IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE?

Today I happened to share with some colleagues information about adverse events of psychotropic drugs as well as information on black box warnings. I shared the greater need for informed consent. The question posed to me was, "is there an alternative?" When I answered "yes', this was followed by, "well, we need training in this alternative." Therefore, this is where the problem lies- the level of training and how mental health professionals are indoctrinated. Only 2% of medical schools train in counseling, thus psychiatrists are solely taught to prescribe, not to counsel. The alternative lies in relationship based approaches and such programs as the Caregiver's Skills Program for children who have been considered to have disruptive behaviors. The alternative lies in educating and training parents to become more involved with their children. In addition, it requires us to take an active stand for social justice and improvements in education where the root of many children's challenges lie. It requires us to not look upon children as 'diseased', this is a fraud, but more than capable with the correct mentoring, guidance, and affection to develop into stable human beings capable of self-control. Therefore, in addition to educating on the dangers of psychiatric drugs, it is necessary for us to be actively involved in showing that indeed there is a more healthful way to meeting our children's needs.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.