Services

Today, much has changed from how we delivered community-based behavioral healthcare services only two or three years ago. Change — both bad and good — has reshaped the industry in fundamental ways. Managed care, shifts in funding, regulatory and legislative change, therapeutic advances and scientific breakthroughs are but a sampling of the elements that impact us on an almost daily basis.

Mental Illness

The following websites provide a wealth of information regarding mental health topics and services.

American Psychiatric Association www.psych.org
The American Psychiatric Association is a medical specialty society recognized world-wide.  Its 40,500 U.S. and international physicians specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional illnesses and substance use disorders.

American Psychological Association www.apa.org
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists.

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law www.bazelon.org
The Bazelon Center is the leading national legal advocate for people with mental illness and mental retardation. The Bazelon Center is not able to handle individual requests for information or assistance.

California Association of Mental Health Patients'

Rights Advocates www.camhpra.org
A membership organization working to promote public policy furthering the rights and well-being of mental health consumers.

California Department of Mental Health www.dmh.cahwnet.gov
The Department of Mental Health has oversight of 1) system leadership for state and local county mental health departments 2) system oversight, evaluation and monitoring 3) administration of federal funds 4) operates four state hospitals.

California Institute for Mental Health www.cimh.org
The CIMH is dedicated to a vision of a "community and mental health services system which provides recovery and full social integration for persons with psychiatric disabilities; sustains and supports families and children; and promotes mental health wellness."

California Network of Mental Health Clients www.californiaclients.org

The California Network of Mental Health Clients is a solely consumer-run organization whose membership consists of affiliates and individuals throughout the State. It provides a statewide advocacy voice for California's mental health consumers.

California Psychological Association www.calpsychlink.org
The California Psychological Association is a 50-year-old 501(c)(3) non-profit professional association for licensed psychologists and others affiliated with the delivery of psychological services.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance www.dbsalliance.org
The mission of the National Depressive and Manic- Depressive Association is to educate patients, families, professionals, and the public concerning the nature of depressive and manic-depressive illness as treatable medical diseases; to foster self-help for patients and families; to eliminate discrimination and stigma; to improve access to care; and to advocate for research toward the elimination of these illnesses.

NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness www.nami.org
With more than 208,000 members, NAMI is the nation's leading grassroots advocacy organization solely dedicated to improving the lives of persons with severe mental illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and severe anxiety disorders.

National Council on Disability: Official Web Site www.ncd.gov
The National Council on Disability (NCD) is an independent federal agency making recommendations to the President and Congress on issues affecting 54 million Americans with disabilities.

National Empowerment Center www.power2u.org
This website is filled with practical information that will help you recover if you have been labeled with a mental illness.

National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov

The lead Federal agency for research on mental and behavioral disorders

National Mental Health Association www.nmha.org
The National Mental Health Association, through its national office and more than 340 affiliates nationwide, is dedicated to improving the mental health of all individuals and achieving victory over mental illnesses.

National Mental Health Consumers'

Self-Help Clearinghouse www.mhselfhelp.org
A consumer-run national technical assistance center committed to helping mental health consumers improve their lives through self-help and advocacy. Specifically, we help consumers plan, provide, and evaluate mental health and community support services.

National Mental Illness Screening Project www.nmisp.org
The National Mental Illness Screening Project is a nonprofit organization developed to coordinate nationwide mental health screening programs and to ensure cooperation, professionalism, and accountability in mental illness screenings.

People Who www.peoplewho.org
Each other on the Internet - people who experience mood swings, fear, voices and visions email discussion lists, a reading room, reports, and building.

Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (Protection & Advocacy) www.pai-ca.org
PAI works in partnership with people with disabilities - to protect, advocate for and advance their human, legal and service rights.

Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) (California State Independent Living Council) www.calsilc.org
To maximize options for independence for persons with disabilities. Independent Living is a philosophy and a movement of people with disabilities who work for self-determination, equal opportunities and self-respect.

Support Coalition International (MindFreedom) www.mindfreedom.org
Support Coalition is an alliance of more than 70 grassroots groups in 11 countries united to win human rights in the mental health system.

Treatments

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

For referrals to Community Mental Health Services:
Your local Mental Health Association is an excellent resource for information about local programs and services including affordable treatment services.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Mental Health Information Center SAMHSA has a Mental Health Facilities Locator that can also help you find community outpatient, inpatient and residential treatment facilities, including affordable mental health services in your area. The SAMHSA Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator and the National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) 24 hour information and referral line at 800-729-6686 provide referrals to alcohol, substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment facilities. Dual diagnosis services provide integrated treatment for individuals who have both an alcohol or substance abuse problem and a mental illness.

For referral to Individual Mental Health Providers:
The Therapist Referral Network provides referrals to individual mental health professionals. Providers participate in a variety of insurance plans. Some offer affordable fee structures and may accept Medicare and Medicaid.

There are a number of Professional provider associations and other national organizations that provide treatment referral services. These organizations are listed below with links to their web sites.

Professional provider associations that provide treatment referral services include:

• American Counseling Association
• American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
• American Association of Pastoral Counselors
• American Association of Professional Hynotherapists
• American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists
• American Psychiatric Association
• American Psychological Association
• American Residential Treatment Association
• Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy
• National Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapists
• National Association of Social Workers
• National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology

Children's Issues

• Antidepressant Medication and Children: Tips for Parents
• Anxiety Disorders
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism
• Back to School
  • Tips for Parents
  • Tips for Kids
  • Tips for Teens
  • Is Your Child Ready
• Bipolar Disorder in Children
• Bullying and What To Do About It
• Bullying and Gay Youth
• Conduct Disorder
• Depression and Children
• Learning Disabilities
• Schizophrenia in Children
• Talking to Kids about Fear and Violence
• Talking to Kids about School Safety
• What Every Child Needs for Good Mental Health

Additional information is available at www.parentsmedguide.org.

(c) 2005 National Mental Health Association. All rights reserved.

Older Adult’s Issues

Alzheimer's Disease

What is Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in older people. A dementia is a medical condition that disrupts the way the brain works. AD affects the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Although the risk of getting the disease increases with age, it is not a normal part of aging. At present the cause of the disease is unknown and there is no cure.

AD is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer described changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. He found abnormal deposits (now called senile or neuritic plaques) and tangled bundles of nerve fibers (now called neurofibrillary tangles). These plaques and tangles in the brain have come to be characteristic brain changes due to AD.

Symptoms Include:

• initial mild forgetfulness
• confusion with names and simple mathematical problems
• forgetfulness to do simple everyday tasks, i.e., brushing their teeth
• problems speaking, understanding, reading, and writing
• behavioral and personality changes
• aggressive, anxious, or aimless behavior

Statistics

It is estimated that currently 4 million people in the United States may have Alzheimer's disease. The disease usually begins after age 65 and risk of AD goes up with age. While younger people may have AD, it is much less common. About 3% of men and women ages 65-74 have AD and nearly half of those over age 85 could have the disease.

Diagnosis

No definitive test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease in living patients exits. However, in specialized research facilities, neurologists now can diagnose AD with up to 90% accuracy. The following is some of the information used to make this diagnosis:

• a complete medical history
• basic medical tests (i.e., blood, urine tests)
• neuropsychological tests (i.e., memory, problem-solving, language tests)
• brain scans (i.e., MRI scan, CT scan or PET scan)

Research for Possible Risk Factors

Scientists are trying to learn what causes AD and how to prevent it. This list may not be all inclusive or definite. However, research has lead scientists to consider these as possible risk factors:

• Genetic factors
• Environmental factors - aluminum, zinc, and other metals have been detected in the brain tissue of those with AD. However, it isn't known whether they cause AD, or build up in the brain as a result of AD.
• Viruses - Viruses that might cause the changes seen in the brain tissue of AD patients are being studied.

The only known risk factors are age and family history. Serious head injury and lower levels of education may also be risk factors. AD is probably not caused by any one factor. Most likely, it is several factors together that react differently in each person. Unfortunately, no blood or urine test currently exists that can detect or predict AD.

Treatment

Alzheimer's disease advances in stages, ranging from mild forgetfulness to severe dementia. The course of the disease and the rate of decline varies from person to person. The duration from onset of symptoms to death can be from 5 to 20 years.

Currently, there is no effective treatment for AD that can halt the progression. However, some experimental drugs have shown promise in easing symptoms in some patients. Medications can help control behavioral symptoms; making patients more comfortable and easier to manage for caregivers. Still other research efforts focus on alternative care programs that provide relief to the caregiver and support for the patient.

For More Information:

Contact your local Mental Health Association, community mental health center, or:
National Mental Health Association
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone 703/684-7722
Fax 703/684-5968
Mental Health Resource Center
800/969-NMHA
TTY Line 800/433-5959

Alzheimer's Association
919 N. Michigan Ave.
Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (800) 272-3900

Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center
PO Box 8250
Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250
Phone: (800) 438-4380
http://www.alzheimers.org/adear

Eldercare Locator
Phone: (800) 677-1116

Multi-Infarct Dementia

What is Multi-Infarct Dementia?
Multi-infarct dementia is the second most common cause of dementia in older people. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish from Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common cause of dementia in older persons. It is possible for a person to have both multi-infarct dementia and Alzheimer's disease, making it hard for the doctor to diagnose either.

fact sheet index

Causes Of Multi-Infarct Dementia
Multi-infarct dementia is caused by a series of strokes that damage or destroy brain tissue. A stroke occurs when blood cannot get to the brain. A blood clot or fatty deposits (called plaques) can block the vessels that supply blood to the brain, causing a stroke.

Who is Affected?
Multi-infarct dementia usually affects people between the ages of 60 and 75. Men are slightly more likely than women to have this disease. However, the most important risk factor for multi-infarct dementia is high blood pressure. It is rare for a person without high blood pressure to develop multi-infarct dementia.

Symptoms
Symptoms that begin suddenly may be a sign of multi-infarct dementia. In addition to confusion and problems with recent memory, symptoms of multi-infarct dementia may include:

• wandering or getting lost in familiar surroundings.
• moving with rapid, shuffling steps.
• loss of bladder or bowel control.
• laughing or crying inappropriately.
• difficulty following instructions.
• problems handling money.

Multi-infarct dementia is often a result of a series of small strokes, called ministrokes or TIAs (transient ischmic attacks). The symptoms of a TIA often are very slight. They may include:

• mild weakness in an arm or a leg.
• slurred speech.
• dizziness.

The symptoms generally do not last for more than a few days. Several TIAs may occur before the person notices any symptoms of multi-infarct dementia. People with muti-infarct dementia may improve for short periods, then decline upon having further strokes.

Diagnosis
People who show signs of dementia or who have a history of strokes should have a complete physical exam. The doctor will ask the patient and the family about:

• the patient's diet
• medications
• sleep patterns
• personal habits
• past strokes
• other medical problems
• recent illnesses
• stressful events

To look for signs of stroke, the doctor will check for weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, difficulty with speech, or dizziness. To check for other health problems that could cause symptoms of dementia, the doctor may order office or laboratory tests. Tests may include:

• blood pressure reading.
• an electroencephalogram (EEG).
• a test of thyroid function.
• blood tests.
• x-rays.
• computerized tomography (CT) scan.
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Both CT scans and MRI tests take pictures of sections of the brain. The pictures are then displayed on a computer screen to allow the doctor to see inside the brain. (CT scans and MRI tests are painless and do not require surgery.) In addition, the doctor may send the patient to a psychologist or psychiatrist to test reasoning, learning ability, memory, and attention span.

Treatment
While no treatment can reverse damage that has already been done, treatment to prevent additional strokes is very important. High blood pressure, the primary risk factor for mutli-infarct dementia, can be treated successfully. Diabetes also is a treatable risk for stroke. To prevent additional strokes, doctors may prescribe medicines to control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes. They will counsel patients about good health habits such as exercising, avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol. The patient may require a special diet.

Doctors sometimes prescribe aspirin or other drugs to prevent clots from forming in the small blood vessels. Drugs also can be prescribed to relieve restlessness or depression or to help the patient sleep better. Sometimes doctors recommend a surgery known as carotid endartectomy. This surgery is done to remove blockage in the carotid artery, the main blood vessel to the brain. Studies are under way to see how well this surgery works in treating patients with mult-infarct dementia. Some scientists are also studying drugs that increase the flow of blood to the brain.

Helping Someone with Multi-Infarct Dementia
Family members and friends can help the patient cope with mental and physical problems. They can encourage daily routines and regular social and physical activities. By talking about events and daily activities they can help reinforce mental abilities. Lists, alarm clocks, and calendars may help to remind the patient of important times and events.

For More Information:
Contact your local Mental Health Association, community mental health center, or:

National Mental Health Association
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone 703/684-7722
Fax 703/684-5968
Mental Health Resource Center
800/969-NMHA
TTY Line 800/433-5959

Alzheimer's Association
Phone: (800) 272-3900

Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center
Phone: (800) 438-4380

Eldercare Locator Service
Administration on Aging
Phone: (800) 677-1116

National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke
Phone: (301) 496-5751

(c) 2005 National Mental Health Association. All rights reserved.

Recovery

Making the Journey of Recovery
"The journey of recovery is through choice and action."

Andrea Hercha-Schmook, recovered from paranoid schizophrenia, schizoid affective disorder, and manic depression, Anchorage, Alaska

The journey of recovery is not always simple. It varies from person to person and presents many challenges. But there is more reason than ever to choose it. While everyone must find his or her own way, this brochure provides helpful tips on starting and continuing on your journey of recovery. It also offers words of hope from other people who have made or are making that journey.

Download the brochure in Adobe Acrobat format.

(c) 2005 National Mental Health Association. All rights reserved

Research

Expand your library with some must have books and resources. Check out selected National Council titles that are up to 50% off. http://nccbh.org/SERVICE/publications.htm