Dental strategies to improve mental health and well-being

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, it's important to remember that mental health affects millions of people including your members. In fact, one in five people in the United States experiences a mental health condition at some point in their lives.¹

With this year’s theme being “Turn Awareness into Action,” here are ways to step up communications with your dental community to help foster improved mental health.  

Prevention strategies

• Learn about mental health and suicide prevention. A highly recommended program is Mental Health First Aid from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Mental Health First Aid teaches skills to help the people in your life get the mental health care they need. Your members can enroll in training by visiting Mental Health Training.
• Improve listening skills for dental professionals. Your dental community could benefit from listening skills when mental health or substance use conditions are disclosed. By focusing on an individual’s strengths, your members are better able to validate someone’s feelings and see a person’s humanity. As a result, there is less stigmatism and greater connection. Think “Try to stay in connection and avoid disconnection.”⁸
• Discover how to spot an individual's mental health and substance use (including tobacco use), then recommend a referral. Referrals include primary care and a behavioral health care provider. For mental health medication, patients will need a mental health prescriber, but also addressing any underlying health conditions is essential to overall health and wellness.
• Help patients quit tobacco by discussing prescription and over-the-counter options help. Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) are ideal for use in a dental practice, including pediatric patients.⁹

Collaboration with the medical and mental health teams

Did you know that oral care is a health behavior and may be an early warning sign or indicator of a change in health status? If there is a drastic change in oral health status due to a change in an activity of daily living, this could indicate a change in mental health status.

• Tooth brushing and interdental cleaning are activities of daily living that may be considered part of self-care.
• Mental illness may be associated with a change in functional ability, especially when individuals experience psychiatric disability. Referral for assessment of underlying mental health conditions is an important issue, especially for youth.
• Brief motivational interviewing may be effective for oral health behavior change.¹² Working with the therapist may be important as a part of whole-person health care, especially when experiencing trauma.
• Collaboration with therapists can enhance quality of care for members. If someone has special dental needs, including anxiety or other mental health conditions, it may enhance care to reach out to licensed mental health providers (therapists and psychologists).
• Therapists can help support coping with fears and trauma. Ask the mental health provider how best to support care, and if there are any particular “triggers” or stimulus to avoid.

Personal level

Want to provide healthy activities that can benefit well-being? Consider the following established self-care routines. ^19-21

• Self-care activities, such as taking a long bath, oral care, doing yoga, writing, a favorite exercise routine or even performing standup comedy can be restorative.
• Coping skills are the ability to have one’s needs met, including communication skills and activities to keep a person safe. Resources include mindfulness, meditation, phone apps, community resources, gratitude, journaling, mindful breathing, creating a self-care plan, identifying healthy supports and a focus on hope for recovery.
• A stable living environment can contribute to mental wellness.
• Attending work, school and activities may benefit wellness or indicate that a person is coping and well.
• Nutrition and sleep are important factors for mental health and well-being.
• Medication adherence (if needed) may be an essential factor for well-being.
• Avoiding tobacco and substance use can benefit overall health and well-being better.

If you would like more information about mental health, please consider seeking professional mental and health care services.

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Citations

The information contained herein is for informational and educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice and if you have questions regarding a medical condition, regimen, or treatment you should always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider. Never disregard or delay seeking medical advice from a qualified medical professional because of information you have read herein.