Is there any reason to be hopeful for the future treatment of mental illnesses?

[shampoo sniffer]

We are still basically in the stone age when it comes to treating mental illness.

I did a google search, and things like brain implants and virtual reality therapy came up.

Just saying - I'd be okay with having a chip in my brain if it meant I could live a happy, meaningful life.

Of course, there's plenty of reason to be skeptical that any of that could come to fruition. We live in a crappy world.

 

[Unlucky777]

Yes. Psychedelics.

 

[NormallyNeurotic]

I think certain types of trauma-aware hypnotherapy are promising. May or may not be biased though

 

[orpheus_]

I mean there's lots of new quite promising research. Psychiatry as a way of actually improving people's lives INSTEAD of only "removing the most extreme danger" is relatively new, but it seems to be advancing. Neuropsychology seems to be developing more rapidly, so I'd say - yes, there is hope.

Of course, even after a potentially helpful treatment method is discovered, it still needs years of testing to make sure it's actually working and safe. And more years for it to get accessible. Still even now, treatment methods that haven't been available before are appearing. Like TMS or ketamine therapy, or just new medications (eg. gepirone ER which was launched in 2024).

There's still a possibility science may hit a wall at some point. Also waiting for advancements is hard. BUT they are, most likely, coming.

 

[Spicy Tteokbokki]

Definitely.
There's psychedelics being increasingly researched as mentioned above, but also metabolic psychiatry which is getting bigger and bigger as times goes on and can make a gigantic difference for some people with essentially few to no side-effects compared to typical treatment options.

 

[FoxSauce]

Tbh I dunno.

 

[Unlucky777]

Definitely.
There's psychedelics being increasingly researched as mentioned above, but also metabolic psychiatry which is getting bigger and bigger as times goes on and can make a gigantic difference for some people with essentially few to no side-effects compared to typical treatment options.

I can personally attest to psychedelics after having tried literally everything and anything.

Psilocybin = very promising = if it wasn't for this I don't know if I would have survived the last year. It definitely put life into perspective and helped me come to terms with truths of life

Ketamine - there is infinite potential with ketamine, especially when combined with psychotherapy in conjunction with ketamine with the right therapist. Unfortunately for me finding a right therapist failed.

MDMA - tons of potential here but I only explored MDMA in party settings but there is research out that supports MDMA with mental health.