Innovative treatment working to combat rising suicide rates in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - As the alarming surge in suicide rates continues to grip not only Tennessee but the entire nation, one doctor is pioneering innovative treatments to combat the concerning trend.

Dr. Charles Weber, founder and Chief Medical Officer of the Family Care Center, uses advanced techniques to address mental health challenges. He said their clinics have been seeing a rise in mental health problems since the start of the pandemic, due to the challenges people are facing.

“I mean, finances, divorce rates, there’s a lot of things that social people are really worried about,” Dr. Weber said. “How they’re going to feed their family or keep rent to keep a shelter in. Then, their mental illness, their self-care starts to go down dramatically.”

To tackle these complex issues, Dr. Weber is using a combination of technology, talk therapy and medication. However, one standout treatment that has shown promising results is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This innovative procedure involves the application of magnetic currents to specific areas of the brain associated with mood regulation.

“I think especially in America when we’re trying to look for these other modalities other than just meds, meds, meds,” Dr. Weber said, highlighting the significance of using multiple treatment avenues. “There’s gotta be something biological, psychological, social, spiritual, but that biological that can actually have durability and take advantage of our neurochemical networks.”

TMS offers a non-invasive approach to addressing mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and OCD. Dr. Weber shared that more than 70% of patients undergoing TMS sessions experience significant improvements in their mental well-being.