Going Back to School and Work

2021 ◽  
pp. 155-160
Author(s):  
Beth Broussard ◽  
Michael T. Compton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Supported Employment ◽  
Young Person ◽  
First Episode ◽  
The Right ◽  
Supported Education ◽  
First Job ◽  
Work Goals

Finishing high school, going off to college, and getting a first job are visible signs of adult independence and set the foundation for future employment, income, and achievements. Though some may think that going back to school or work could be too stressful for a young person who has recently experienced a first episode of psychosis, psychosocial treatments called supported employment and supported education have been shown to be beneficial. These specialized supports help many young people get back into school, find and keep a job, or pursue both school and work goals. Doing well in school, or going to work, gives one a sense of purpose and achievement. These are important steps in recovery that can be achieved with the right supports from family, friends, and mental health professionals.

Knowing Your Early Warning Signs and Preventing a Relapse

2021 ◽  
pp. 129-138
Author(s):  
Beth Broussard ◽  
Michael T. Compton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Early Warning Signs

This chapter explains early warning signs, which are mild symptoms that occur before another episode of illness, or a relapse. To help prevent a relapse, young people can stick with treatment, watch for early warning signs, and work with their mental health professional to intervene promptly. Young people can identify their unique warning signs by thinking back to the time just before the first episode to identify the two or three early warning signs that they should watch for. Family, friends, and mental health professionals can help identify the changes they observed as well. Open communication between the young person and his or her family, friends, and mental health professionals is important when early warning signs start to occur. By carefully monitoring early warning signs, young people, their families, and their mental health professionals can work together to help lessen the severity of any future episode of psychosis that a person may have—or prevent a relapse altogether.

The Initial Evaluation of Psychosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 69-82
Author(s):  
Beth Broussard ◽  
Michael T. Compton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Outpatient Setting ◽  
Initial Evaluation ◽  
Inpatient Setting ◽  
Medical Problems ◽  
Additional Information

For a young person with psychosis, the evaluation process can provide the start of a path toward effective treatment and recovery. Although the initial evaluation can be done in inpatient or outpatient settings, treatment of early psychosis often begins with a short stay in the hospital or related inpatient setting. In some instances, mental health professionals may be able to start treatment in the outpatient setting if there are no immediate safety concerns. The evaluation may include gathering additional information from sources other than the young person experiencing psychosis. Individuals experiencing psychosis often receive a physical exam, labs, and other tests to look for any medical problems that can cause symptoms. Understanding the evaluation process and providing mental health professionals with all available information can help in making a diagnosis and planning for the best treatment that will help the young person move toward recovery.

scholarly journals The Guideline on Procedures with Respect to Vulnerable Persons Appearing Before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada: A Critical Overview

Refuge ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Cleveland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Expert Opinions ◽  
The Right ◽  
Critical Overview ◽  
Vulnerable Persons

This paper presents a critical overview of the Guideline on Vulnerable Persons, adopted by Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) in December 2006 with the goal of providing procedural accommodations for vulnerable individuals appearing before the Board so that they are not disadvantaged in presenting their cases. Although the Guideline is a step in the right direction, it has several serious shortcomings, notably the fact that it is purely procedural in scope, applies only to persons whose ability to present their case is severely impaired, and does not give sufficient weight to expert opinions by mental health professionals.

Medicines Used to Treat Psychosis

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T Compton ◽  
Beth Broussard
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Psychosocial Treatments ◽  
Conventional Antipsychotics ◽  
Trade Name ◽  
Trade Names

Mental health professionals treat nearly all psychiatric illnesses using two types of treatments: medicines and psychosocial treatments. This is true for psychosis as well. We describe medicines used to treat psychosis in this chapter and psychosocial treatments for psychosis in Chapter 7. Medicines are a crucial part of the treatment plan for people who experience a first episode of psychosis. In fact, many mental health professionals view medicines to be the most important aspect of the treatment of psychosis. This is because psychosocial treatments are usually more effective when medicines help to adequately control symptoms. We discuss a number of medicines in this chapter. When a specific medicine is mentioned, two names are given. The first is the generic name and the second (in parentheses) is the trade name in the United States. For example, Tylenol is the trade name of the generic pain medicine called acetaminophen. Anyone taking medicine should be familiar with both the generic and trade names of the medicine, even though the generic names are sometimes more difficult to spell or pronounce. This chapter begins with an overview of the class of medicines used to treat psychosis, called antipsychotic medicines, or just “antipsychotics.” Before explaining antipsychotics in further detail, we set the stage by defining how antipsychotics work and some side effects and other serious problems called adverse events that may occur when taking antipsychotics. We then describe in more detail the two main types of medicines used to treat psychosis, the so-called “conventional” antipsychotics, and the “atypical” antipsychotics. Some mental health professionals refer to these as “first-generation” and “second-generation” antipsychotics, respectively. Then, we discuss the sometimes difficult task of finding the right medicine. We end by addressing two commonly asked questions about antipsychotic medicines: “Why is it important to take the medicine?” and “How long should the medicine be taken?” As mentioned earlier, the main types of medicines used to treat psychosis are the antipsychotics. These medicines are “antipsychotics” because they fight against (“anti-”) psychotic symptoms. As discussed in Chapter 1 (What Is Psychosis?) and Chapter 2 (What Are the Symptoms of Psychosis?), psychosis is a state of not being well-grounded in reality, due to symptoms like hallucinations or delusions.

Assessing Needs

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Colby Mills ◽  
Jill Milloy ◽  
Jaysyn Carson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
First Responders ◽  
High Response Rate ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
The Right

For law enforcement agencies and the mental health professionals who serve them, one question is always foremost: How can we provide the right services to improve officers' wellbeing? These decisions are typically made without any data about what officers want. This chapter details one agency's attempt to solicit such feedback with an anonymous online survey about mental health and overall wellness. A brief background describes the context of the survey, which occurred at the same time as other mental health initiatives in the department. The authors discuss the choices involved in developing and promoting the survey, in hopes that readers will make better informed choices should they survey their own first responders. The survey results are reviewed, many of which (including the high response rate) were surprising, and the changes the department has begun to make in response to this feedback. The responses from 14 other public safety agencies throughout Virginia are also summarized.

Follow-up and Sticking with Treatment

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T Compton ◽  
Beth Broussard
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Case Managers ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Psychosocial Treatments ◽  
Knowing That ◽  
Patient Will

When someone is diagnosed with a first episode of psychosis, it can be easy to want to forget about the diagnosis after leaving the hospital or clinic. Symptoms may even appear to go away. However, the likely reason the person’s symptoms have improved is that he or she has been taking medicine and getting treatment. It is important for the patient to stick to this treatment plan to continue to feel better, have decreasing symptoms, and eventually return to normal functioning. At the hospital or clinic, patients work with mental health professionals on a plan for their treatment. Adherence or compliance is when patients stick with their treatment plan and include this plan into their daily life. Mental health professionals use the words adherence and compliance to mean the same thing. In this book, we use the word adherence. Adherence includes: attending follow-up appointments with mental health professionals, taking medicine regularly, and completing therapy exercises given at appointments. We discuss each of these in the following pages. Before the patient leaves the hospital or clinic, the mental health professional and patient will discuss or plan future follow-up appointments. Patients may need to go to these appointments every other week, or even more frequently, when just leaving the hospital. Those who have stayed well for a longer period may be able to go to appointments less often. They may go every month and eventually, only every three months. If available in the community, other choices may include appointments in the home or in the community with case managers or treating professionals (See Chapter 7 on Psychosocial Treatments for Early Psychosis). Appointments may be at a clinic or hospital and usually last 30 to 45 minutes. They may be with a doctor for a checkup. The patient also may have to go to appointments for counseling, therapy, or other types of psychosocial treatments. The number of appointments the patient has to go to will depend on his or her specific needs. Knowing that they have to go to many sessions may be disappointing for patients. Most people do not like going to the doctor! This is true for many people with psychosis as well.

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