Discovering Mental Health
The son who vanished ... 2
“On
a
September
evening
almost nine years ago, Susan and Jay
Bigelow called 911,
then sat down to dinner in their Toronto home,
waiting
for the police to come and take away
the
stranger
dining-room
table
at
the
who
was
once their son.� -Erin Anderssen (Globe and Mail, 2008)
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The son who vanished . . . For 19 years, they had raised a cheerful, outgoing boy named Jesse Bigelow, who had lots of friends, was chased by girls and sang in a rock band called, in an odd foreshadowing, Mental Distortion. Jay had coached his hockey teams and travelled with him to soccer tournaments. Jesse wasn't the perfect kid: He threw more tantrums than his older sister, Melissa, had. His marks were mediocre. And his parents knew that he smoked pot with his friends. But he was a typical, loud, athletic boy and, even as a teenager, he welcomed a hug from his mom. Then, slowly, helplessly, they watched Jesse Bigelow vanish, as surely as if he had been kidnapped. They didn't recognize the shaggy, bearded intruder who now lay like a zombie in the bedroom upstairs and ranted at them about God.
several psychologists who offered help. Even then, it had taken one appointment after another and many hours at night composing an affidavit to get this far. Now, sitting at the table, they worried whether their son would ever forgive them for making the call. When they watched the police snap handcuffs on his wrists and guide his head into the back of the cruiser, they had no idea whether they had saved him or condemned him. What follows is told in their own words, reconstructed from interviews held on several occasions with different family members. It is the story of the beginning and of the end: How schizophrenia stole Jesse Bigelow away and how he managed, with luck and love, to find his way home again.
In less than a year, it had come to this - a police car in their driveway, the fear of a struggle. They weren't without resources. Jay is a successful architect and Susan, a lawyer, knew her way around the system. They were friends with To continue reading go to: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/the-son-who-vanished/article44657/
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What is mental health? •Mental Health is an integral part of our overall health and is essential part of our daily lives. •Things that influence our social, physical, spiritual, economic and mental •If individuals are unable to maintain a healthy balance between all these aspects then they become unable to reach their full potentials and participate in daily life
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Mental Health... Mental Illness Mental Illness is an alteration in a person’s thinking, mood, behavior or a combination of all three related to distress and/or impaired functioning. 1 in 5 Canadians under the age of 65 are affected by mental health issues or know someone who is affected. That’s about 300, 000 Canadians at any given time. Factors that influence mental health wellness include:
Family, friend and social support network
Gender (mental health illnesses are twice as common in women than in men)
Traumatic experiences in life
25% of serious physical health conditions will develop major depressive disorder along with other conditions
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Mental Health Disorders: A disorder is an alternate behaviour , thinking or mood that is related to distress, disability, or increased risk for death. Disorders are modifiable, there are many methods and opportunities for individuals to improve and cope with their conditions. Certain diagnoses such as down syndrome, and mental retardation are not included in this category because people living with these conditions cannot change it, however, they can learn to modify their lifestyles to adapt in various ways according to their abilities.
Most common types of mental health disorder people living with mental health disorder also have co-existing substance abuse
4%
have schizophrenia
20%
12%
major depression
anxiety disorder
8% 1%
moderate to severe gambling problem
A high percentage of people living with mental health disorders (and illnesses) are typically experiencing addictions. Substance abuse are common methods of coping with the mental health imbalances and becomes more difficult to withdraw from over longer periods of usage.
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A learning tool Disclaimer: In the next couple of pages, you will find a modified mini mental health assessment tool that can be used to understand how health care professionals assess their patient’s/client’s mental health status. Please be advised that this tool is not official and is not intended for diagnosis. This tool was created to educate and promote awareness for mental health issues. It can be used as a tool of reflection in situations where you strongly feel there may be difficult to detect issues within a person involving mental health.
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Please use with caution and proceed to th e n ext pa g e. . .
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Step 1: After your meeting with an individual, focus on how the individual behaved and the responses that you've experienced with this person; was he/she acting in an unusual way compared to their typical interactions? Is the individual living through a traumatic experience and seems unable to cope? Before proceeding, please consider the duration of the problem presented. If symptoms have an “on-and-off ” occurrence, or if the problem is continuous and remains for many weeks, you should consider the person to seek professional help. Or if you’re unsure, you may consider using this tool to help identify the problem and suggest possible resources for community support.
Step 2: Familiarize with the rating scale. The scale will provides a more standardize system when assessing a person. A descriptions for each category is provided to give the user a better understanding of what a typically mental stable person would present. Keep in mind of the person’s other underlying conditions that may also affect their appearance and behaviour. For example, a person who is recovering from stroke may have slow speech and weak limbs. In such cases, if you feel the person is performing at their best then a score of 3 (or 4 )would be sufficient. A comment section is provided below for you to express other thoughts, or to justify scores given.
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Modified Mental Health Assessment Tool Rating scale: 1
2
3
4
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Please use this ranking system to provide a score that best suits the person related to the factors below:
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Step 3: Thought process and self-perception may be a little difficult to measure so try to focus on how, or the way the person responded during conversations. For example, a person has just recently (two week) experienced a death of a close family member and states they have accepted the reality of death, but feels lost and incapable of doing the things that he was originally able to do. He is also having some troubles sleeping and has loss of appetite. The score for this person’s “Screening this thoughts” would be a 4 because they he recognizes and understands the situation. The score for perception would be between 1-2 because he is losing confidence in himself, he is perceiving his unable to do things anymore. The score for “coping” given in this situation would be a 2 because he is having some difficulties adapting to the situation however, it is not extreme and still manageable.
Step 4: Now, add up all the scores you have given and follow the “Score Chart” on the bottom right to determine the next best step you can take in responding to the situation.
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Modified Mental Health Assessment Tool
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Step 5: If the total score falls in the category of 22 and under then you may proceed to the reference chart to the right and look at the situation in greater detail. Follow the instruction from left to right to proceed with the assessment. There are a number of symptoms listed under each corresponding category of mental illnesses that are commonly encountered. Check off the box beside the symptoms that best describes the person you wish to assess, if there is a greater number of boxes checked off under a specific category, then you may suggest community resources that help people cope with that specific type of condition.
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Reference Chart
Community Resources
The following are possible sources to suggest to those who may be in need of support for mental health imbalances. Click the logo below the descriptions to visit their websites.
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Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Al-Anon is an organization that provides support for individuals, friends and family of alcohol abuse, providing support programs for individuals of all ages to attend. www.al-anon.alateen.org
email: wso@al-anon.org
1-888-425-2666
Withdrawal Management Center TEGH (Toronto East General Hospital) Withdrawal Management center focuses on providing physical are for adult male with substance abuse and/or in acute state of intoxication. This agency helps individuals withdraw from harmful substances with referrals to counseling, treatment and rehabilitation programs to prevent relapse. General line: 416-461-2010
Program facilitator: 416-923-0800
Every Wednesday from 6-8pm (no appointments necessary) http://www.tegh.on.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-24-229
LOFT Community Services LOFT Community Services provides supportive housing for those experiencing abuse, abandonment, homelessness, addiction, and mental health illnesses. Their goal is to restore the residents’ dignity and spirit so they can begin to enjoy life again. 15 Toronto St. 9th floor
416-979-5496
Diana Rodrigues Sousa (housing registry worker) email: drodrigues@loftcs.org www.loftcs.org
www.tosuportivehousing.ca
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Schizophrenia Society of Ontario The Schizophrenia Society is a small community that provides programs and services for adults and youth living with schizophrenia to help cope with their conditions and experiences. They also hold many events to educate and raise awareness of this mental health illness. 130 Spadina Ave. Suite 302
416-449-6830
email: sso@schizophrenia.on.ca
www.ssoaware.com(youth)
1-800-449-6367 www.schizophrenia.on.ca
ConnexOntario This is a quick hotline to service people with drug, alcohol, mental health, and problems with gambling. Drug & Alcohol: 1.800.565.8603 Mental Health: 1.866.531.2600 Gambling:
1.888.230.3505
www.connexontario.ca
Women’s Health In Women’s Hands—Community Health Center This agency offers multidisciplinary services focusing on women ages 16 and up. Counseling is available from physical, mental health, to pregnancy health. The programs provided will provide community health education and support for all participating members. www.whiwh.com
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The g reatest wealth is health - Virgil
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References CMHA (n.d.). FAQs. Canadian Mental Health Association. Retrieved from http://www.cmha.ca/bins/ content_page.asp?cid=4-40&lang=1
CAMH (Nov 08, 2011). Mental health and addictions statistics. Center for Addiction and Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.camh.net/News_events/Key_CAMH_facts_for_media/ addictionmentalhealthstatistics.html
Health Canada (July 22, 2009). Healthy Living: Mental Health. Health Canada. Retrieved from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/mental/index-eng.php
Jacobs, P., Dewa, C., Lesage, A., Vasiliadis, H., Escober, C., Mulvale, G. & Yim, R. The cost of mental health and substance abuse in Canada. Institute of health economics. 1-42.
Jarvis, C. (2009). Physical examination & health assessment (1st Canadian Ed.). Toronto: Saunders Elsevier.
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