A plumber who shows up to fix a leaking toilet with a single tool is not likely to succeed. The same is true if a mental health professional offers only one approach for a complex problem like depression.
Sadly, the number of people struggling with depression increased dramatically at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress – from school closures to job losses to the death of loved ones – made life more challenging and increased the risk of developing emotional difficulties. For some groups that have experienced discrimination, ongoing inequities made their mental health even worse.
There is a professional debate about whether depression is a social problem or a disease. Despite this debate, a 62% increase in yearly spending on U.S. mental health care, from US$131 billion in 2006 to $212 billion in 2015, has not led to the intended level of improvement for patients.