Talking traditional, alternative approaches to mental health

FRISCO — Often times clients ask psychiatrist Sloan Burton about alternatives to medications.

“I’m the last person people generally want to see... I want people to know that there are other things available ... (and) if they can do things before they get to me, I think that’s great,” said Burton, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist who is also co-chairwoman of the local Mental Health America of Colorado chapter.

So, this week the organization is tackling that subject. They are holding a forum that will help people see their options. It is “A Look at Alternative and Traditional Approaches to Depression and other Mental Health Issues” Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. the Summit County Community and Senior Center near Frisco.

During the forum, community practitioners will address a case study of a man with depression and other mental health issues. The panel of speakers includes Burton, Ken Adnan, MD, family practice, traditional and alternative medicine; Justin Pollack, ND and nutrition; Barbara Leffler, Ph.D., RN, clinical psychologist and advanced practice nursing; Kevin Waldron, MSAOM, acupuncture and Chinese medicine; and William J. van Doorninck, Ph.D., clinical psychologist.

According to Mental Health America of Colorado, clinical depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting more than 19 million Americans each year.

And at a recent health meeting, Leffler said more people miss work for depression than they do for pain. Also, 50 percent of people who experience depression are likely to become depressed again and with each additional episode, the risk of another increases by 16 percent, she said.

Leffler will be presenting on breaking the cycle of reoccurring depression by using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, a method that even those who don’t have a specific problem with depression can benefit from, she said in a letter.

She will also be available along with the other health professionals to answer questions those who attend may have about mental health treatment.

“Consumers of mental health services have important questions about the benefits and complications of patent medicines as well as herbal and nutritional interventions,” van Doorninck, who is moderating the event, wrote in a letter. “The forum speakers will help sort out the pros and cons of these interventions.”

And all bases will be covered from traditional to alternative medicine. Pollack, who will be presenting research about nutrients that could help someone with depression or alcoholism, said, “It’s really exciting that the whole forum is so diverse to help people understand what their options are.”
Waldron, who will be giving an overview of acupuncture, traditional Chinese herbs and Chinese medicine, agreed, saying, “I just feel this is what the future of medicine should be like — a multi-discipline look at complex chronic illness.”

<i>Lory Pounder can be reached at (970) 668-4628, or at lpounder@summitdaily.com.</i>