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For information about resources available in your
community, contact your local mental health center or
one of the local affiliates of national self-help
organizations. These agencies can provide you with
information on services designed to meet the needs of
those suffering from mental health disorders such as
depression, schizophrenia, panic disorder, and other
anxiety conditions. In addition, they will have
information regarding services designed for specific
cultural groups, children, the elderly, HIV-infected
individuals, and refugees.
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In publicly funded mental health centers, such as
those funded by state, city or county governments, the
cost of many services is calculated according to what
you can afford to pay. So, if you have no money, or very
little, services are still provided. This is called a
sliding-scale or sliding-fee basis of payment. Many
employers make assistance programs available to their
employees, often without charge. These programs -
usually called Employee Assistance Programs - are
designed to provide mental health services, including
individual psychotherapy, family counseling, and
assistance with problems of drug and alcohol abuse.
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Yes, there are alternatives. Many mental health
programs operate independently. These include local
clinics, family service agencies, mental health
self-help groups, private psychiatric hospitals, private
clinics, and private practitioners. If you go to a
private clinic or practitioner, you will pay the full
cost of the services, less the amount paid by your
insurer or some other payment source. There are also
many self-help organizations that operate drop-in
centers and sponsor gatherings for group discussions to
deal with problems associated with bereavement, suicide,
depression, anxiety, phobias, panic disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, drugs,
alcohol, eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia nervosa,
obesity), spouse and child abuse, sexual abuse, rape,
and coping with the problems of aging parents - to name
a few. In addition, there are private practitioners who
specialize in treating one or more of these problems.
Our
Provider Directory lists many local practitioners
with information about their services and specialties.
You may also contact local chapters of self-help
organizations to learn about various services available
in your community.
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That's like having a toothache and not going to the
dentist. The results are the same - you keep on hurting
and the problem will probably get worse.
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A specially trained staff member will talk with you
about the things that are worrying you.
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You're quite right. If you have a wise and
understanding friend who is willing to listen to your
problems, you may not need professional help at all. But
often that's not enough. You may need a professionally
trained person to help you uncover what's really
bothering you. Your friend probably does not have the
skills to do this.
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When you're talking to someone who has professional
training and has helped many others with problems
similar to yours, that person is able to see the
patterns in your life that have led to your unhappiness.
In therapy, the job is to help you recognize those
patterns - and you may try to change them. There may be
times, however, when you will need a combination of
"talk" therapy and medication.
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No. A therapist does not have to be a psychiatrist.
A number of psychologists, social workers, psychiatric
nurses, mental health counselors, and others have been
specially trained and licensed to work effectively with
people's mental and emotional difficulties. However,
only psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners
(in most states) are qualified to prescribe medication.
Click here to learn
more about the different types of therapists who can
help.
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Often centers offer night or weekend appointments.
Just contact the center for an appointment, which may be
set up for a time that is convenient for both you and
the center.
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Many therapists have evening hours to accommodate
their patients. Some even see patients very early in the
morning before they go to work.
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No indeed. It's better to talk your spouse into it
than to lie. Don't jeopardize trust by being deceptive.
However, you may want to discuss it first with the
center. Marital or family therapy is available when a
problem exists that involves more than one family
member.
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There are many kinds of treatment. A professional at
the center will work with you in determining the best
form for your needs. Depending on the nature of the
illness being treated, psychotherapy and/or treatment
with medication may be recommended. Sometimes, joining a
group of people who have similar problems is best; at
other times, talking individually to a therapist is the
answer.
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Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't. It
primarily depends on you and the therapist. It is
important to share your concerns in a serious, sincere,
and open manner. Only if you are completely honest and
open can you expect to receive the best support and
advice.
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There should be a "fit" between your personality and
that of the therapist. Someone else - or some other
method - may be more suitable for you. You can ask your
therapist for a referral to another mental health
professional, or, if you prefer, you can call one of the
mental health associations for the names of other
therapists.
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If there is little or no change in your symptoms
after five to six weeks, a different medication may be
tried. Some people respond better to one medication than
another. Some people also are helped by combining
treatment with medications and another form of therapy.
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Yes. Children's services are an important part of
any center's program. Children usually respond very well
to short-term help if they are not suffering from a
severe disorder. Families often are asked to participate
and are consulted if the child is found to have a
serious disorder - such as autism, childhood depression,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder, or anorexia nervosa or bulimia -
and long-term treatment is needed.
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A staff person at a center can advise you about ways
you can best care for your parent. You may be referred
to a special agency or organization that provides
services designed especially to meet the needs of
elderly people. The department of public welfare in your
county can give you addresses and telephone numbers for
both your county and state agencies on aging. These
agencies provide information on services and programs
for the elderly.
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She needn't worry. Confidentiality is basic to
therapy, and the patient has the right to control access
to information about her treatment. Professional
association guidelines plus federal and state laws
underscore the importance of confidentiality in
therapist-client relationships and govern the release of
records. Some insurance companies require certain
information from the therapist as a condition for
payment, but that information can be released only if
the patient gives written permission. If your friend
wants to know exactly who gets information and what kind
of information is released, she should ask her insurance
provider and discuss it in detail with the therapist.
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A person who is mentally ill should be in a hospital
only if it is absolutely necessary. In general, most
mental health professionals believe that persons with
mental illness should live in the community and be
treated there. That's why mental health centers and
community support and rehabilitation programs stress the
importance of having many different services available:
day, night, and weekend care, and outpatient treatment
through regular visits to an office or clinic.
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Generally no. Mental hospitals are used today for
short-term crisis intervention when there are no other
community services available or when a person needs
extra care to stabilize a drug treatment regimen. Also
they serve the small percentage of patients who need
long-term, structured, supervised care and treatment in
a protective setting.
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In an emergency (for example, where a person is
considered a danger to self or others), it is possible
for someone to be admitted to a hospital for a short
period against his or her will. The exact procedures
that must be followed vary from one area to another,
according to state and local laws. At the end of the
emergency commitment period, the state must either
release the individual, obtain his or her voluntary
consent to extend commitment, or file with the court an
extended commitment petition to continue to detain the
person involuntarily. Most states require an emergency
commitment hearing to be held within two to four days
after hospital admission to justify continued
involuntary confinement.
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Federal law provides that each state have a
Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System. These agencies,
partially funded by the
Center for Mental Health Services, investigate
reports of abuse and neglect in public or private mental
health or treatment facilities for current residents or
those admitted or discharged during the past 90 days.
Click here to view the contact information for the
P&A agency in your state.
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Psychiatrists:
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in
mental disorders, is licensed to practice medicine, and
has completed a year of internship and three years of
specialty training. A board-certified psychiatrist has,
in addition, practiced for at least two years and passed
the written and oral examinations of the American Board
of Psychiatry and Neurology. Psychiatrists can evaluate
and diagnose all types of mental disorders, carry out
biomedical treatments and psychotherapy, and work with
psychological problems associated with medical
disorders. Like other medical doctors, they can
prescribe medication. Child psychiatrists specialize in
working with children; geriatric psychiatrists
concentrate on helping the aged.
Psychologists:
Psychologists who conduct psychotherapy and work with
individuals, groups, or families to resolve problems
generally are called clinical or counseling
psychologists. They work in many settings – for example,
mental health centers, hospitals and clinics, schools,
employee assistance programs, and private practice. In
most states, a licensed clinical psychologist has
completed a doctoral degree from a university program
with specialized training and experience requirements
and has successfully completed a professional licensure
examination.
The field of psychology also includes those
who specialize in such areas as testing, community
organization, industrial relations, and laboratory
research.
Clinical Social Workers:
Clinical social workers have master's or doctoral
degrees in social work, at least two years of
post-graduate experience in a supervised clinical
setting, and have passed an examination required for
state licensure. In addition to individual, family, and
group counseling and psychotherapy, they are trained in
client-centered advocacy. This includes information,
referral, direct intervention with governmental and
civic agencies, and expansion of community resources.
Marriage and Family Therapists:
Marriage and Family Therapist are state licensed as
counselors to provide psychotherapy and counseling for
families, couples, groups, and individuals. They have at
least a master's degree, two years of supervised
post-degree experience, and have passed a state
comprehensive examination. Therapists with other
licenses may also be qualified to conduct marriage and
family therapy.
Professional Counselors:
Professional Counselors have at least a master's degree,
two years of supervised clinical experience, and have
passed an examination required for state licensure. In
states without licensure or certification laws,
professional counselors are certified by the National
Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). They provide
quality mental health and substance abuse care to
individuals, families, groups and organizations. They
may be trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques
and approaches.
Psychiatric Nurses:
Psychiatric nursing is a specialized area of
professional nursing practice that is concerned with
prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of
mental-health-related problems. These nurses are
registered professional nurses, and those who have
advanced academic degrees at the master's degree level
or above can become advanced practice registered nurses
(APRNs). APRNs are qualified to practice independently
and provide the full range of primary mental health care
services to individuals, families, groups and
communities. In most states, psychiatric nurses in
advanced practice have the authority to prescribe
medication.
Bipolar Disorder:
I have developed a program utilizing
Cinematherapy as a tool. Movies affect us powerfully
because the synergistic impact of music, dialogue,
lighting, camera angles and sound effects enables a film
to bypass our ordinary defensive censors. They draw us
into the viewing experience and at the same time - often
more easily than in real life - afford a unique
opportunity to retain a perspective outside the
experience, the observer's view.
Coupled together with group therapy
of ones peers and you have a dynamic forum to facilitate
change in the clients behavioral patterns reinforced
over time. This type of therapy is not an invasive
experience to the client thus eliminating stress and
anxiety the client often feels at an individual therapy
session. The experience of the facilitator (Therapist)
is the crucial key that helps the group grow and evolve.
By gently leading the group through the use of tailored
questions about the scene in the movie they just
watched, the facilitator induces new patterns of thought
reinforced by the emotion triggered by the movie.
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The information above was adapted from material provided
by
SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center. |