Depression is a Disease, Serious and Treatable

By: Peggy Cunningham, MA, NCC, LPC

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 10 adult in the United States suffers from Depression.  In the state of Missouri it is estimated that between 9.2% and 10.3% of the adult population suffers from depression.  This means that everyday in our workplaces, at the grocery store, in our neighborhood, or places of worship we see the face of depression.  Sometimes it is the elderly grandmother, sometimes it is the urban professional, other times it is the factory work, the medical technician, the high school football player or the third grade student who appears to be a book worm. The faces and lives of those suffering from depression surround us.

Supporting Those with Mental Illness is Our Responsibility

By: Mary E. Bellcock, LPC

As a manager of an Intensive Outpatient Program that serves adolescents with mental health and substance abuse issues, I have become increasingly aware of the necessity of outside support for these individuals. Equally important is the responsibility that parents and primary caregivers have in recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders, in particular adolescent depression. According to the California Adolescent Health Collaborative (californiateenhealth.org), common signs to look for include, sleep disturbances, problems with academic performance, frequent statements about feeling sad and substance abuse.

When Life No Longer Seems Precious

By: Peggy Cunningham, MA, NCC, LPC

It is estimated that over one million people die by suicide worldwide each year - 1.8% of all deaths worldwide are suicides.  Global suicide rates have increased 69% in the last 45 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the significance of suicide and has declared September 10, 2013 as World Suicide Prevention Day.  WHO estimates that for every successful suicide there are twenty additional attempts.  It is estimated that 35,000 suicides occur in the United States each year.

Mind and Body - The Dynamic Duo

By: Anne Snider, RN, BSN

According to John Lennon, the six best doctors are sunshine, water, rest, air, exercise and diet.  And certainly, this is difficult to argue with.  However, life in general can present us with enough disruption that we can find ourselves out of sync and unable to maintain the healthy lifestyle we desire.  Coping in stressful times can be very challenging.  

Investigation, Not Accusation!

By: Jason Ulanet, MSCP

Mnemonic devices can be handy when there is something new to learn. They reorient us as we get overwhelmed by the difficult task of learning and applying new concepts. Anyone who’s had to learn to read music has probably used the Every-Good-Boy-Deserves-Fudge schema, which tells you which notes go on which lines of sheet music. Countless spelling errors have been avoided simply by repeating this familiar rhyme: “I before ‘e’, except after ‘c’”. Acronyms frequently are relied upon to remember sets of rules, concepts, or just long, clumsy names for laws (see: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act = HIPAA).

When I work with couples or families who are trying to learn how to improve their communication patterns, I use this rhyme as a mnemonic device: Investigation, Not Accusation!

Substance Abuse Among Teens

By: Doug Hall, RN, BSN, Nurse Director - Adolescent Unit

Not surprisingly, there are some adolescents that are at a higher risk for chemical dependency then others. These at-risk teens tend share several common characteristics. They are often children of substance abusers, adolescents with mental health issues, depressed or suicidal teens, or victims of physical, psychological or sexual abuse. Cultural or social norms can also influence teens to experiment and/or overuse drugs and alcohol.

Substance abuse treatment programs most commonly vary based on their length of stay.  Many inpatient programs are long term to help manage treatment and help with the detoxification process. Long term treatment programs typically provide group meetings, psychosocial support systems and drug free supervision with tests. Family support is absolutely key to the success of a patient that is struggling with a chemical dependency. Outpatient programs also feature groups, friend/family support and individual psychotherapy.

“I’m Too Busy!”

By: Anne Snider, RN, BSN

Nurse Manager, Partial Hospital Program

Many of us have a tendency to put our own needs on hold.  We may think that, “oh, this will pass” or “I just don’t have time to be sick”.  We all face demands, be they with work or school or family.  Unfortunately, left unattended, our difficulties often times mount instead of pass.  But, we all know that we can’t be for others what we would like until we are healthy for ourselves. 

Why Counseling?

Sometimes people come to see me, or they end up at the mental health facility, and wonder why they’re there.   It’s a common problem that people have, and it boils down to one question:
Why counseling?
Or more importantly,
Why would I need counseling?
First, I would like to say that one of the most common statements I hear from people that wonder if they made the right choice is:  “I was worried it looked bad/spoke ill of me if I went to counseling.”

You wonder what it says about you if you see a psychiatrist or counselor, and should friends/family/work find out. You encounter comments and sideways looks that make you question yourself.  It happens, and frankly, people can be insensitive to say the least.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek help.

Top 5 Elderly Mental Health Concerns - Do Services Meet the Needs?

Rosanne Parks, BSN, MSN, Director SAGE Unit
Managed by Research Psychiatric Center

Since our SAGE Geri-Psychiatric unit deals mainly with those who are 55 years of age or older, I often do research looking for more creative ways to evaluate and engage our patients.  During one such search, I came across an article that discussed the top five mental health issues for the elderly. 

After thinking about this article and how it accurately reflects the patients that we see daily, I once again came to the conclusion that I've reached before - public/private services for the elderly mentally ill simply can not keep pace with the need. Given the increased number of seniors, the limited resources available to educate families and treat their loved ones (especially in rural areas like ours at SAGE) I'm afraid that too many aging dementia and Alzheimer's patient will continue to suffer needlessly.

The top five elderly mental health issues are:

Depression, Alzheimer's disease, Dementia, Anxiety, Suicide

Our Journey To Excellence: MQA, Baldrige and Beyond

Richard F. Failla, CEO

By: Richard F. Failla, CEO

Baldrige Performance Excellence Program

In January of 2009, Research Psychiatric Center implemented the Baldrige Framework for Performance Excellence, including a five-year plan for overall hospital improvement. The goal is this: demonstrate measurable improvement across all metrics through the Baldrige program.

What is the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program?

The Baldrige program is a strategically developed set of questions which focus on the critical aspects of management and help guide an organization toward success and sustainability. There are seven categories:

1. Leadership
2. Strategic Planning
3. Customer Focus
4. Measurement, Analysis and Knowledge Management
5. Workforce Focus
6. Operations
7. Results

People Fear That Which They Don’t Understand

By: Peggy Cunningham, MA, NCC, LPC

Director of Therapeutic Services

Mental illness surrounds us every day.  It lives beside us in our friends, family, co-workers, and the people we pass on the street.  Often there are no visible signs that a problem exists and we just greet the person and go about our daily lives.  On the other hand, sometimes we see that person on the street corner carrying on a conversation with a person whose not really there and wonder what is going on.  Another time we see someone walking down the street when it is 108 degrees with a stocking hat on and do not understand the hat keeps the voices away.  On another occasion a family comes home to find their home in chaos.  One member of the family reports that while others were away aliens invaded their home and a war was waged.  There are stories of being able to read people’s minds, television and radio frequencies that carry special messages to certain people and strange communication skills.  There are discussions of hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and thought broadcasting that we avoid and don’t understand.

Elderly, Depression and the Loss of Pets

By: Patty Putnam, R.N., B.S.N., Director, Senior Adult Unit

RPC's Senior Adult Unit admits many patients who suffer from severe depression as a result of life changing events or losses, often seemingly beyond their control. One loss that is frequently overlooked by both family and physicians is the loss of a special pet. The loss of a beloved pet could be due to the death of the pet or due to the patient having to leave their home and transfer to a long-term care facility where pets aren’t allowed. In many cases, the loss of a pet can be an extraordinary pain for an elderly person. This is especially true for the elderly who have already lost many family members, friends, as well as their spouse. In some cases the pet may have been the last significant 'personal' attachment they had in the world.

The loss of a pet in these cases needs to be treated more seriously. Counselors and other care givers must be alert to the potentially dramatic negative response that can occur following the loss of a beloved animal. Without the relationship and bond that comes from having something or someone to care for, as is often the case with pets and their owners regardless of their age, seniors become susceptible to falling into depression and may lose the will to live. If the elderly person is healthy enough, a new pet or hobby should be sought after. 

We have witnessed the loss of a beloved animal be the last straw, the final blow to a senior's emotional and physical well being. Those who are alert to this often overlooked risk can help reduce the negative impact on the individual and lessen the potential for depression and sense of loss that may follow.

Bruce Springsteen Blues: Musicians ‘Self-Medicating’ Through Their Performances

Stephen M. Jolly, Director, Business Development

Courtesy of yahoo.com

A profile of Bruce Springsteen in the latest New Yorker magazine reveales how the world-renowned rock star has battled depression for most of his life, to the point of considering suicide on several occasions. It should hardly be surprising that many musicians (and other kinds of artists, for that matter) use the stage as a means to purge themselves of the loneliness or the feelings of inadequacy (the “paralyzing depression” in Springsteen’s case) that many of them may feel, despite their rock-god status.

Springsteen goes on in the article about how he wrestles with and expresses his difficult relationship with his father. “My parents’ struggles, it’s [sic] the subject of my life,” Springsteen says. “It’s the thing that eats at me and always will.”

“Summertime and the Living is Easy”

By: Sherry Montgomery, LSCSW, LCSW

Summertime and the living is easy, right?  According to Kelly Sanders, an expert contributor to “Child and Adolescent Issues”, not for the more than 66% of women who work full time jobs and are still responsible for making sure their children are cared for, safe and provided with summer activities to enjoy.

Historically, women have been and continue to be the primary caretakers of their children.  During summer the stressors increase, kids out of school, daycare problems, heat, and a tendency to feel overwhelmed.

The 3 P’s (Patience, Persistence, Perseverance)

By: David Robbins, LPC

A lot of people come to Research Psychiatric Center or to my office with an expectation of getting an immediate fix for their problems.  It’s understandable, especially in our society, but decidedly so when you’re feeling intense depression, anxiety, or whatever symptom or stress you are under.  We humans seek pleasure, and avoid pain.  No one wants to feel the pain.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic pill to make things instantly better when it comes to mental and emotional health and wellbeing.  Patients frequently ask me to give them some simple things to keep in mind that apply to all situations, and so I always give them “The 3 P’s”

The More You Know, the More You Grow

By: Cynthia Benbow, MSW, Manager Case Management

“Weak minded,” “troubled spirit,” “crazy talk” are common words used in the African American community to describe someone living with a mental illness.   Despite progress made in the last decade with regard to understanding mental illness, the African American Community continues to lag behind in seeking services for mental health treatment.

According to Dr.  Sarah Vinson, Department of Psychiatry at Emory University, 

“Misinformation, an absence of trust in the system, racism and financial circumstances are some of the forces that can create barriers in making appropriate decisions about seeking treatment,”

Kids Do Well If They Can!

By: Doug Hall, RN, BSN, Nurse Director Adolescent Unit

Often we look at troubled children thinking there is nothing we can do to help them succeed in life. Most blame centers on poor parenting or the environment in which they grew up. In some cases that is true, but what about the child that grew up in a nurturing, loving household that demonstrates these same behavioral issues? All children learn life skills at different intervals in their lives, but what happens to the child that falls behind on these skills. Ineffective life skills lead to frustration, acting out behaviors and a negative mindset, which often causes the child to do poorly in their daily routine of life.

New Generics Now Available!

By: Lisa Conrad, R.Ph, Pharmacy Director

Psychiatric illness can be expensive to treat.  Without insurance, patients can spend thousands of dollars per month on prescriptions alone.  Both the psychiatric health care industry and patients alike have been awaiting the arrival of generic medications with the excitement of a 6 year old at Christmas.  In recent months, Lexapro®, Zyprexa®, Geodon®, Seroquel® and Ritalin LA® have become manufactured as generic.  This is very exciting as these medications treat depression, psychosis and ADHD and have had retail sales of BILLIONS per year.

The Faces of Autism

Peggy Cunningham NCC, LPC, Director of Therapeutic Service

  

There’s a young man I know that people would describe as a little odd, a bit of a loner, and unusual.  He is now completing high school and recently took and scored well on his ACT test.  He has struggled with some subjects, but has found a way to succeed.  He can spend hours alone doodling, playing video games, and thinking.  He has an excellent singing voice and loves acting.  He isn’t the fastest man on the planet but participates in both cross country and track.

Bringing Your Best Game

By Sherry Montgomery, LSCSW, LCSW

A couple of months ago a patient arrived for a scheduled assessment to participate in our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program.  He was a young man who had a history of more than 1 DUI and was living in a detention facility.  Clearly he was not interested in treatment.  He reported being in three previous treatment programs and needed to meet requirements to get probation.

April 2012, Alcohol Awareness Month

Peggy Cunningham, NCC, LPC, Director of Therapeutic Services

Having a beer after mowing the lawn or at a barbeque, having a few drinks at a family gathering, or having a glass of wine with dinner seems like a natural thing but for many people alcohol is not an occasional pleasure a main focal point of their life.  Drinking to much alcohol can lead to health problems, including alcohol poisoning, hangovers, and an increased risk of heart disease.  April is ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH.

Mood Disorders & Proper Nutrition

By: Charles Fiske, Director of Food & Nutrition

Research suggests Omega-3 Fatty Acids can help mild to major depression and possibly even Schizophrenia. Long recognized for their heart-health benefits, omega-3 fatty acids are emerging as an effective therapy for mood disorders ranging from major depression and postpartum depression to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

 Research shows that the depression rates have risen as our Omega-3 intake have fallen over the past 50 years.  Experts believe that increasing the intake of Omega-3 will help depression as long as the individual doesn’t have a genetic predisposition for mood disorders.

The Affects of College Stress on a Student’s Mental Health and What to Do About It

By: Linda C. Silva

I would like to share these alarming statistics with you:

“According to the American College Health Association (ACHA)…suicide is the second most common cause of death among college students…and 1 in 12 college students has actually made a suicide plan at some point…” ¹

For many students all around the world college = stress! The stress may be caused from constant feelings of being overwhelmed, intense pressure to get good grades, financial restraints and nights with little or no sleep. Speaking from personal experience, my number one stress was keeping my GPA high enough to keep my scholarship as well as to be a competitive candidate for grad school while working a full-time job. There was just so much pressure to perform well.

Postpartum Depression – Local Resources Support Those Suffering from the ‘Baby Blues’

By: Steve Jolly, Director Business Development

Women in the Kansas City area suffering from Postpartum Depression (PPD), a form of clinical depression, have a resource available to them which was founded by a local woman who suffered herself from PPD following the birth of her child. The Pregnancy and Postpartum Resource Center (PPRC), founded by Meeka Centimano, is a non-profit organization that provides confidential phone support, information on area support groups for both mothers and fathers experiencing postpartum adjustment difficulties, as well as providing support to professionals who may contact PPRC for information and resources about mood and anxiety disorders in the pregnancy and postpartum periods.

Kudos to the Adolescent Unit!

By: Peggy Cunningham, NCC, LPC

For the month of February the adolescent unit had an overall mean score of 89.4 on the Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.  This score ranks them at the 91% for all free standing psychiatric hospitals.  This 91% make this unit a WORLD CLASS UNIT.  Although this unit has fewer beds than any other unit in the hospital they had 46 surveys returned which ties the number of surveys returned from any other unit.

Performance Excellence in Psychiatric Care

By: Richard Failla, CEO

What does achieving excellence in psychiatric care mean to a patient who ends up at Research Psychiatric Center because they are so depressed that they want to end their life? What does it mean to a frail elderly patient who is experiencing such profound dementia that they don’t recognize family members? How about the adolescent patient who is suffering from her first psychotic break?

What all of these patients need is for us to keep them safe from harm. The process of performance excellence at Research Psychiatric Center means that we provide safety and treatment based on our values of compassion, attitude, respect, and the pursuit of excellence.

Depression/Bipolar Support Alliance comes to Research Psychiatric Center

By: Jason Ulanet, MSCP

For many of those suffering with Major Depression or Bipolar Disorder, the feeling that they are either incapable or not permitted to discuss their struggles openly serves as a demoralizing obstacle to progressing with treatment and recovery. This frustrating sense of isolation, of not feeling validated and understood, often deepens and lengthens their suffering. Conversely, communicating openly about painful feelings with those who will listen without judgment can bring an invaluable sense of relief and comfort.

Remembering Anna

By: Ed Plese, RN, BSN

I would like to share some thoughts about my sister-in-law Anna, who passed away last week.  Anna was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was a young adult. She struggled with the symptoms of the illness throughout her years, and at times felt overwhelmed to the point that she required hospitalization and medication adjustments. She was able to survive some of the difficult times with the support of the O.U.R. HOMES community in Lincoln NE.

Managing a chronic mental illness and living a productive life is possible with the support and understanding of mental illness by the community.  All of us have a part to play with understanding and accepting people who act differently from the “norm”.

If Our Receptionists/Switchboard Didn’t Exist, What Would Happen to Our Organization?

By: Peggy Tyson, SPHR, Human Resources Director

Have you ever wondered what PBX stands for?  PBX may refer to any one of the following:

      - Polymer-bonded explosive

      - Pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox

      - Private branch exchange, a telephone exchange that services a particular business or office

That led to more questions, but I think #3 tells me the answer I was seeking – Private Branch Exchange

The term PBX was first applied when Switchboard Operators ran company switchboards by hand. As automated electromechanical and then electronic switching systems gradually began to replace the manual systems, the terms PABX (private automatic branch exchange) and PMBX (private manual branch exchange) were used to differentiate them. Now, the term PBX is by far the most widely recognized. The acronym is now applied to all types of complex, in-house telephony switching systems.

2012 - A Great Year!

By: Peggy Tyson, SPHR, Human Resources Director

For 2012, I’ve adopted a quote from Louise Hay's daily calendar. The page reads:

"I choose to make the rest of my life the best of my life."
I’ve hung this page in my office where I'll see it every day.
Doesn't it sound like the perfect guiding principle for a New Year?
Decide, right now, to make the rest of your life, the best of your life.

With this principle in mind, consider these questions:
What new opportunities would you like to pursue in 2012?
What exciting changes are you ready to make?
Who will help make the journey fun and inspiring?
What one, helpful habit are you willing to develop to support your efforts?

Aging: Where Are We Going?

 By: Richard Failla, CEO

There are a great many 'Baby Boomers' who will turn 65 this year. For those of us who grew up with the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Woodstock, and Vietnam Nam, what now? What's the next developmental stage? Will we as the poet Dylan Thomas said 'go gentle into that good night', or will we storm and rage at the sight?

Carl Jung, the Psychoanalyst, suggested a stage of development that pointed toward spiritual development. When the body no longer helps focus on the physical achievements of life it is time to focus on our spiritual selves. Erick Erickson spoke of Generativity versus Stagnation. Generativity is motivated by us passing on to our younger colleagues all that we have learned from our years of contributions to our families and our careers. The final stage for Erickson is how we resolve Ego Integrity versus despair. It's in this stage that we accept who we are and where we are in life.

New Year’s Resolutions, the Stages of Change and Moving Towards Healthier Behavior

By: Jason Ulanet, MSCP

New Year's has always served as a convenient deadline for initiating behavioral change; "I'll begin changing as soon as the calendar changes" is the underlying message of all New Year's resolutions. The first steps on the path leading away from longstanding unhealthy habits are often intimidating and confusing, leaving us discouraged and demoralized. As a result these resolutions wind up either partially or completely broken and change does not occur. Becoming familiar with the Stages of Change model can help clarify why some efforts to change are successful and others are not.