Mental Health Services

The impacts of climate change are familiar — more and more we see news about extreme weather events, droughts, water scarcity, wildfires, and flooding and their impacts on agriculture and human systems. The impact of these events on health and mental health is becoming clear. The air pollution and higher temperatures that come with rising greenhouse gases significantly increase the risk of neurological and psychiatric problems like strokes and dementia. Changes in the supply and nutritional content of food contribute to psychiatric illness, and changes in infectious disease patterns are exposing more people to the neuropsychiatric consequences of encephalitis.

Following a disaster, most people will ultimately do well and return to their previous level of functioning. However, many people will initially experience distressing thoughts, feelings, and physical symptoms and may engage in risky behaviors to help cope. Traumatic events are not easy for anyone to comprehend or accept. Understandably, many children feel frightened and confused. Fortunately, most children, even those exposed to trauma, are quite resilient. Parents, teachers and caring adults can help by listening and responding in an honest, consistent and supportive manner.

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, think, act, and perceive the world. Symptoms of depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can appear differently in each person. These symptoms can include: Feeling sad, irritable, empty and/or hopeless. Losing interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed. A significant change in appetite (eating much less or more than usual) and/or weight (notable loss or gain unrelated to dieting). Sleeping too little or too much. Decreased energy or increased tiredness or fatigue. Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements and speech that are enough to be observed by others. Feeling worthless or excessively guilty. Difficulty thinking or concentrating, forgetfulness, and/or difficulty making minor decisions. Thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts.

Learn about what you can do to help a loved one cope with a mental illness. It can be difficult to see a loved one struggle with symptoms of mental illness. It can also be hard to know how to best help and support a loved one. Every individual is different, and situations vary greatly. Below are some ideas that might help you get started in approaching a loved one you’re concerned about.

Integrated behavioral health is an evolving way of organizing the care people receive when they go to a primary care clinic. When behavioral health is integrated with your primary care, your primary care team can more easily address both your physical and mental health concerns, including problems like anxiety and depression. When these areas of your health are understood and addressed together, you have a better chance of being healthy.

Intellectual disability refers to neurodevelopmental conditions that affect functioning in two areas: Cognitive functioning, such as learning, problem solving, judgement. Adaptive functioning, activities of daily life such as communication skills and social participation. Additionally, the intellectual and adaptive deficit begin early in the developmental period, typically before age 18 years for diagnosis. Intellectual disability affects about 1% of the population, and of those about 85% have mild intellectual disability.

Research suggests healthy lifestyle behaviors and habits promote mental health and wellness and can be used to both prevent and treat mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, bipolar spectrum disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and psychotic disorders. These lifestyle behaviors are grouped into six general categories: Lifestyle Psychiatry Domains; Physical activity, Diet & Nutrition, Mind-body and mindfulness practices, Restorative sleep, Social connections, avoiding harmful substances Physical activity Diet and Nutrition Mind-body and mindfulness practices Restorative sleep Social connections Avoiding harmful substances

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Hoarding Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder), Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder, and Olfactory Reference Disorder People with obsessive-compulsive disorder have obsessions (persistent, recurring, unwanted thoughts and urges) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts) that the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. Other obsessive-compulsive related disorders primarily involve recurring body-focused repetitive behaviors (such as hair-pulling) and repeated attempts to stop the behavior. Related disorders described below include hoarding disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder), excoriation (skin-picking) disorder, and olfactory reference disorder.

Opioids are natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic molecules that interact with opioid receptors. Opioid receptors are expressed in different organs throughout the brain and body and control many aspects of body function, including pain, breathing, intestinal function, and even the size of the pupil. Opioid receptors cannot tell the difference between opioids that are made naturally by the body, such as endorphins, opioids that are produced by plants, such as heroin from the opium poppy or mitragynine from kratom (‘opiates’), or opioids that are created in a laboratory, such as fentanyl and loperamide (‘synthetic opioids’). While the terms ‘opioids’ and ‘opiates’ are sometimes used interchangeably, ‘opiate’ refers specifically to natural compounds, such as heroin or morphine, while opioids includes both naturally-occurring opiates and those created in a lab.

Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses can be associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities. Mental Health...involves effective functioning in daily activities resulting in: Productive activities (such as in work, school or caregiving). Healthy relationships. Ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity. Mental Illness...refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders — health conditions involving: Significant changes in thinking, emotion and/or behavior. Distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.

Psychiatry is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. People seek psychiatric help for many reasons. The problems can be sudden, such as a panic attack, frightening hallucinations, thoughts of suicide, or hearing “voices.” Or they may be more long-term, such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or anxiousness that never seem to lift or problems functioning, causing everyday life to feel distorted or out of control. Psychiatry is also known as: Mental health medicine Psychiatric medicine Behavioral health care (broader term including psychiatry) While the term “psychiatry” is the formal medical field, people may refer to it informally as mental health treatment or treatment for mental disorders. It is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Ask ChatGPT

Psychotherapy is a type of treatment that can help individuals experiencing a wide array of mental health conditions and emotional challenges. Psychotherapy can help not only alleviate symptoms, but also, certain types of psychotherapies can help identify the psychological root causes of one’s condition so a person can function better and have enhanced emotional well-being and healing. Conditions that can be helped by psychotherapy include coping with stressful life events, the impact of trauma, medical illness or loss such as the death of a loved one; and specific mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. There are several different types of psychotherapy and some types may work better with certain clinical situations. Psychotherapy may be used in combination with medication or other therapies. Psychotherapy is also known as: Talk therapy Counseling (especially in everyday language) Psychological therapy Mental health therapy Therapeutic counseling It involves structured sessions with a trained therapist to help individuals understand and manage emotional difficulties, mental health issues, or behavioral challenges.