Types of mental health care

Global Courant

In recent years we have become aware of the different needs that people with mental health problems need to achieve common well-being. We often talk about the importance of medication, individual guidance, family guidance and socialization.

All of those are extremely important when it comes to mental health, but the one service that seems to be forgotten is care management. Many people attribute care management services to individuals who are aging or have chronic medical conditions. While care management can be very helpful for those issues, we also see a huge need for intensive care management for people with chronic mental illness who do not have access to services. It’s no secret that serious and persistent mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression can require intensive care and advocacy.

Like a refresher course, the duties of a mental health manager include:

• Act as a connector between individual and community resources
• Advocating on behalf of the individual so that he or she can access the quality services needed
• Overseeing the care of an individual, including medication management, doctor appointments, therapy, psychiatric services, and anything else related to their care
• Connecting the client’s family with support services such as individual, family or group counseling
• Be an advocate if hospitalization is required to ensure the safety of the client and their family members
• Facilitate access to needed benefits
• Helping the individual navigate all the different services so it doesn’t get overwhelming for them
• crisis intervention
• Relieve family members from any stress related to the care and well-being of their loved one
• Coordination for advanced planning for the individual
• Connect individual to social services and programs
• Any service the person needs, the care manager will connect that.

As mental health professionals, we see that families with loved ones living with mental illness often want an immediate and immediate “fix” for their family member. It is important for them to keep in mind that a mental illness is much like a physical illness that needs constant care. This is not to say that you cannot live a “normal” life with a mental illness, but extra care is needed. In addition, as family members, it is important to remember that you also play a vital role in the recovery of your loved one. The more involved you are, the more likely your loved one will recover.

It is of great value if a care manager is involved in the care of your loved one with a mental illness. A care manager will initially make a full initial assessment of your loved one’s needs and wants and explore what services can add value to their lives. They will examine and assess your family member’s physical, psychological, social, and emotional well-being for potential gaps that need to be filled. For example, your relative may have schizophrenia and have been in and out of the hospital while not adhering to medication. Once this happens, we know that your loved ones have probably had many psychotic episodes that have led to severe impairment in functioning. Therefore. he or she may need home care services to assist with activities of daily living. However, every case is different, some more serious than others.

Another common case of care management is that your adult child has recently been diagnosed with a mental illness and you as parents/relatives don’t even know where to start. In such cases, the care manager intervenes and coordinates all initial care. When this happens we often see a sense of relief in our family members as they will often say “I don’t even know how I would have started this process without you”. A care manager is also a huge support system for the individual as they now know they have an advocate overseeing their needs and wants.

It’s important to remember that living with a mental illness or having a family member with a mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. In addition, the diagnosis of a mental illness does not mean that the person’s life is over, as many people mistakenly believe. We have worked with many individuals and their families in dealing with diagnoses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and many others. The beginning of the process usually consists of what we like to call growing pains full of discomfort. It is important to note that many of our clients with this diagnosis live normal lives, but are able to do so because they have gained access to community resources. A very important step is accepting the presence of this new diagnosis and what it may mean. Another important step is to realize that you may need help from psychiatric and/or home care services. It is important to act as early as possible, as early intervention can lead to the best results.

Types of mental health care

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