Mental Health Across the Lifespan: Holistic Approaches and Interventions

Abstract

  This paper researches holistic approaches to mental health care across the life span, focusing on combining therapeutic intervention; social support resources; and nutritional practices for better mental health. It seeks to understand which of these life stages, be it childhood, adolescence, adulthood, or advanced age, will need their own set of interventions to overcome specific issues at each stage in the lifespan. The study in this piece of research employed the use of mixed methods approach, wherein analysis of data derived from diverse populations and interventions has shown that early interventions to children and adolescents with emotional or behavioral difficulties could decrease the symptoms by 35%. There is also evidence that in adults, psychosocial and nutritional approaches to managing chronic disease improve mental health outcomes of university staff who were reporting work-related stress by 28% and showed improvements in their mental well-being through these targeted support programs by 40%. Another important finding of the study is a difference in access to mental health care among disadvantaged groups by 20% compared with the majority of the population. The use of more equal and accessible mental health care services at all stages of life is recommended. This research provides a contribution to evidence about the significance of integrative, multi-disciplinary intervention affecting both mental and physical well-being across the life course.