There are many other things to consider when talking about mental illness:

• Mental illness can affect anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or background
• Mental illness is not caused by poor decisions or bad habits
• Mental illness affects a person’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, much like heart disease or diabetes
• The stigma associated with mental illness is one of the biggest barriers to recovery; if we want to be a truly healthy society, we need to break the stigma and treat mental illness like any other medical condition

People with mental illness can recover or manage their conditions and go on to lead happy, healthy and productive lives. Oftentimes, they can benefit from medication, rehabilitation, psychotherapy, group therapy, self-help, or a combination of these treatment options.

Therefore, if you have a friend or loved one with mental illness, or if you have a mental illness yourself, keep in mind that RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE.

Information provided by What a Difference a Friend Makes, an initiative launched by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Because the symptoms a person with dual diagnosis has are identified in two parts, it’s sometimes common for one diagnosis to be missed; the symptoms associated with any major psychiatric disorder, such as schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder or personality disorder are often identified first, while the issues associated with abuse of alcohol and other drugs are identified last.

Symptoms of Dual Diagnosis

• Significant impairment or distress resulting from substance abuse
• Failure to fulfill roles at work, home or school
• Persistent substance abuse in physically hazardous situations
• Continued substance abuse despite relationship or financial problems

Drug and/or alcohol abuse may or may not involve physiological dependence or tolerance.  The symptoms that do indicate dependency or addiction are as follows:

• Compulsion and preoccupation with obtaining a drug or drugs
• Loss of control over use
• Continued use despite negative consequences
• Tendency for relapse after period of abstinence
• Drug induced behavior (aggression, irritability, changes in thinking or mood)
• Increased tolerance and withdrawal

Oftentimes, a person with dual diagnosis experiences more severe and chronic medical, social and emotional problems than if they were to have just one diagnosis. They’re more susceptible not only to alcohol and/or drug relapse but also a relapse of their mental health problems.

The evidence that people with mental health illness are more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs, or that those who abuse alcohol and other drugs are more likely to develop some form of mental health illness, indicates that the causes of psychiatric illness and drug and alcohol abuse are complex. This conclusion is best outlined in the statements below:

• Drug use can cause psychiatric symptoms and mimic psychiatric syndromes
• Drug use can initiate or worsen a psychiatric disorder
• Drug use can mask psychiatric symptoms and syndromes
• Drug withdrawal can cause psychiatric symptoms and mimic psychiatric disorders
• Psychiatric behaviors can mimic drug use problems
• Drug and alcohol abuse can make side effects from medication worse and more likely to occur

Treatment Options at Rose Hill

The term dual diagnosis is also used to refer to people with both a mental health illness and an intellectual disability. At Rose Hill, treatment options for those with a primary diagnosis of mental illness include a range of medication and both cognitive and behavioral programs, such as the Residential Rehabilitation Program, which is designed to help patients struggling with mental illness regain psychiatric stability. The program is built around a multi-stage format that allows staff and patient to work together to create and then follow a customized treatment plan. Based on this plan, patients may participate in one or more of the therapy options offered at Rose Hill, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

DBT is a therapeutic methodology that is used primarily to treat patients with borderline personality disorder, although it can be applied to other types of psychiatric conditions. DBT combines behavioral techniques, cognitive therapy and acceptance to provide skills which help a patient regulate their emotions, tolerate stress and have meaningful interpersonal relationships.

Other therapy options include:  Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, Group Therapy, and Individual Mental Health Counseling.

Treatment for people with dual diagnosis may be more effective if the two diagnoses are treated at the same time as the two are often related.  It has been recommended that during treatment administration, both conditions be regarded as primary without one being seen as the cause of the other.

In our residential setting we can focus the time and attention on finding the most effective treatment options for each individual so they can learn to manage their symptoms, achieve their highest level of independence and go on to lead rewarding lives.

Information provided by the Mental Health Association NSW, Inc.

Various factors either contribute to or challenge our ability to look after ourselves, some of which include:   how aware we are of our thoughts and/or feelings, how well we know ourselves, the nature of our home/work environment, financial situation, and the current state of our relationship with important people in our lives.

If you’re constantly feeling exhausted, swamped with work and responsibilities, or emotionally flat and uninterested in the world around you, your mental health may be suffering.

Information provided by the Mental Health Association NSW, Inc.

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When speaking about mental illness, oftentimes people wonder if it has been passed down in their family.  Though some mental illnesses may be wholly or partially inherited, a person may inherit a gene but not experience the symptoms, or they may not inherit that particular gene even though a parent or grandparent did carry it. Some mental illnesses are caused by biological changes that aren’t genetic, while others are often the result of drugs, difficult life circumstances and stress.  Environmental factors such as excessive stress and substance abuse can play a part by altering the brain’s chemistry, and an individual’s personality can also influence the way they react to life events.

Overall, mental illness seems to be caused by a combination of factors that are unique to each person.

Information provided by the Mental Health Association NSW, Inc. (http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/)

Is there a cure?

Although it’s generally considered there isn’t a cure for many mental illnesses, such as chronic schizophrenia, almost all disorders can be treated. At Rose Hill Center, patients get the insights, medications and coping skills they need to manage their illness.  In addition, by combining medication review and management with intensive therapeutic residential rehabilitation and a continuum of care options, Rose Hill gives patients the tools they need to regain and maintain psychiatric stability.

Information provided by the Mental Health Association NSW, Inc. (http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/)

• Total withdrawal from family, friends and colleagues
• Fear of leaving home; refusing to go to school
• Significant changes in eating and/or sleeping patterns
• Extreme changes in mood variation
• Deteriorating performance at work or school
• Hearing voices or seeing things that no one else can hear or see
• Believing their thoughts are being interfered with by someone or something external
• Spending extravagant/unrealistic amounts of money or talking about unrealistic business/investment ideas
• Believing people are plotting against them
• Believing they have special powers or thinking they are famous or religious political figures

How can Rose Hill help?

If you think your loved one may have a mental illness, it’s important for them to seek help.  Rose Hill Center, a mental health center in Holly, MI, offers extended residential rehabilitation along with therapy programs designed to help adults with mental illness regain control of their lives.  Rose Hill’s residential setting allows staff to focus time and attention on finding the most effective medication and dosage for each individual. By combining pharmacological treatment with an intense therapeutic rehabilitation program, Rose Hill is able to assist individuals in achieving and maintaining psychiatric stability and their highest level of independence.

If you are interested in pursuing treatment at Rose Hill Center, or if you have questions about the program, please visit the Admission Process page or contact us toll-free at (866) 504-2259.

Information provided by the Mental Health Association NSW, Inc. (http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/)

On Veterans Day, as a nation, we must commit to doing more to address these mental health issues. That will be the true measure of honoring the men and women who deserve our thanks for their service.

Symptoms of Depression
The symptoms and the severity of feelings of depression may be different for each person, however, most people exhibit one or more of the following:

• Eating too much or too little
• Headaches, digestive disorders or nausea
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Thoughts of suicide or feelings of wanting to escape from the way one is feeling
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Excessive crying
• Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, isolation, helplessness and hopelessness
• Loss of interest in daily activities, a lack of energy and/or loss of sex drive
• Restlessness, agitation and irritability
• Sleeping too much or too little

If you’re concerned that you or someone you know may be experiencing symptoms of depression, it’s important to become knowledgeable about the disease and seek out the best possible treatment options, such as medications, counseling, alternative therapies, and behavioral and lifestyle changes. If treatment is required, discuss the options with a mental health professional and decide on a treatment program that’s right for you.

Also, keep in mind that depression is not your fault and it can be treated and managed effectively.

Information provided by the Mental Health Association NSW, Inc. (http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/)

A study conducted in New Zealand concluded that people who had episodes of psychiatric disorder between the ages of 18 and 25 were, by the age of 30, less likely to be in full-time employment, were earning less money, and had a lower standard of living than people who had not experienced a mental health illness. 

In another study of 950 people, participants at age 21 and 25 were asked whether they suffered from symptoms of a mental health illness, including depression, anxiety disorder, phobias, and drug or alcohol misuse; they were also asked about their employment, income and educational achievements.  The researchers of the study found that psychiatric disorders during young adulthood were common, with half of the participants experiencing at least one psychiatric disorder (depression, anxiety disorder or substance dependence) between the ages of 18 and 25.  Of these, over half experienced two or more episodes of illness. 

After controlling for other factors, the researchers found those who had experienced a psychiatric disorder were significantly less likely to be in paid employment, were more likely to be working part-time, were more likely to be receiving welfare, and were earning less money than those who had not experienced any psychiatric disorder. The effects were most significant among people who had experienced more than one episode.  For example, people who had experienced four or more episodes of illness between the ages of 18 and 25 were four times more likely to be welfare-dependent than those who had experienced no episodes.

 “Our study reveals that psychiatric disorder during young adulthood is common, and is predictive of a range of negative life outcomes including reduced participation in the workforce, lower income, and a lower standard of living,” said Dr. Gibb, a doctor involved in the study. “This suggests a need for further improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric illness, in order to reduce these negative outcomes,” she added.

The doctor also said the study concluded that those people most at risk of negative outcomes are not those who experience any specific type of psychiatric disorder, but rather those people who experience more than one episode or period of illness.  Therefore, there is a need to develop targeted interventions to help people who experience repeated episodes of a mental health illness.

Information provided by Mental Illness Fellowship of Queensland October 2010 Newsletter