1 / 15

Working with Mental Illness in an Emergency Shelter

Learn about the classifications and symptoms of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. Understand the worker's role in providing support and resources for individuals with these conditions.

mitchellvasquez
Download Presentation

Working with Mental Illness in an Emergency Shelter

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Working with Mental Illness in an Emergency Shelter Presented by LaTonya Murray

  2. What is Mental Illness? • Biologically-based brain disorders • Responsive to medical treatment • Symptoms can come and go • Often difficult to diagnose and treat correctly

  3. Classifications • Psychotic Disorders (Schizophrenia) • Mood Disorders (Depression, Bipolar Disorder) • Anxiety Disorders (PTSD) • Personality Disorders (Antisocial) • Substance Abuse Disorders (Alcohol Dependence)

  4. Schizophrenia • Symptoms • Hallucinations: Auditory (hearing voices) are the most common • Delusions: Fixed false beliefs (i.e., paranoia or grandiosity) • Hallucinations and delusions are VERY real to the person experiencing them and this is often reflected in behavior.

  5. Schizophrenia • Symptoms (cont’d) • Disorganized Speech • Poverty of Speech • Disorganized Behavior • Abnormal Emotions • Social Withdrawal • Cognitive Problems: Concentration, Attention, Problem Solving, Abstraction, Motivation

  6. Worker’s Role • Accept that the psychotic beliefs are real • Provide support with concrete needs • Empathize with feelings • Exhibit patience with disorganized behaviors • May have to separate to decrease anxiety

  7. Major Depression Symptoms must last 2 weeks (often lasting longer) • Symptoms: • Sadness and/or inability to experience pleasure • Change in weight • Change in sleep

  8. Major Depression • Symptoms (cont’d) • Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt • Lessened ability to think or concentrate • Indecisiveness • Hopelessness • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

  9. Worker’s Role • Alert appropriate staff, if available • Suicide prevention • Don’t try to “cheer up” • Concrete direction and encouragement • Offer support and realistic hope

  10. Bi-Polar Disorder • Symptoms: • Fluctuation between mania and depression • Worker’s Role: • Depends on where person is in cycle

  11. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder • A cluster of symptoms that develop as a response to extreme trauma • Examples of Traumas: • Sexual and Physical Abuse • Domestic Violence • Homelessness • Death of a Loved One • Natural Disaster

  12. PTSD • Symptoms: • Nightmares • Flashbacks • Extreme Anxiety • Feelings of Detachment • Outbursts of Anger • Hypervigilance

  13. Worker’s Role • Alert appropriate staff, if available • Listen with empathy, but do not “dig” • Do not minimize feelings • Understand that trauma survivors may seek ways to feel in control-including blaming others • Seek support

  14. Resources • ADAMHS Board • 216.241.3400 • www.adamhscc.org • Mobile Crisis Team (MHS, Inc.) • Available 24/7 • 216.623.6888 • www.mhs-inc.org

  15. Q & A

More Related