I'm a nurse. Until recently, I worked in emergency and intensive care. I regularly saw patients with chronic or serious mental health problems requiring hospitalization. They were given appropriate care. Afterward, there was follow-up, and they consulted a psychiatrist during their time in hospital.
However, the situation is different for people with acute mental health problems who do not necessarily need hospitalization. Acute mental health problems can stem from adjustment disorder, a difficult event in one's life or other somewhat less serious situations. Being from a small region, I know that these people are often looked after by a family doctor or GP who provides emergency care.
Time is an important factor. Consultation and medication selection happen very quickly. I get the sense that, in many cases, that choice does not necessarily take side effects into account. Over the past 30 years, many new medications have come on the market. In 95% of cases, they're the same two molecules. In my region, citalopram and venlafaxine are the ones we see all the time. However, as everyone knows, compliance is one of the key factors here.
How can we take better care of patients whose cases are slightly less serious and ensure that they are prescribed medications with the least harmful side effects? How can we ensure that we are not neglecting people whose clinical situation is a little less serious than that of others?