The mental health field has found effective treatments for most mental disorders. Many illnesses are caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain or by a change in hormone levels. Some can be treated with medication. Others are a result of experience, behavior, perceptions, addictions, or other psychological circumstances and are best treated with counseling therapy. Whether through proper medication, appropriate counseling, or both, help can be found.
Help is sometimes hard to find.
For some rural Nebraskans, mental health care is several hours away. Being a responsible consumer is even more important with mental health providers. Fortunately, there are several different avenues to take in obtaining mental health care. Four professions recognized as providers of mental health care services are psychiatrists, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and licensed clinical social workers. Although the four fields have different approaches to treating mental illnesses, they may overlap in the kinds of mental illnesses they treat.