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Integrated Healthcare
Mental health plays an important role in a person’s ability to maintain good physical healthcare. When an individual is experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, such as depression or anxiety, it can affect their desires and ability to participate in a healthy lifestyle. Similarly, physical health problems, such as diabetes or obesity, can have a profound impact on a person’s mental health and overall quality of life.
In May 2015, the People’s Clinic for Better Health moved into our Electric Avenue location, bringing us one step closer to providing integrated healthcare for individuals in our community. As of February 1, 2016, the Peoples’ Clinic for Better Health expanded services to care for individuals without health insurance as well as individuals receiving services at St. Clair County CMH. This expansion to include individuals with Medicaid insurance brings us one step closer to providing true healthcare integration for the individuals we support.
(Put here physical health information sheets or links)
(Put here health integration training resources or links)
Put link to You Tube video “What is Integrated Care.”
Links and Resources
Mental Health Disorders
In general, mental health disorders may be grouped into one of three categories:
Mental Illness that Affects Adults. The Michigan Mental Health Code defines mental illness as “a substantial disorder of thought or mood that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life.”
Serious Emotional Disturbance
A serious emotional disturbance means a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that severely disrupts a child’s or adolescent’s ability to function socially, academically, and emotionally, at home, in school, or in the community, and has been apparent for more than a six-month period.
Intellectual / Developmental Disabilites
Intellectual / Developmental Disabilities
Intellectual / Developmental Disabilities are a diverse group of severe chronic conditions that are due to mental and/or physical impairments. People with developmental disabilities have problems with major life activities sch as language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living. Developmental Disabilities begin anything during development up to 22 years of age and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime. For more information about specific developmental disabilities, click on the links below, which will take you to reputable websites maintained by the National Institute of Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development and the Mayo Clinic.
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs), cause severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others. These disorders are usually first diagnosed in early childhood and range from a severe form, called autistic disorder, through pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) to a much milder form, Asperger’s Syndrome. They also include two rare disorders, Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative disorder.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy refers to a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and to maintain balance and posture. It is due to a nonprogressive brain abnormality, which means tha it does not get worse over time, though the exact symptoms can change over a person’s lifetime. People with cerebral palsy have damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle tone. Muscle tone is the amount of resistance to movement in a muscle. It is what lets you keep you body in a certain posture or position.
Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes lifelong cognitive delays, developmental delays and other problems. Down Syndrome is the most common genetic cause of severe learning disabilities in children, occurring in one of every 700 or 800 infants.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. In epilepsy, by the normal pattern of neuronal activity become disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions, and behavior or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. Epilepsy is a disorder with many possible causes. Anything that disturbs the normal pattern of neuron activity – from illness to brain damage to abnormal brain development – can lead to seizures. Epilepsy may develop because of an abnormality in brain wiring, an imbalance of nerve signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters, or some combination of these factors. Having a seizure does not necessarily mean that a person has epilepsy. Only when a person has had two or more seizures is he or she considered to have epilepsy. EEGs and brain scans are common tests for epilepsy.
Fragile X Syndrome
Fragile X Syndrome is the most common form of inherited cognitive delay. Fragile X happens when there is a change or mutation in a single gene called the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. This gene normally makes a protein the body needs for the brain to develop. But when there is a change in this gene, the body makes only a little bit or none of the protein, which can cause the symptoms of Fragile X.
Mental Health Conditions
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. For example, it can help one deal with a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, and keep focused on an important speech. In general, it can help one cope. But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder. Anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Social Phobia, also known as Social Anxiety Disorder.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, is one of the most common mental disorders that develop in children. Children with ADHD have impaired functioning in multiple settings, including home, school, and in relationships with peers. If untreated, the disorder can have long-term adverse effects into adolescence and adulthood.
Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a serious medical illness that causes shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes though, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior.
Depression
Depression is a serious medical illness, it’s not something that you have made up in your head. It’s more than just feeling “down in the dumps” or “true” for a few days. It’s feeling “down” and “low” and “hopeless” for weeks at a time.
Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is marked by extremes. It is present when a person experiences severe disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme reduction of food intake or extreme overeating, or feelings of extreme distress or concern about body weight or shape. Types of eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge-Eating Disorder.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, counting, checking or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. However, performing these so-called “rituals” provides only temporary relief and not performing them markedly increases anxiety.
Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that affects about 1.1% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. People with schizophrenia sometimes hear voices others don’t hear, believe that others are broadcasting their thoughts to the world, or become convinced that others are plotting to harm them. These experiences can make them fearful and withdrawn and cause difficulties when the try to have relationships with others.
Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)
Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation – such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others – or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms anytime they are around other people.
Suicide Prevention
Some mental illnesses, especially major depression, increase the risk of suicide. For statistics and prevention information about suicide in the U.S. click on the heading above.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a program developed by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Mental Health First Aid has been extensively evaluated and is proven to reduce stigma connected to mental illness.
Mental Health First Aid – Adult
The adult MHFA curriculum teaches how to provide initial support to adults who are developing a mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis. Participants will learn about the prevalence of mental illness, potential warning signs and risk factors for various illnesses, a 5-step action plan to help an individual in crisis connect to professional care, and resources available to help someone with a mental health problem.
Mental Health First Aid – Youth
The youth MHFA curriculum teaches how to provide initial support to adolescents who are developing a mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis. This training is geared towards adults who regularly interact with youth – teachers, coaches, mentors, parents, etc. Participants will learn about adolescent development, signs and symptoms of common mental health problems in young people, where and how to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation.
Mental Health First Aid – Law Enforcement
The Law Enforcement MHFA curriculum welcomes members of law enforcement and first responders to a Mental Health First Aid training which promotes safety first. Learn more by attending the Mental Health First Aid series specifically designed for Law Enforcement and First Repsonders. Goals of the training include: Helping safety of First Responders, Helping safety of the population being served, Access to mental health services easier, Gaining knowledge of tools, Prevent unnecessary use of force. The knowledge acquired in MHFA training gives strategies for trying to prevent a situation o the street from escalating. MHFA Law Enforcement classes are scheduled upon request.
For a list of upcoming MHFA Adult and Youth workshops, see the SCCCMH Community Calendar.
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