Doctors & TMS Pro - towork solely through telehealth : Given gram , and his colleagues have witnessed a similar rise in mental health crises among theshortage of providers , this becomes certain groups , particularly “ college - educated individuals . ” And while destigmatizing theonly option at times . Some data the necessity of both addressing and seeking treatment for one’s emotional needs is showsthat up to 80 % of individuals SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 21 issue 1 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 46 |