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mental health

About one in seven Canadians use health services for a mental illness annually, and in a given year about one in five Canadians will experience a mental illness.  Massage therapy can be a great addition to other treatments a patient might be receiving for their mental health, and massage therapy can offer relief for many of the symptoms of mental illnesses. Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) can collaborate with other health professionals such as psychologists and psychotherapists to ensure their shared patients receive the best possible care.

Relieving Symptoms

Massage therapy has been found to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression in a variety of populations, including in people with cancer who often have their mental health negatively impacted after their diagnosis. Massage therapy can also reduce trait anxiety (not related to a specific stressful situation), for people with a variety of conditions and experiences, including people with fibromyalgia, people with pre- and post-surgical anxiety and people who experience anxiety during pregnancy. People with chronic pain are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, and depression and anxiety can often lead to chronic pain. RMTs will see many patients with chronic pain so this is important information to be aware of. Musculoskeletal pain can be a common symptom of anxiety and depression and RMTs can help their patients relieve these physical symptoms.

Factors to Keep in Mind

Mental health can influence the way someone experiences pain. Anxiety has been associated with both increased pain intensity and reduced pain tolerance. Anxiety can also lead to more avoidance of activities that are perceived as causing pain. Depression has been associated with higher fatigue, and negative perceptions about health that may be tied to depression have been associated with both increased pain and increased fatigue. Social isolation, which can often cause or be caused by mental health issues, can also negatively impact pain perception and the ability to cope with pain. By understanding how experiences with mental illness might impact patients’ experiences of pain, RMTs have further information to help guide their treatment planning and their discussions about pain with their patients. They also have an opportunity to develop a positive relationship with the mental health professionals in their patient’s circle of care.

Effective Collaboration

Up to one third of people with psychiatric disorders are already accessing massage therapy services, and when RMTs and psychotherapists, psychologists, or other mental health professionals, work together both health professionals are able to deliver better quality care. The patient receives consistent messages and greater benefit from both massage therapy and traditional psychiatric treatments. This collaboration also allows patients to have a more active role in their healthcare and allows a patient’s preferences and priorities to be better integrated into treatment. The patient can feel more heard and understood, and there can be improved communication between the patient and all health care professionals they work with. With the shared goal of effective patient care, RMTs and mental health professionals working together can greatly benefit their shared patients.

The RMTAO offers members an Interprofessional Collaboration Toolkit providing tips to make it even easier to collaborate with other health professionals in a patient’s circle of care.

Conclusion

Massage therapy should be viewed as a helpful addition to more conventional treatment for people with mental illnesses, rather than an alternative to more convention treatments.  By working closely with other members of their patients’ health care team such as a psychologist, RMTs can ensure their patient receives consistent, high-quality care, and is able to play an active role in all aspects of their healthcare.

References

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