Complementary therapies are forms of treatments that are used in addition to the usual medical treatments prescribed for people with severe mental illness. This is because at present treatment of severe mental illness usually involves treatment with medication and other therapies are usually in a complementary role, not as an alternative to conventional medicine.
Why use complementary therapy? Complementary therapies are often used in addition to medication to obtain better control of symptoms and in relief from side effects which many medications might trigger. The use of complementary therapies is also in line with a more holistic approach to treating people. A holistic approach means to look at the individual as a whole (so with physical, psychological spiritual needs etc) rather than simply at the illness or at the symptoms alone in the focus of treatment.
This fact sheet contains information on the following:
- Physical treatments such as massage and acupuncture
- Unconventional medicines
- Other complementary therapies
- Choosing a complementary therapist.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that single copies of individual fact sheets are available free of charge to users of mental health services and their carers, but multiple copies are chargeable to organisations at the rates shown per copy. Photocopying of individual fact sheets by organisations is strictly prohibited.
|
