Mental health concerns and talk therapy: how Babylon can help

If you’re living with mental health problems, there’s no need to struggle alone. Babylon and our team of expert mental health practitioners are here to help. Here’s just one story that shows how we can support you.

Jessica, a Babylon member, tells her story

Jessica lives in the US, with her husband and their 6 children — ages 2 to 15. She says getting her daughter’s mental health problem diagnosed was a game-changer. And now, Babylon helps her daughter with therapy.

Something is wrong

‘I always understood anxiety, because my mom had a panic disorder…and I could tell [about my daughter] from a very small age…

‘So, as my first child, I’m sitting there thinking I’m not parenting her right, something is wrong. But it’s me, because I’m 24/7 with her…, and I don’t know what I’m doing as a mum…it took me until she was 9 to reach out to a psychologist.’

A relief to have a diagnosis

‘And then when they got her in and they started doing all the questionnaires and tests, they found out that she definitely has all of these problems. And it was a relief. I think a lot of people say that it was a relief to have a diagnosis, to know that I wasn’t crazy or that it wasn’t something I did as a parent.’

We’re set up with a great therapist

‘Now we are set up with a therapist through Babylon…She’s only seen her a couple of times so far, but she’s really great with her. She’s super sweet and understanding, and she knows her stuff.

‘So it’s been good to let her get on. She talks a little bit with me and then she’ll get on there [the video appointment] with my daughter and then she switches back to me. And we just go over some things that we could try before our next appointment.’

Telehealth is amazing, everybody in their comfort zone

‘In our area, we can’t access doctors right in the same town so we have to drive 40 minutes, an hour, just to get to a doctor. If you’ve ever been in a doctor’s office with children, you will know that they do not have the ability to sit and be quiet… So telehealth has been amazing… We haven’t left the house, we haven’t had to spend [petrol] money, and everybody is in their own comfort zone.’

Watch Jessica’s full story on our People of Babylon page. If, like Jessica, you’re looking for the best care for your family and you want support for mental health concerns and disorders — either your own or your loved ones’ — here’s how Babylon can help.

Read how to take care of your mental health.

A choice of experts for your mental health

Babylon has a choice of experts available for you to talk to.

A mental health practitioner is a great starting point. They are nurses with specialist training in mental health. They’ll listen to your issues and can provide self-help advice. They can support you through particularly difficult times, and refer you to other mental health services if you need them.

A GP can rule out any physical causes and can start you on medication if you need it. If you’re already taking medication and looking for a refill, you can book in with a pharmacist.

If your mental health practitioner or GP thinks that talk therapy might be right for you, they can refer you.

Please note that not all services may be available through the app, depending on your membership.

Talk Therapy

Jessica’s daughter talks regularly to a therapist. But what does that involve?

Talking treatment, or talk therapy, helps with mental, emotional, or behavioral struggles. It’s usually offered through regular appointments, which may go on for weeks, months, or longer, depending on your needs.

Your therapist will recommend an approach that’s right for you. Here are a couple of options.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Psychological problems can sometimes occur because of unhelpful ways of thinking and learned patterns of behavior. With cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), your therapist helps you to notice these and adjust your thoughts and behaviors into healthier patterns. [1]

Solution-focused therapy

Solution-focused therapy looks at the here and now to address specific issues you might be having. It helps you to create specific goals that will help with your problems. [2]

We’re ready to help

The important thing to keep in mind is that we’re here for you. Jessica reached out, and her family now have the help they need. You can too.

Download the app and make an appointment. For more information about Babylon’s mental health services, read our Mental Health pages.

References

1. CBT. Royal College of Psychiatrists. https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-(cbt), published March 2022

2. Talking therapy and counselling. Mind. www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/talking-therapy-and-counselling/types-of-talking-therapy, accessed 14 June 2022