The Integrative Treatment Approach to Mental HealthThe mental health profession at the moment is very locked into whats called the biomedical model which views all mental disturbances as results of disordered brain biochemistry and treats everything by giving medication.Integrative mental health seeks to break that dependence on medication as the only method of treatment and to look at especially at lifestyle factors that affect mental health.So starting with diet, nutrition, physical activity, stress, rest, sleep, relationships and we have just had the first National Integrative Mental Health Conference in Phoenix, sponsored by the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine thats been very, very successful.We attracted a great many mental health professionals here and theres a lot of scientific evidence for nutritional approaches, use of dietary supplements, various forms of mind-body practice, the role of regular physical activity.So, integrative mental health draws on all of these lifestyle interventions and is willing to use medication when thats appropriate, but really is trying to broaden the treatment horizons here.