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”.