2. What is Mental Health?
Mental Health is a dynamic process in which a person’s
physical, cognitive, affective, behavioral, and social
dimensions interact functionally with one another and the
environment.
Mental illness is an abnormal mental condition or disorder
that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to
relate to others, and daily functioning (NAMI – National
Alliance on Mental Illness, 2007).
3. What is Mental Health?
• 1 in 4 people in the world will be affected by
mental or neurological disorders (World Health
Organization)
• Most common mental illnesses in adults are
anxiety & mood disorders
• People with mental illness have an increased risk
of injuries. They are also more likely than people
without mental illness to use tobacco products
and to abuse alcohol and other drugs
5. What is Mental Health?
• Categories of mental disorders are very broad
and there is a significant overlap among
specific disorders
• Patients may manifest symptoms from more than
one of the categories of mental health
• Major challenge in diagnosing and treating
patients
• Each individual is different and symptoms often vary from
person to person
6. Categories of Mental Health
4 Broad Categories of Mental Disorders
• Anxiety
• Psychosis
• Disturbances of Mood
• Disturbances of Cognition
7. Categories of Mental Health
Anxiety
• “Vitally important physiological response to dangerous
situations that prepares one to evade or confront a threat
in the environment”
• Fight or flight response
• Anxiety disorders occur in 31.2% of the population
• phobias, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD)—other manifestations of anxiety
include obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
8. Categories of Mental Health
Psychosis
• Disorders of perception and thought process
• Characteristically associated with schizophrenia, but
psychotic symptoms can occur in severe mood disorders
• Most commonly observed symptoms are
• Hallucinations: sensory impressions that have no basis in reality
• Delusions: false beliefs held despite evidence to the contrary,
such as paranoia
• Schizophrenia affects 1.1% of the US. Onset is generally
during young adulthood-earlier and later onset does occur
10. Categories of Mental Health
Disturbances of Mood
• Disturbances of mood characteristically manifest
themselves as a sustained feeling of sadness (major
depression and dysthymia)
• Or sustained elevation or fluctuation of mood
• Bipolar disorders (1 and 2, cyclothymic disorder, “mixed features”)
• Mood disorder symptoms: disturbances of in appetite,
sleep patterns, energy level, concentration, and memory
• Major depression is often associated with thoughts of
suicide
• Mood disorders occur in 21.4% of the total US population
11. Categories of Mental Health
Disturbances of Cognition
• The ability to organize, process, and recall information, as
well as to execute complex sequences of tasks, may be
disturbed in a variety of disorders
• Alzheimer’s disease-progressive deterioration of
cognitive function, or dementia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJXTXN4xrI8
12. Case Study
Which mental
health category
does this
illness belong
to?
(anxiety, psychosis,
mood disturbance or
cognitive disturbance)
What mental
illness is Yvonne
most likely
diagnosed with?
13. Categories of Mental Health
Other categories
• Behavioral/ Impulse-control disorders
• ADHD, oppositional-defiant disorder, conduct disorder,
• 25% is impulse control disorder
• Substance disorders
• Alcohol abuse with/without dependence
• Drug abuse with/without dependence
• Nicotine dependence,
• Any substance disorder
• 35.3% is substance disorder
• Development disorder
• Autism spectrum disorders: autistic disorder, Asperger’s, Pervasive
Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specific
• ADHD
14. Childhood Mental Health
• Both biological and psychosocial experiences during
childhood may influence the risk that a child will develop a
mental disorder
• Quality of the relationship between infants or children and
their primary caregiver = primary importance to mental
health across the lifespan
• Risk factor may/may not impact the child depending on
individual differences among children and age the child is
exposed to it—or alone or associated with other risk
factors
15. Childhood Mental Health
• Risk factors for children:
• Biological: exposure to alcohol or cigarettes, environmental
exposure to lead, malnutrition of pregnancy, birth trauma, specific
chromosomal syndromes
• Psychosocial: Maternal depression increases risk of depressive
and anxiety disorders, conduct disorder and alcohol dependence in
the child, living in overcrowded homes, large families, abuse,
violence
• Quality of the relationship between infants or children and
their primary caregiver = primary importance to mental
health across the lifespan
16. Childhood Mental Health
Source: American Psychological Association; National Institute of
Mental Health
The 20/20 Problem
• 20% of children have a
mental disorder but
only 20% of those get
the help they need
17. Childhood Mental Health
• Early childhood detection is KEY
• Infant-early childhood mental health (I-ECMH)
• The developing capacity of the child from birth to 5 years of age to
form close and secure adult and peer relationships, experience,
manage, and express a full range of emotions. Explore the
environment & learn-all in the context of family, community & culture
• Sometimes referred to as social and emotional development
18. Childhood Mental Health
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Severe, chronic developmental disorder characterized by
severely compromised ability to engage in, and by a lack
of interest in, social interaction
• 2000 CDC Survey: 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with
autism
• The prevalence in boys is about 4 to 5 times higher than
girls
19. Childhood Mental Health
• There is a strong genetic influence to autism
• Twin studies
• Identical twin of autistic individual will also have autism in 9
out of 10 cases
• Researchers are identifying particular genes that may
increase the risk of autism
20. Childhood Mental Health
Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Name change to autism spectrum
o The latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5) no longer includes Asperger's
Syndrome. The symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome are
now included in this broad term.
• The term “spectrum” refers to a wide range of
symptoms, skills, and levels of disability. Some children
are mildly impaired by their symptoms while others are
heavily impaired (NIMH)
22. Childhood Mental Health
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• A chronic condition including symptoms of hyperactivity,
difficulty in paying attention and staying focused and
impulsiveness
• The most commonly diagnosed behavior disorder of
childhood, with a prevalence four times higher in boys
than in girls
• Often persists into adulthood
• Twin studies indicate strong genetic component
• Treatment: psychoactive stimulants, medication +
behavioral therapy is most effective
23. Childhood Mental Health
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Major concern for health professionals:
Is ADHD over diagnosed/over prescribed?
• Huge health care debate! Many medical concerns of over
prescription of “unnecessary” psych stimulants
administration
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in
2013 that 1 in 9 kids had received a diagnosis of ADHD which is a
significant increase from the previous decade.
• This increase also represents a huge market for powerful stimulant
medications prescribed for ADHD
24. Childhood Mental Health
On the debate of over prescription of ADHD
medication…
What do you think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJeSZ9mPM_o
25. ADHD Medications
• ADHD medications abuse on college campuses
• Have you every used ADHD medications to
help with school work and studying?
• A)Yes
• B)No
• C)No, but know someone who has
26. Childhood Mental Health
• Other mental illnesses commonly diagnosed in
children
oAnxiety disorders
oEating disorders
oObsessive-compulsive disorder
oSubstance abuse disorders (mainly adolescence)
27. Mental Health in Older Adults
• Population of 55 years and older
• Depression, Alzheimer's disease, alcohol/drug abuse,
anxiety, late-onset schizophrenia, Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) are most common
• Depression is very common in elderly due to the loss of a
spouse
• Of all age groups, older adults have the highest rates of
suicide, often as a consequence of depression
• Risk factors: medical conditions , nursing home
admission, isolation, high number of medications
28. Clicker Question
•Have you experienced any of the
mental health disorders that we’ve
discussed?
•A) No
•B) Yes
•C) Unsure
29. Clicker Question
•Where you able to get professional
help if needed?
•A) Yes
•B) No, couldn’t get the help
•C) No, I handled it on my own
•D) N/A
31. Cause of Mental Health Disorders
Exact cause is still unknown!
But it is certain that various factors shape
them
32. Cause of Mental Health Disorders
• The causes of mental disorders are viewed as a product
of the interaction between biological, psychological and
sociocultural factors
• Genetic factors are very important in some mental
disorders
• Environmental factors exert a significant role, and
therefore there is a possibility of intervening to prevent the
development of certain disorders
33. Cause of Mental Health Disorders
From the list of mental illnesses we’ve discussed today,
which illness(es) has/have a very strong genetic
influence, according to twin studies
A. Schizophrenia
B. Autism Spectrum Disorder
C. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
D. All of the Above
34. Cause of Mental Health Disorders
From the list of mental illnesses we’ve discussed today,
which illness has a very strong genetic influence, according
to twin studies
A. Schizophrenia
B. Autism Spectrum Disorder
C. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
D. All of the Above
*Bipolar Disorders also have very strong genetic influence
35. Prevention
Prevention of a mental illness depends on identification of
risk factors that can be targeted, especially in children
Risk factors include:
• Individual factors
o Insecurities, fear of failure, loss of self-worth, negativity, physical
illnesses, difficult temperament, neurophysiological deficits (serotonin
imbalance)
• Family factors
• Marital discord, social disadvantage, overcrowding/large
family size, paternal criminality, maternal mental disorder,
foster care, financial burdens
• Community factors
• Living in an area with high rate of disorganization and
inadequate schools
36. Mental Health Barriers
• Stigma has always been one of the biggest barriers
to seeking treatment for mental health patients, second
only to the unaffordable costs of American mental
health care
• Over 37% of the Americans who should have received
treatment in 2011 didn’t believe that they needed any or
thought that it wouldn’t help; another 35% were afraid of
the negative social consequences or being
institutionalized
37.
38. Mental Health Barriers
Decline in Mental Health Reform since
Newtown Tragedy
• From 2009 to 2012 states cut mental health budgets by
$4.35 billion
• In 2013- 36 states and the District of Columbia began to
restore funding, in the wake of increased public
awareness of mental health needs
• In 2014- only 29 states and the District of Columbia
increased funding for mental health services
41. Treatment
• Psychotherapy approaches
• Freudian Psychoanalysis
o Psychoanalytic therapy looks at how the unconscious
mind influences thoughts and behaviors.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
o Alters faulty cognitions and replaces them with
thoughts that promote positive adaptive behavior
• Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy:
oHelps people confront their fear and feelings about the
trauma they experienced in a safe way through mental
imagery, writing, or re-visiting and reencountering a
negative experience
42. Treatment
• Psychotherapy approaches
• Cognitive Processing Therapy: patient is asked to
recount his or her traumatic experience and a
therapist helps the patient redirect inaccurate or
destructive thoughts about the experience
• Electroconvulsant Shock Therapy—often referred
as shock treatment in which seizures are electrically
induced to provide relief from psychiatric illnesses,
mainly used for severe mood disorders
43. Treatment
• Medications
• Antipsychotics: for individuals with psychosis disorders (ex:
schizophrenia)
• Anxiolytics: inhibits anxiety
• Antidepressants: for mood disorders, like major depression
• Antimanics: controls symptoms of mania
• Anticonvulsants: prevent or reduce severity in seizure
• Stimulants: amphetamine or methylphenidate for ADHD
(athealth.com, 2007)
44. Treatment
• In 2013, antidepressants were the most commonly prescribed drug in
United States
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most
commonly prescribed antidepressants.
• They can ease symptoms of moderate to severe depression, are relatively safe
and generally cause fewer side effects than other types of antidepressants do.
• Work by changing the levels of one or more of these neurotransmitters.
• SSRIs are called selective because they seem to primarily affect serotonin, not
other neurotransmitters.
• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)
46. Case Study
Casey always has negative thoughts which trigger her to
feel very anxious. Casey sees a therapist at the Counseling
and Mental Health Services at UConn who decides it’s
necessary to find ways to stop her destructive thoughts and
replace them with positive adaptive behavior. What type of
psychotherapy approach is the therapist implementing?
A. Prolonged Exposure Therapy
B. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
C. Electroconvulsant Shock Therapy
D. None of the above
47. Case Study
Casey always has negative thoughts which trigger her to
feel very anxious. Casey sees a therapist at the Counseling
and Mental Health Services at UCONN who decides it’s
necessary to find ways to stop her destructive thoughts and
replace them with positive adaptive behavior. What type of
psychotherapy approach is the therapist implementing?
A. Prolonged Exposure Therapy
B. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
C. Electroconvulsant Shock Therapy
D. None of the above
48. Case Study
Casey informs her therapist about her severe,
uncontrollable panic attacks before exams. The therapist
refers her to one of the psychiatrists at CMHS. The
psychiatrist informs Casey of medication options to help
tone down her anxiety levels to prevent the occurrences of
panic attacks. What type of medications would the
psychiatrist most likely prescribe?
A. Antidepressants
B. Antimanics
C. Stimulants
D. Anxiolytics
49. Case Study
Casey informs her therapist about her severe,
uncontrollable panic attacks before exams. The therapist
refers her to one of the psychiatrists at CMHS. The
psychiatrist informs Casey of medication options to help
tone down her anxiety levels to prevent the occurrences
of panic attacks. What type of medications would the
psychiatrist most likely prescribe?
A. Antidepressants
B. Antimanics
C. Stimulants
D. Anxiolytics
So what is mental health? Mental health refers to our cognitive, social and emotional well-being
It affects how we think, feel act…it affects how we manage stress, make decisions and cope with life’s challenges
-----
Mental illness is when this state of well-being is disrupted—it’s a mental condition which disturbs one’s ability to cope with life’s ordinary demands and routines
Mental illnesses may seem “invisible” and people may not give it the same importance as physical illnesses , but the truth is that mental illnesses are extremely common…in fact Mental illness is the #1 cause of disability in North America !
The World Health Organization has reported that 1 in 4 people in the entire world will be affected by mental disorders …
And Anxiety and Mood disorders are the most common ones among adults in America
In the past, depression has always been the most common mental health illness at UConn, according to the counseling and mental health services ,but in recent years, anxiety disorders have actually been the #1 reason for students seeking support at CMHS
So as you can tell from this graph, mental illnesses are even more common than heart disease, diabetes and cancer!
today we’ll be going over 4 different categories on mental illnesses
But before we do...it’s important to know that there’s so much overlap between mental illnesses
Each individual is different, and symptoms often vary from person to person, patients may manifest symptoms from more than one of the categories of mental illnesses…making diagnosis sometimes a difficult process for health providers
Mental illnesses can be broken down into 4- umbrella-like categories which are:
-Anxiety, Psychosis, Mood Disturbances, and Cognition Disturbance disorders
Generalized anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder –and like I had mentioned earlier according to student surveys at CMHS, it’s the most common mental disorder at Uconn
so the proper definition of anxiety is----a physiological response to dangerous situations that prepare one to evade or confront a threat in the environment…
However—individuals who may be coping with anxiety, for exp generalized anxiety disorder, aren’t always necessarily involved in dangerous situations, it’s the anxiety that causes a negative shift in their mindset.. of unrealistic negative outcomes and causes a feeling of constant worry
-a common anxiety trigger for college students coping with GAD may be dreading an upcoming exam..
-for exp an anatomy exam which is just a few days before the final….these students may automatically assume the worst possible outcome of the exam...even if its weeks from that day..
-and this one negative thought becomes an anxiety trigger...afterwards this person may experience symptoms such as nausea, rapid heart rate, drastic changes in mood, loss of appetite, changes in sleep cycles, and constant worrying
…that one neg thought may lead to a chain of other negative thoughts such as not getting into their ideal program or career path…but the key pt is..is that this worrying never goes away…if it’s not about that anatomy exam, it will be about something else …
-that’s why many students who experience anxiety are counseled with cognitive therapy…which helps restructure negative thought processes and prevents the mind from reaching that negative trigger point
-other exps of anxiety are phobias..like social phobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder
The second category of mental illnesses is psychosis
These include disorders which disrupt one’s perception and thought process
-most common symptoms include hallucinations: which are sensory impressions that have no basis in reality
And
Delusions—which are false beliefs such as paranoia
-schizophrenia is an exp of a psychosis disorder…it affects about 1% of the national population
I’d like to show you all a powerful video of a woman who describes her experience of overcoming schizophrenia at a ted talk
Stop at 9:53
So the 3rd category is mood disturbance …. this includes depression and bipolar disorders
-mood disturbance in major depression is manifested as a sustained feeling of sadness
-in bipolar disorders, it would be characterized as a sustained elevation or fluctuation in mood
There’s are various types of bipolar disorders..most common are 1 and 2
Bipolar disorder 1- involves periods of severe mood episodes from mania to depression
Bipolar 2- is a milder form of mood elevation, milder episodes of hypomania which alternate with periods of severe depression
Some symptoms of mood disorders include—changes in appetite, sleep cycles, energy level, concentration and memory
Mood disorders are very prevalent in America…about 21.4% of the total us population has a mood disorder
Dysthymia- mild, but long term form of depression
Cyclothymic disorder- describes periods of hypomania with brief periods of severe depression
“Mixed Features”- refers to the occurrences of simultaneous symptoms of opposite mood polarities of manic, hypomanic or depressive episodes
marked by symptoms of racing thoughts, high energy, sleeplessness, hopelessness
And the last category is disturbances of cognition
--this includes any disturbances in the ability to organize, process and recall information and well as complex sequence of tasks
-Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of cognition disturbance disorder---this is a progressive deterioration of cognitive function, which mainly onsets in the elderly
Show video if have time---Stop at 2:51
Alright so here’s a quick study on this patient…I want you all to read some of these disorders and raise you hand if you can tell me what category of mental health disorders would yvonne’s symptoms fall under…and what mental illness is he most likely diagnosed with?
What is his diagnosis? Bipolar Disorder
Category- Mood disturbance
Problem= ambiguity in the specific type of Bipolar disorder –it seems as if he may have bipolar disorder 1 or mixed features
I know we didn’t really get into mixed features in the slides before, but it refers to the occurrences of simultaneous symptoms of opposite mood polarities of manic, hypomanic or depressive episodes…marked by symptoms of racing thoughts, high energy, sleeplessness, hopelessness
And we already know that bipolar disorder 1 involves periods of severe mood episodes from mania to depression
Other categories of mental health include behavioral/impulse-control disorders , substance disorders and developmental disorders..
We’ll talk more about a few developmental disorders a few slides down
many adult mental health disorders can be detected during one’s childhood
Childhood mental health can be influenced by both biological and psychosocial childhood experiences—also described in many psych classes as nature vs nurture
But one key thing to note is that biological influences ”aren’t necessarily synonymous with those of genetics or inheritance. Only few mental disorders have strong evidence of genetic predisposition…
So to differentiate between biological and psychosocial risk factors for children…
Biological would include exposure to alcohol or cigarettes, malnutrition of mother during pregnancy, chromosomal abnormalities and birth trauma
Psychosocial would include living in overcrowded homes, family members with substance abuse, exposure to violence or abuse
The American Psychological Association and the National Institute of Mental Health have described the problem of lack of childhood mental health detection as the 20/20 problem…because 20% of children in America have a mental disorder but only 20% of those get the help they need
Early detection to mental health is key!
-Specifically from birth to five years…this is a critical time for social and emotional development
—infant-early childhood mental health is the developing capacity of the child to form close and secure adult and peer relationships
- it’s a time when children are able to experience, manage, and express a full range of emotions….and explore the environment and learn
(definition from: Making it Happen-from zero to three)
A very common childhood mental disorder is autism spectrum disorder ----which is also a developmental disorder characterized by a compromised ability to engage with others and lack of interest and/or capability to socially interact
ASD affects 1 in 110 children, and the prevalence in boys is about 4-5 times higher than girls
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd/index.shtml
According to twin studies, there is very strong genetic influence to autism spectrum disorders
-9 out of 10 times if one identical twin as autism spectrum disorder, then the other will as well
I’m sure most of you are already aware of genetic twin studies…but basically what it’s saying is when a disorder is present in one twin, it’s significantly more likely to be present in an identical twin, than in a fraternal twin
There’s been a recent name change of autism disorders…so just a few years ago the DSM decided to no longer classify Asperger’s Syndrome separate from Autism ..
Instead all autistic disorders are classified as autism spectrum disorder…autism spectrum disorder is an umbrella-term for Autistic disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specific (PDD-NOS)
For those of you who don’t know….DSM refers to the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (“DSM”)---it’s a handbook used by
health care professionals to diagnose autism spectrum disorders and other mental conditions.
--
The DSM-V revision website says the reasons for using the umbrella term of “Autism Spectrum Disorder” are
the old way isn’t precise enough—different clinicians diagnose the same person with different disorders, and some change their diagnosis of the same symptoms differently from year to year, and that
autism is defined by a common set of behaviors and it should be characterized by a single name according to severity.
-This can cause much confusion in identity and be an issue for previously diagnosed individuals and their families…
According to the executive vice president for programs and services of Autism Speaks…it’s estimated that there are going to be half a million children with autism in the next 10 years who will become adults and will need services—such as housing and living services, caregivers, this will also increase the demand for health providers, such as occupational therapists
Attention deficit/hyperactivitiy disorder, also known as ADHD, is another very common childhood mental health disorder…with symptoms including hyperactivity, difficulty paying attention and staying focused
-ADHD prevalence is 4 times higher in boys than girls
-Twin studies also indicate a strong genetic component
-Common treatment includes psychoactive stimulants and behavioral therapy
A major concern for health professionals is whether ADHD is diagnosed /over prescribed
---this has been a huge health care debate since the 90’s
-the CDC has reported that 1 in 9 kids have received a diagnosis of ADHD which is a huge increase from the past
--Over prescription of this medication has also lead to great amounts of drug abuse…especially amongst college students before exams….I’m sure many of you are aware of this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyU1UIykeHk
Stop video at 3:43
Or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4xfflkVeHA
Or
*****https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJeSZ9mPM_o
Or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1mBLIksQ6M
Other childhood mental illnesses include anxiety disorders, eating disorders, OCD and substance abuse disorders
Depression, Alzeimers, substance abuse, late onset shcizophrenia and PTSD are most common mental health disorders amongst older adults---those 55 yrs and older
--of all age groups, older adults have the highest rate of suicide…
-risk factors include medical conditions, isolation, medications, and admission to nursing homes
The exact cause is still unknown! But we know there’s strong influence from various factors
-mental disorders are viewed as product of the interaction of biological, physiological and sociocultural factors
-genetic factors are important in some disorders
And environmental factors –many which we have already discussed play a huge role…especially during childhood development
Identification of risk factors is key to prevention and/or treatment of mental illnesses..
-risk factors include personal factors..such as fear of failure, loss of self-worth, difficult temperment…
Family factors, marital discord, and community factors …such as school systems
For mental health barriers…
There is sooo much stigma in our culture, and even greater amounts of stigma in other cultures regarding mental illness which is a major problem we face today…
Because stigma erodes the confidence that mental disorders are real, treatable health conditions.
If I were to ask you all to raise your hand if you have been personally affected by a mental illness …I’m sure a less amount of you would raise your hand and participate...as opposed to if I made it into an anonymous clicker question….
Other barriers include Sociocultural Influences …
For exp- Racism and discrimination can discourage people from seeking mental health care.
Or…Symptoms may be misinterpreted when the provider and client are of different cultural backgrounds, which can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment
Unaffordable costs of mental health care is the #1 barrier in America today….
According to National Alliance on Mental Illness report on December 9th last year…mental health care system reform has slowed down!
From 2009 to 2012, states cut mental health budgets by $4.35 billion.
In 2013---36 states and the District of Columbia began to restore funding in the wake of heightened public awareness of mental health needs.
In 2014- only 29 states and the District of Columbia increased funding for mental health services.
"What a difference a year makes," said NAMI (nah-mee)Executive Director Mary Giliberti. "Last year, as the first anniversary of the Newtown tragedy approached, Americans could see progress flowing from both the White House Conference on Mental Health and state legislation."
"This year, as the second anniversary approaches, progress has slowed and with the exception of a few members, Congress has been missing in action."
So you can see in red the states which have decreased their budgets for mental health services for 2015
Policy recommendations from NAMI (nah-mee)-- include
Strengthening public mental health funding.
Holding public and private insurers and providers accountable for high-quality services with measurement of outcomes.
Expanding Medicaid with adequate coverage for mental health.
Implementing effective practices and programs
There are various forms of treatment for mental illnesses…
One of the most effective ones is therapy…which include individual, group therapy, hypnosis, or psychotherapy
SO there are 5 common types of psychotherapy approaches
The first one is freudian psychoanalysis…which is based on the theories of Sigmund Freud…it looks at how the unconscious mind influences thoughts and behaviors….for example..
looking at a client’s early childhood experiences in order to discover how these events might have shaped the individual and how they contribute to current actions
The second is cognitive behavioral therapy—this therapy restructures negative thought processes and replaces them with thoughts that promote positive adaptive behavior
For example…a counselor may suggest to a client to cognitively recognize negative self-talk that triggers anxiety and to replace it with a positive thought..at first the client may have force him or herself by writing it out, or texting it to him or herself…but gradually the individual will be able to change the way he or she thinks!
Prolonged exposure therapy…helps people confront their feelings and fears of the past by revisiting the negative experience, mental imagery or writing..this can be used for PTSD patients
Cognitive processing therapy- is for patients who are asked to recount their traumatic experience and the therapist helps redirect destructive thoughts…this is also a therapy method for individuals coping with PTSD
Electroconvulsant Shock Therapy- often referred as shock treatment in which seizures are electrically induced to provide relief from psychiatric illnesses, mainly used for severe mood disorders
medication is also a very common form of treatment for mental illnesses…there are 6 main categories of psychiatric medications
Antipsychotics –are for patients with psychosis disorders
Anxiolytics- inhibit anxiety---such as benzodiazepines…such as Xanax
Antidepressants- for mood disorders like major depression, such as Prozac and Zoloft
Antimanics- controls manic symptoms
Anticonvulsants- reduces seizures
Stimulants- amphetamines or methylphenidate , such as Ritalin and Adderall for ADHD
So the most commonly prescribed antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRiS) –they work by changing the levels of the neurotransmitter Serotonin in your brain…
neurotransmitters –are chemical messengers that are released by one nerve and taken up by other nerves to enable communication between the two..
So SSRIs basically block the reabsorption (reuptake) of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. By keeping the levels of the neurotransmitters higher could improve communication between the nerve cells – which could strengthen circuits in the brain which regulate mood.
Here’s a picture of a synapse----which is a junction between two nerve cells..
nerve cells have the ability to regulate the amount of neurotransmitters released to other other nerve cells
so not only do they release, but to prevent an over-release, they have the abilty to reabsorb NTs back to their own nerve cell.
There you can see the SSRI blocking the reabsorption of serotonin back into the nerve cell…this block in reuptake allows more serotonin to be available to be taken up by other brain cells
By keeping levels of serotonin higher could improve communication between the nerve cells – which could strengthen circuits in the brain which regulate mood..
-and significantly help those with depression
The way many health care providers explain the effects of SSRis are with a volume knob analogy…SSRi medications can’t necessarily eradicate mood disorders, but it can lower the intensity…lower the volume....making it easier to work on deeper issues
There are different kinds of reuptake inhibitors target different neurotransmitters. There are three types:
SSRIS/ Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) , Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)
And lastly…making lifestyle changes!…exercise can really make a huge difference especially for mood disorders…studies have also indicated that practicing breathing techniques, meditation and yoga can be extremely beneficial
-When I went abroad last winter, I became very close with a woman in her 40s who shared with me her journey of overcoming depression…
-She told me she was first clinically diagnosed with depression during college…she resorted to marijuana during those yrs as a coping mechanism ..until she finally met a psychiatrist who she said changed her life….
…she attended regular counseling sessions and took daily antidepressants… she also found a deep connection with yoga
…she began taking classes, attending seminars…started learning about the benefits of holistic medicine and eventually even became a yoga instructor herself
…after 5 years, with yoga and holistic medicine becoming such a daily part of her life…she began to realize that she didn’t need the medications anymore
-to this day she always tells close ones the importance of taking the time to find inner peace …overcoming mental illnesses can be a long scary journey but it can also be a journey towards self-discovery
