Mental Illness in the Community

What is the scope of mental illness?

• Psychiatric disorders are the LEADING cause of disabilities worldwide.

• Top disorders causing disabilities:

  • Depression

  • Schizophrenia

  • Bipolar disorder

  • Alcohol use disorders

Who are the high risk members of our population?

• Unemployed

• Lack of housing (homeless)

• Poverty

• Even though persons with chronic mental illness are eligible to receive supplemental security income (SSI), it is difficult for them to find affordable housing.

What to know about psychological first aid (PFA)?

• Goals:

  • Promote safety

  • Stabilize disaster survivors

  • Connect people with resources

• Purpose: Assess immediate concerns and needs of an individual following the disaster and provide ‘on site’ therapy.

• Might last from a few days to months.

What is the challenge for public health nurses?

• How best to intervene to minimize psychological harms when an entire community or a population has been traumatized.

  • PFA is designed to be delivered by disaster relief workers, including nurses who are often on the front lines of a disaster in a variety of community-based settings.

What are the de-escalation techniques?

• Nonphysical interventions to manage violence and aggression in mental health. These techniques include interacting with the person who is in crisis and offering the person choices in a difficult situation

• Top 10 De-Escalation Tips for Healthcare Professionals

  • Be empathetic and nonjudgmental

  • Respect personal space

  • Allow time for decisions

  • Use nonthreatening nonverbals

  • Set limits

  • Focus on feelings

  • Ignore challenging questions

  • Avoid overreacting

  • Choose what you insist upon wisely

  • Allow silence for reflection