Mesandy
09-20-2007, 03:23 PM
Q. If I go to a mental health center, what kind of treatment will I get?
A. A professional at the center will work with you in determining the best form of treatment for your needs. Depending on the nature of the illness being treated, psychotherapy and/or drug therapy may be recommended. Sometimes, joining in with a group of people who have similar problems is best; at other times, talking individually to a therapist is the answer.
Q. I have a relative with a serious mental problem. Can I have that person committed to a mental hospital?
A. A mentally ill or troubled person should be in a hospital only if it is absolutely necessary. In general, most mental health professionals believe that mentally ill persons should be treated in the community and should live as part of the community to the extent possible. That's why mental health centers and community support and rehabilitation programs stress the importance of having different services available: day care, night care, weekend care, and outpatient treatment through regular visits to an office or clinic. Most State laws, however, do provide for short-term (72 hours to a week) emergency detention and evaluation of seriously mentally ill persons who are unwilling or unable to make a decision to ask for treatment.
Q. To emergency cases wind up as long-term patients in mental hospitals?
A. Generally, no. Mental hospitals are used today for short-term crisis intervention when there are no other community services available, and they are used when a person needs extra care to stabilize a medical condition or drug treatment regimen. Also they serve the small percentage of patients who need long-term, structured, supervised care and treatment in a protective setting.
Q. I have heard people use the term "involuntary commitment." What does this mean?
A. In an emergency (e.g. where a person is likely to endanger 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 an extended commitment petition to detain the person involuntarily. Most States require an emergency commitment hearing to be held within 2 to 4 days after hospital admission to justify continued confinement.
WARNING SIGNALS
Many people are not sure how to judge when a person needs professional help for mental problems. There are some behaviors - especially if they persist or become severe - that may be signs of trouble:
1. Is he acting differently than he usually does? Could this change be linked to something that has happened recently? Any event, such as the death of a close relative, loss of a job, marital break-up, or even something positive - like a job promotion - can trigger a troublesome emotional reaction.
2. Does she complain of episodes of extreme, almost uncontrollable, anxiety or "nervousness"? One sign of an emotional problem is "free floating" anxiety that is unrelated to any normal concern, such as a child's illness or a backlog of bills.
3. Does he become aggressive, rude, and abusive over minor incidents? Does he talk about groups or individuals "out to get me"? If such remarks are made in all seriousness, and if violent behavior occurs, it is likely that help is needed.
Any of these symptoms, if they continue for any length of time, may suggest a need for professional help. Fortunately, early identification and treatment of the problems causing this behavior can often make these symptoms disappear.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
If a person becomes violent, gets completely out of control, or tries to commit suicide, there are several things you can do:
1. In a dangerous crisis, call the police. Often the police are the best-equipped, most available resource, especially when a crime has been committed or when there is a strong possibility that the person may do physical injury to himself or others.
Once the emergency situation has been brought under control, if the troubled individual is already in treatment, call his therapist.
2. In a nonviolent crisis, calling the police may be a poor choice. for example, if an individual hasn't eaten for a substantial period of time - call his physician or therapist. If he doesn't have one, get him to a hospital emergency room where there are doctors on duty - even if you have to call an ambulance to get him there. Look in the Yellow Pages under "Ambulances" or call the fire department or rescue squad. Look under the list of emergency numbers in the front of your phone book, or call the operator if you can't find a number in a hurry.
A physician can tell you where and how to get help. Or the doctor may be able to provide help even if he or she is not a mental health specialist. Also, the doctor may be able to treat any injuries in the case of violence, a suicide attempt, or a drug or alcohol overdose.
Many members of the clergy are trained to deal with emergencies, or they can refer you to help.
Call the mental health hotline, drug hotline, crisis hotline, suicide prevention center, "free clinic," or Alcoholics Anonymous chapter, if your area has such services. Their telephones often are staffed around the clock. Look for a number in the list of emergency or community service numbers in the front of your phone book, or you can find a listing in the white pages under "Alcoholics Anonymous," "Suicide," "Mental Health," or ask the operator for help.
Call the nearest mental health center. If it's not listed that way in the phone book, look for it under "Hospitals," "Mental Health Clinics," or "Physicians" in the Yellow Pages.
Mental health centers generally provide a wide range of services. Included in these are:
1. Partial hospitalization - a patient might spend occasional days, nights, or weekends at the center, living at home and going to work as much as possible.
2. Outpatient care - a patient goes into the center's clinic for treatment that has been set up on a regular appointment basis.
3. Inpatient service - a patient stays at the hospital where care is provided.
4. 24-hour emergency service - available at any time of the day or night.
5. Consultation, education, and prevention - services for schools, community organizations, institutions, and businesses to assist in dealing with mentally ill persons and to develop programs that help prevent emotional disorders.
TREATMENT METHODS
The goals of treatment are to reduce symptoms of emotional disorders; improve personal and social functioning; correct distorted thinking; develop and strengthen coping skills; and promote behaviors that make a person's life better. Biomedical therapy, behavioral therapy, and psychotherapy are basic approaches to treatment that may help a person overcome problems. There are many specific types of therapies that may be used alone or in various combinations.
BIOMEDICAL THERAPIES
Drug treatment for emotional, behavioral and mental disorders has benefitted many patients, and drug treatment often is combined with psychotherapy. The drug that a physician prescribes depends on the nature of the illness being treated as well as on an assessment of the patient's general medical condition.
Electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) is used only for cases of major depression, delusions and hallucinations, or life-threatening sleep and eating disorders that cannot be effectively treated with drugs. Modern methods of administering ECT employ low "doses" of electric shock to the brain along with sedatives and relaxants to minimize the unpleasantness to patients.
BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
In behavioral therapy, learning principles are used to systematically change troublesome thinking patterns and behaviors. The individual can learn specific skills to obtain rewards and satisfaction. Such an approach may involve the cooperation of important persons in the patient's life to give praise and attention to desirable changes. Behavioral therapy includes an array of methods such as stress management, biofeedback, and relaxation training.
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Psychotherapy is accomplished through a series of face-to-face discussions, in which a therapist helps a person to talk about, define, and resolve personal problems that are troubling. Psychotherapies generally appear to be more effective and appropriate than drugs or ECT for less severe forms of emotional distress.
Long-term psychotherapy, lasting from several months to several years, emphasizes the study of underlying problems that started in childhood. Short-term psychotherapy, lasting for several weeks or months, is used when the problem seems to result from a stressful life event such as a death in the family, divorce, or physical illness. The goal of the therapist is to help the patient resolve the problems as quickly as possible. Often this takes only a few visits.
thanks,
mesandy:)
A. A professional at the center will work with you in determining the best form of treatment for your needs. Depending on the nature of the illness being treated, psychotherapy and/or drug therapy may be recommended. Sometimes, joining in with a group of people who have similar problems is best; at other times, talking individually to a therapist is the answer.
Q. I have a relative with a serious mental problem. Can I have that person committed to a mental hospital?
A. A mentally ill or troubled person should be in a hospital only if it is absolutely necessary. In general, most mental health professionals believe that mentally ill persons should be treated in the community and should live as part of the community to the extent possible. That's why mental health centers and community support and rehabilitation programs stress the importance of having different services available: day care, night care, weekend care, and outpatient treatment through regular visits to an office or clinic. Most State laws, however, do provide for short-term (72 hours to a week) emergency detention and evaluation of seriously mentally ill persons who are unwilling or unable to make a decision to ask for treatment.
Q. To emergency cases wind up as long-term patients in mental hospitals?
A. Generally, no. Mental hospitals are used today for short-term crisis intervention when there are no other community services available, and they are used when a person needs extra care to stabilize a medical condition or drug treatment regimen. Also they serve the small percentage of patients who need long-term, structured, supervised care and treatment in a protective setting.
Q. I have heard people use the term "involuntary commitment." What does this mean?
A. In an emergency (e.g. where a person is likely to endanger 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 an extended commitment petition to detain the person involuntarily. Most States require an emergency commitment hearing to be held within 2 to 4 days after hospital admission to justify continued confinement.
WARNING SIGNALS
Many people are not sure how to judge when a person needs professional help for mental problems. There are some behaviors - especially if they persist or become severe - that may be signs of trouble:
1. Is he acting differently than he usually does? Could this change be linked to something that has happened recently? Any event, such as the death of a close relative, loss of a job, marital break-up, or even something positive - like a job promotion - can trigger a troublesome emotional reaction.
2. Does she complain of episodes of extreme, almost uncontrollable, anxiety or "nervousness"? One sign of an emotional problem is "free floating" anxiety that is unrelated to any normal concern, such as a child's illness or a backlog of bills.
3. Does he become aggressive, rude, and abusive over minor incidents? Does he talk about groups or individuals "out to get me"? If such remarks are made in all seriousness, and if violent behavior occurs, it is likely that help is needed.
Any of these symptoms, if they continue for any length of time, may suggest a need for professional help. Fortunately, early identification and treatment of the problems causing this behavior can often make these symptoms disappear.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
If a person becomes violent, gets completely out of control, or tries to commit suicide, there are several things you can do:
1. In a dangerous crisis, call the police. Often the police are the best-equipped, most available resource, especially when a crime has been committed or when there is a strong possibility that the person may do physical injury to himself or others.
Once the emergency situation has been brought under control, if the troubled individual is already in treatment, call his therapist.
2. In a nonviolent crisis, calling the police may be a poor choice. for example, if an individual hasn't eaten for a substantial period of time - call his physician or therapist. If he doesn't have one, get him to a hospital emergency room where there are doctors on duty - even if you have to call an ambulance to get him there. Look in the Yellow Pages under "Ambulances" or call the fire department or rescue squad. Look under the list of emergency numbers in the front of your phone book, or call the operator if you can't find a number in a hurry.
A physician can tell you where and how to get help. Or the doctor may be able to provide help even if he or she is not a mental health specialist. Also, the doctor may be able to treat any injuries in the case of violence, a suicide attempt, or a drug or alcohol overdose.
Many members of the clergy are trained to deal with emergencies, or they can refer you to help.
Call the mental health hotline, drug hotline, crisis hotline, suicide prevention center, "free clinic," or Alcoholics Anonymous chapter, if your area has such services. Their telephones often are staffed around the clock. Look for a number in the list of emergency or community service numbers in the front of your phone book, or you can find a listing in the white pages under "Alcoholics Anonymous," "Suicide," "Mental Health," or ask the operator for help.
Call the nearest mental health center. If it's not listed that way in the phone book, look for it under "Hospitals," "Mental Health Clinics," or "Physicians" in the Yellow Pages.
Mental health centers generally provide a wide range of services. Included in these are:
1. Partial hospitalization - a patient might spend occasional days, nights, or weekends at the center, living at home and going to work as much as possible.
2. Outpatient care - a patient goes into the center's clinic for treatment that has been set up on a regular appointment basis.
3. Inpatient service - a patient stays at the hospital where care is provided.
4. 24-hour emergency service - available at any time of the day or night.
5. Consultation, education, and prevention - services for schools, community organizations, institutions, and businesses to assist in dealing with mentally ill persons and to develop programs that help prevent emotional disorders.
TREATMENT METHODS
The goals of treatment are to reduce symptoms of emotional disorders; improve personal and social functioning; correct distorted thinking; develop and strengthen coping skills; and promote behaviors that make a person's life better. Biomedical therapy, behavioral therapy, and psychotherapy are basic approaches to treatment that may help a person overcome problems. There are many specific types of therapies that may be used alone or in various combinations.
BIOMEDICAL THERAPIES
Drug treatment for emotional, behavioral and mental disorders has benefitted many patients, and drug treatment often is combined with psychotherapy. The drug that a physician prescribes depends on the nature of the illness being treated as well as on an assessment of the patient's general medical condition.
Electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) is used only for cases of major depression, delusions and hallucinations, or life-threatening sleep and eating disorders that cannot be effectively treated with drugs. Modern methods of administering ECT employ low "doses" of electric shock to the brain along with sedatives and relaxants to minimize the unpleasantness to patients.
BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
In behavioral therapy, learning principles are used to systematically change troublesome thinking patterns and behaviors. The individual can learn specific skills to obtain rewards and satisfaction. Such an approach may involve the cooperation of important persons in the patient's life to give praise and attention to desirable changes. Behavioral therapy includes an array of methods such as stress management, biofeedback, and relaxation training.
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Psychotherapy is accomplished through a series of face-to-face discussions, in which a therapist helps a person to talk about, define, and resolve personal problems that are troubling. Psychotherapies generally appear to be more effective and appropriate than drugs or ECT for less severe forms of emotional distress.
Long-term psychotherapy, lasting from several months to several years, emphasizes the study of underlying problems that started in childhood. Short-term psychotherapy, lasting for several weeks or months, is used when the problem seems to result from a stressful life event such as a death in the family, divorce, or physical illness. The goal of the therapist is to help the patient resolve the problems as quickly as possible. Often this takes only a few visits.
thanks,
mesandy:)