Mental vs. Behavioral Healthcare

The terms “behavioral health” and “mental health” are often used interchangeably; however, there are substantial differences and often mean something different for each person.

When distinguishing between behavioral health and mental health, it is essential to remember that behavioral health is a blanket term that includes mental health.

Defining Mental and Behavioral Health 

Behavioral health looks at how behaviors impact someone’s health — physical and mental. This would include how behaviors like eating habits, drinking or exercising impact physical or mental health. During the 1970s and 1980s, behavioral health almost entirely referred to behaviors that prevent illness or that promote health. Later, the term began to include behaviors that help people manage disease. Most recently, behavioral health incorporated mental health. 

Mental health is the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of a person. It is a term that falls under the general umbrella of behavioral health, but it’s much broader than just a person’s behaviors. Some types of mental health disorders come from genetic inheritance. Others are caused by brain chemistry. The most common mental health disorders that do not relate to behavior including bipolar disorder, depression, generalized anxiety disorder and schizophrenia. 

Treatment for Mental and Behavioral Health Disorders 

In all stages of life, it is crucial that we take the steps needed to protect and nurture our mental and behavioral wellness, after all, these conditions directly correlate with how we act and feel. They affect the decisions we make, and the people who we surround ourselves with.  

When one is concerned about their mental health, behavioral health, or both, it’s vital to obtain the proper diagnosis for their condition. All too often, it can be easy for inexperienced care providers to focus on behavior modification while overlooking underlying psychiatric conditions, or to treat a mental illness with medication while ignoring the need to change bad habits. 

The most effective treatment is one that takes a collaborative approach, employing a team of experts to consider all aspects of a patient’s wellbeing. Treatment is often multi-faceted and can include medical interventions, modern and specialized therapy techniques, a stable and supportive environment, and much more. In addition, Ggroup and individual counseling tend to be key components of treating both mental and behavioral health disorders. Additionally, iIndividuals can also benefit from holistic care, which helps people heal and thrive on a deeper level. Holistic methods care to allow their body to heal combines aspects of traditional talk therapy and non-traditional approaches, including mindfulness, reiki, yoga, and meditation. In all situations, a customized care plan becomes the best possible option. 

Our approach to collaborative–care combines a well-rounded team of doctors,therapists, and holistic practitioners ensures a client is getting the best possible treatment to help them live their best life. 

Women-Only Facilities 

Gender is a critical determinant of mental health and mental illness. The morbidity associated with mental illness has received substantially more attention than the gender specific determinants and mechanisms that promote and protect mental health and foster resilience to stress and adversity. Mental health is the leading cause of disease for females and the third leading cause for males. 

Gender influences the differential power and control men and women have over the socioeconomic determinants of their mental health and lives, their social position, status and treatment in society and their susceptibility and exposure to specific mental health risks. Gender differences occur particularly in the rates of common mental disorders—depression, anxiety and somatic complaints. These disorders affect approximately one in three people in the community, predominantly women, and constitute a serious public health problem.  

Depression is not only the most common women’s mental health problem but may be more persistent in women than men. Approximately 12 million American women experience clinical depression annually. Gender differences have been reported in age of onset of symptoms, frequency of psychotic symptoms, course of these disorders, social adjustment and long-term outcome. The disability associated with mental illness falls most heavily on those who experience three or more comorbid disorders.  

Facts: 

• Depressive disorders account for close to 41.9% of the disability from neuropsychiatric disorders among women compared to 29.3% among men. 
• Leading mental health problems of the older adults are depression, organic brain syndromes and dementias. A majority are women. 
• An estimated 80% of the 50 million people affected by violent conflicts, civil wars, disasters, and displacement are women and children. 
• Lifetime prevalence rate of violence against women ranges from 16% to 50%. 

• At least one in five women suffer rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. 

Geriatric Focused Mental Health Treatment  

Behavioral health focuses on habits. It also involves how your habits have an impact on your overall mental health and your physical health. The term applies to the actual study of a person‘ ‘s emotions, biology and behaviors and how these impact his or her mental health.  

Behavioral health disorders are illnesses that are precipitated or perpetuated by conscious decisions where those suffering are unable to resist the urges to repeat, despite negative consequences. Changing these compulsive behaviors directly and positively influences patients lives by lessening or  removing  some of the symptoms of the behavioral disorder. 

Behavioral health management is a method of promoting patient well-being by preventing or intervening where there are indications of mental illness such as depression or anxiety. Frequently, during this course of treatment, secondary maladies  are uncovered which require additional treatment in order to achieve a complete and satisfactory patient outcome. 

The Wave can help older adults who: 

• Struggle with depression, anxiety or loneliness 
• Take medications for mental health conditions 
• Are concerned about age-related health changes that might be affecting their  emotional well-being 
• Have emotional issues they would like to explore or want to “fine-tune” their  mental health 
• The Wave services include: 
• Family and individual therapy 
• Comprehensive assessment and consultative services for individuals with  suspected cognitive impairments or memory complaints 
• Coordination of care with other medical specialties 
• Diagnosis and treatment for those with new or unresolved mental health  issues 
• Ongoing treatment and management for those with longstanding mental health issues