Boost for patients

Mental health treatment

THE Cairns Clinic has marked one year since it received a machine to treat mental health patients in a gentle and noninvasive way — the first time the treatment has come to the Far North — in a bid to break the stigma associated with mental health disorders.

The clinic on Sheridan Street has been providing the treatment, called Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic stimulation (rTMS), that uses magnets to stimulate parts of the brain that have been inactive in patients.

Sixty-three patients have received rTMS with each normally receiving 20–30 sessions.

The Cairns Clinic’s psychiatrist, Alice Chang, said common misconceptions of mental health centres could leave people feeling scared about their recovery and unsure about whether to seek help.

“Representations in movies range from involuntary admissions, locked rooms and even social restrictions, but this is far from the experience in modern private mental health clinics,” Dr Chang said.

“TMS is a mild form of brain stimulation. Magnetic fields, generated by a simple coil placed on the head, are used to stimulate a small area on the surface of the brain.”

Dr Chang said patients were awake during the treatment.

“It is usually well tolerated, with minimal side effects,” she said.

“The vast majority of patients undergoing the treatment experience no side effects at all or very mild ones.”

Chief executive Ben Tooth said the clinic, which is part of Ramsay Health Care network, was excited to have reached such a milestone.

“We look forward to continuing our mental health support to the community,” Mr Tooth said.

For help, call Beyond Blue 1300 224 636, Lifeline Australia 13 11 14, MensLine

1800 187 263.