Considering Taking Medications and Their Side Effects
one of the most common concerns that are mentioned to the therapist is the concern of side effects.
Tag Archive for: Mental Illness
Suicide Awareness and remembering Stephen tWitch Boss
Grief and loss are impacting so many individuals who are seeking therapy right now. Loved ones are dying and we have so many people struggling with their mental health.
Different Types of Grief and Loss Models
There are many different types-of-grief and loss. Some may have already occurred such as an event that has resulted in the loss of someone or something. Examples include the death of a person or pet and loss of body functions. Some losses are connected to the self, such as loss of identity or mobility.
Why See a Therapist Over the Holidays?
Here are 7 Reasons Why You Should See a Therapist Over the Holidays.
High-expressed emotion
The DSM-5 defines expressed emotion as a qualitative measure of the “amount” of emotion.
How to Set Healthy Boundaries
Setting healthy boundaries is an important life skill yet knowing HOW to set healthy boundaries can be difficult, especially at first.
Domestic Abuse and Forms of Maintaining Power & Control
Domestic abuse is “a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship”.
Benefits of Working with a Practicum Student or Pre-Licensed Clinician
Sometimes clients are hesitant to work with a newer therapist. They may not see credentials after a name and may dismiss the possibility of seeing a particular therapist.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Having meaningful relationships through social connection is an important protective factor for good mental health and suicide prevention. Here are 6 Tips from the Suicide Awareness Voices of Education to Help Get Connected.
Mental health, addiction treatment important amid crisis
It’s no surprise that people are feeling anxious right now.
Workers are worrying about how they’ll pay the rent as hours are cut back. Young parents are trying to do their jobs remotely while watching their children who are home from school. Older people are weighing the health risks of making a quick run to the grocery store.
Most people’s lives have been turned upside down by the coronavirus.
As Congress takes action to keep our economy strong and our people healthy, we can’t forget those who far too often have been left behind – people who are living with mental illness and those struggling with addiction.
It’s estimated that 1 in 5 people in our country are living with mental illness or substance use disorders. Sadly, people with mental illness and people with substance use disorders may fail to get the treatment they need in a typical year. And as we know, this year is anything but typical.
We know that people who misuse opioids are at high risk for coronavirus. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse and other health experts, opioids impact the respiratory and pulmonary health of users and make them more susceptible to respiratory infections, including coronavirus.
People who are living with a mental illness or addiction often have other health conditions that make them more likely to suffer severe complications from the coronavirus.
Responding to the coronavirus pandemic requires a comprehensive health care strategy, including increasing access to community mental health and addiction treatment services. And the best way we can do that is to include the expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in the next emergency package passed by Congress.
Six years ago, we worked together to pass our Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act. It created quality standards of care and funding to open community clinics that are transforming mental health and addiction treatment.
After only two years of operations, communities that have CCBHCs are providing life-saving services. They work closely with law enforcement and our schools and coordinate with hospitals to dramatically reduce emergency room visits.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, they’ve led to a 60% decrease in time spent in jails, a 41% decrease in homelessness and a 63% decrease in emergency department visits for behavioral health. That’s a big deal when every hospital bed matters right now.
CCBHCs also are well-positioned to support those struggling to cope with the stress of coronavirus, whether it’s anxiety, depression, loneliness brought on by social isolation or even trauma faced by front-line health care workers. And many CCBHCs provide telemedicine services, allowing people to access help without increasing their potential exposure to the virus.
As our nation confronts COVID-19, we must not leave those with mental illness and addiction disorders behind. And the good news is, by working together, we can make sure that doesn’t happen.
