Mental Health

Around 1 in 5 adults struggle with a mental health disorder. At CHAP Med in Sherman Oaks, California, family and osteopathic medicine specialists, aided by their compassionate team, diagnose and treat depression, anxiety, and other common mental health concerns. Schedule an in-person or telehealth evaluation at CHAP Med by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today. Walk-ins by established patients are welcome.

What is mental health care?

Mental health conditions affect your well-being, including your emotions, mood, behaviors, and thoughts. Mental health care at CHAP Med consists of psychiatric evaluations and treatment recommendations that provide the best quality of life possible. The initial screening and diagnosis of mental health disorders are often made by primary care physicians.

What are examples of mental health conditions?

Mental health disorders commonly diagnosed and managed at CHAP Med include:

• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Other mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Substance use disorder (addiction)

These conditions can damage your quality of life, including work or school performance, relationships, motivation, productivity — even your desire to live.

Risk factors for mental health conditions include personal or family history of mental health disorders, financial challenges, trauma, loss of a loved one, and ongoing or extreme stress.

What are the symptoms of mental health disorders?

Mental health conditions cause the following symptoms:

• Ongoing sadness
• Continuous anxiousness, nervousness, or fear
• Feeling hopeless, helpless, or worthless
• Guilt or shame
• Thoughts of suicide
• Nightmares or flashbacks
• Obsessions and compulsions
• Extreme mood swings
• Loss of interest in once-favorite activities

Your symptoms could be mild and not bother you much, or they could be extreme, significantly altering your quality of life.

How are mental health disorders diagnosed?

The CHAP Med team completes a thorough psychiatric evaluation to screen for common mental health concerns. During the evaluation, they discuss your medical history, lifestyle, thoughts, mood, emotions, and behavior patterns. They review your goals and treatment preferences to determine which treatment best suits you.

How are mental health conditions treated?

Treating mental health disorders often consists of:

• Healthy lifestyle changes
• Therapy
• Support groups
• Medication
• Referrals

The CHAP Med team offers referrals to support groups and psychiatrists if you’re a candidate for psychotherapy. 

They help you manage medications and provide lifestyle counseling. To optimize your mental health, it’s helpful to eat nutritious foods, exercise regularly, maintain an ideal body weight, and try stress-reduction strategies (spending time outdoors, meditation, yoga, etc.).

CHAP Med offers convenient telemedicine appointments for mental health visits to make these services more accessible.

Schedule an in-person or virtual mental health evaluation at CHAP Med by phone or request one online today. Walk-ins are welcome for established patients.