The Critical Role of Diet in the Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorders: An Opportunity for the Naturopathic Profession to Positively Impact the Burden of Illness Using a Recently Developed Clinical Tool

Abstract

The burden of mental illness is high, and currently available treatments do not meet the needs of all people affected. Conventional treatment options for mental disorders are not always accessible, effective, or well tolerated, and many individuals therefore seek complementary therapies. There is emerging and compelling evidence that diet is an important modifiable risk factor in the development and progression of mental illnesses, and early evidence suggests that diet modification is an effective therapeutic intervention. However, dietary counselling in the context of mental health care is currently underutilized, including in the delivery of naturopathic care. A recently created clinical tool meant to facilitate dietary counselling in mental health care is presented along with a description of its development and a discussion of barriers. There is an opportunity for naturopathic doctors to use this tool or other resources to support individuals experiencing mental i lness through dietary counselling and to be leaders in the use of diet change for the treatment of mental health conditions.