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Please, do make sure you'll have your Framework out :)

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Please, do make sure you'll have your Framework out :)

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Depressive Type

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Overview

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health disorder that is marked by a combination of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, and mood disorder symptoms, such as depression or mania.

The two types of schizoaffective disorder - both of which include some symptoms of schizophrenia - are:

Bipolar type, which includes episodes of mania and sometimes major depression

Depressive type, which includes only major depressive episodes

Schizoaffective disorder may run a unique course in each affected person.

Untreated schizoaffective disorder may lead to problems functioning at work, at school and in social situations, causing loneliness and trouble holding down a job or attending school. People with schizoaffective disorder may need assistance and support with daily functioning. Treatment can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

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Symptoms

Schizoaffective disorder symptoms may vary from person to person. People with the condition experience psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, as well as symptoms of a mood disorder - either bipolar type (episodes of mania and sometimes depression) or depressive type (episodes of depression).

Although the development and course of schizoaffective disorder may vary, defining features include a major mood episode (depressed or manic mood) and at least a two-week period of psychotic symptoms when a major mood episode is not present.

Signs and symptoms of schizoaffective disorder depend on the type - bipolar or depressive type - and may include, among others:

Delusions - having false, fixed beliefs, despite evidence to the contrary

Hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things that aren't there

Impaired communication and speech, such as being incoherent

Bizarre or unusual behavior

Symptoms of depression, such as feeling empty, sad or worthless

Periods of manic mood, with an increase in energy and a decreased need for sleep over several days, and behaviors that are out of character

Impaired occupational, academic and social functioning

Problems with managing personal care, including cleanliness and physical appearance

When to see a doctor

If you think someone you know may have schizoaffective disorder symptoms, talk to that person about your concerns. Although you can't force someone to seek professional help, you can offer encouragement and support and help find a qualified doctor or mental health professional.

If your loved one can't provide his or her own food, clothing or shelter, or if the safety of your loved one or others is a concern, you may need to call 911 or other emergency responders for help so that your loved one can be evaluated by a mental health professional.

Suicidal thoughts or behavior

Talk of suicide or suicidal behavior may occur in someone with schizoaffective disorder. If you have a loved one who is in danger of attempting suicide or has made a suicide attempt, make sure someone stays with that person. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Or, if you can do so safely, take the person to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Causes

The exact causes of schizoaffective disorder are still being investigated, but genetics are likely a factor.

Risk factors

Factors that increase the risk of developing schizoaffective disorder include:

Having a close blood relative - such as a parent or sibling - who has schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

Stressful events that may trigger symptoms

Taking mind-altering drugs, which may worsen symptoms when an underlying disorder is present

Complications

People with schizoaffective disorder are at an increased risk of:

Suicide, suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts

Social isolation

Family and interpersonal conflicts

Unemployment

Anxiety disorders

Alcohol or other substance use problems

Significant health problems

Poverty and homelessness

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Schizoaffective disorder - Symptoms and causes

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Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health disorder that is marked by a combination of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, and mood disorder symptoms, such as depression or mania.

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Watch till 3:44
As you watch, think about barriers in occupation he may face. What roles or habits are affected?

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My Struggle with Schizoaffective Disorder

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For comparison case #2

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Long-term methamphetamine abuse has many negative consequences, including addiction. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use and accompanied by functional and molecular changes in the brain.

As is the case with many drugs, tolerance to methamphetamine's pleasurable effects develops when it is taken repeatedly. Abusers often need to take higher doses of the drug, take it more frequently, or change how they take it in an effort to get the desired effect. Chronic methamphetamine abusers may develop difficulty feeling any pleasure other than that provided by the drug, fueling further abuse. Withdrawal from methamphetamine occurs when a chronic abuser stops taking the drug; symptoms of withdrawal include depression, anxiety, fatigue, and an intense craving for the drug.

In addition to being addicted to methamphetamine, people who use methamphetamine long term may exhibit symptoms that can include significant anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, and violent behavior. They also may display a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects creeping under the skin). Psychotic symptoms can sometimes last for months or years after a person has quit using methamphetamine, and stress has been shown to precipitate spontaneous recurrence of methamphetamine psychosis in people who use methamphetamine and have previously experienced psychosis.

These and other problems reflect significant changes in the brain caused by misuse of methamphetamine. Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated alterations in the activity of the dopamine system that are associated with reduced motor speed and impaired verbal learning. Studies in chronic methamphetamine users have also revealed severe structural and functional changes in areas of the brain associated with emotion and memory, which may account for many of the emotional and cognitive problems observed in these individuals.

Research in primate models has found that methamphetamine alters brain structures involved in decision-making and impairs the ability to suppress habitual behaviors that have become useless or counterproductive. The two effects were correlated, suggesting that the structural change underlies the decline in mental flexibility. These changes in brain structure and function could explain why methamphetamine addiction is so hard to treat and has a significant chance of relapse early in treatment.

Recovery of Brain Dopamine Transporters in Chronic Methamphetamine (METH) Users
Methamphetamine misuse greatly reduces the binding of dopamine to dopamine transporters (highlighted in red and green) in the striatum, a brain area important in memory and movement. With prolonged abstinence, dopamine transporters in this area can be restored.

Methamphetamine misuse also has been shown to have negative effects on non-neural brain cells called microglia. These cells support brain health by defending the brain against infectious agents and removing damaged neurons. Too much activity of the microglial cells, however, can assault healthy neurons. A study using brain imaging found more than double the levels of microglial cells in people who previously misused methamphetamine compared to people with no history of methamphetamine misuse, which could explain some of the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine.

Some of the neurobiological effects of chronic methamphetamine misuse appear to be, at least, partially reversible. In the study just mentioned, abstinence from methamphetamine resulted in less excess microglial activation over time, and users who had remained methamphetamine-free for 2 years exhibited microglial activation levels similar to the study's control subjects. A similar study found that while biochemical markers for nerve damage and viability persist in the brain through 6 months of abstinence from methamphetamine, those markers return to normal after a year or more without taking the drug. Another neuroimaging study showed neuronal recovery in some brain regions following prolonged abstinence (14 but not 6 months). This recovery was associated with improved performance on motor and verbal memory tests. Function in other brain regions did not recover even after 14 months of abstinence, indicating that some methamphetamine-induced changes are very long lasting. Methamphetamine use can also increase one's risk of stroke, which can cause irreversible damage to the brain. A recent study even showed higher incidence of Parkinson's disease among past users of methamphetamine.

In addition to the neurological and behavioral consequences of methamphetamine misuse, long-term users also suffer physical effects, including weight loss, severe tooth decay and tooth loss ("meth mouth"), and skin sores. The dental problems may be caused by a combination of poor nutrition and dental hygiene as well as dry mouth and teeth grinding caused by the drug. Skin sores are the result of picking and scratching the skin to get rid of insects imagined to be crawling under it.

Long-term effects may include:

addiction

psychosis, including:

paranoia

hallucinations

repetitive motor activity

changes in brain structure and function

deficits in thinking and motor skills

increased distractibility

memory loss

aggressive or violent behavior

mood disturbances

severe dental problems

weight loss

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What are the long-term effects of methamphetamine misuse? | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Long-term methamphetamine abuse has many negative consequences, including addiction. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use and accompanied by functional and molecular changes in the brain. As is the case with many drugs, tolerance to methamphetamine's pleasurable effects develops when it is taken repeatedly.

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Knowing the difference between positive and negative symptoms is important so you can understand how it affects a clients occupational performance.

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Overview

Alcohol use disorder is a pattern of alcohol use that involves problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol or continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems. This disorder also involves having to drink more to get the same effect or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking. Alcohol use disorder includes a level of drinking that's sometimes called alcoholism.

Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems. It also includes binge drinking - a pattern of drinking where a male has five or more drinks within two hours or a female has at least four drinks within two hours. Binge drinking causes significant health and safety risks.

If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. It can range from mild to severe. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.

Symptoms

Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate or severe, based on the number of symptoms you experience. Signs and symptoms may include:

Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink

Wanting to cut down on how much you drink or making unsuccessful attempts to do so

Spending a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol or recovering from alcohol use

Feeling a strong craving or urge to drink alcohol

Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home due to repeated alcohol use

Continuing to drink alcohol even though you know it's causing physical, social, work or relationship problems

Giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies to use alcohol

Using alcohol in situations where it's not safe, such as when driving or swimming

Developing a tolerance to alcohol so you need more to feel its effect or you have a reduced effect from the same amount

Experiencing withdrawal symptoms - such as nausea, sweating and shaking - when you don't drink, or drinking to avoid these symptoms

Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal.

Alcohol intoxication results as the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream increases. The higher the blood alcohol concentration is, the more likely you are to have bad effects. Alcohol intoxication causes behavior problems and mental changes. These may include inappropriate behavior, unstable moods, poor judgment, slurred speech, problems with attention or memory, and poor coordination. You can also have periods called "blackouts," where you don't remember events. Very high blood alcohol levels can lead to coma, permanent brain damage or even death.

Alcohol withdrawal can occur when alcohol use has been heavy and prolonged and is then stopped or greatly reduced. It can occur within several hours to 4 to 5 days later. Signs and symptoms include sweating, rapid heartbeat, hand tremors, problems sleeping, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations, restlessness and agitation, anxiety, and occasionally seizures. Symptoms can be severe enough to impair your ability to function at work or in social situations.

What is considered 1 drink?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines one standard drink as any one of these:

12 ounces (355 milliliters) of regular beer (about 5% alcohol)

8 to 9 ounces (237 to 266 milliliters) of malt liquor (about 7% alcohol)

5 ounces (148 milliliters) of wine (about 12% alcohol)

1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) of hard liquor or distilled spirits (about 40% alcohol)

When to see a doctor

If you feel that you sometimes drink too much alcohol, or your drinking is causing problems, or if your family is concerned about your drinking, talk with your health care provider. Other ways to get help include talking with a mental health professional or seeking help from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar type of self-help group.

Because denial is common, you may feel like you don't have a problem with drinking. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use. Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help. Consider talking with someone who has had a problem with drinking but has stopped.

If your loved one needs help

Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don't recognize that they have a problem. An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help. If you're concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person.

Causes

Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior. Theories suggest that for certain people drinking has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder.

Over time, drinking too much alcohol may change the normal function of the areas of your brain associated with the experience of pleasure, judgment and the ability to exercise control over your behavior. This may result in craving alcohol to try to restore good feelings or reduce negative ones.

Risk factors

Alcohol use may begin in the teens, but alcohol use disorder occurs more frequently in the 20s and 30s, though it can start at any age.

Risk factors for alcohol use disorder include:

Steady drinking over time. Drinking too much on a regular basis for an extended period or binge drinking on a regular basis can lead to alcohol-related problems or alcohol use disorder.

Starting at an early age. People who begin drinking - especially binge drinking - at an early age are at a higher risk of alcohol use disorder.

Family history. The risk of alcohol use disorder is higher for people who have a parent or other close relative who has problems with alcohol. This may be influenced by genetic factors.

Depression and other mental health problems. It's common for people with a mental health disorder such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder to have problems with alcohol or other substances.

History of trauma. People with a history of emotional trauma or other trauma are at increased risk of alcohol use disorder.

Having bariatric surgery. Some research studies indicate that having bariatric surgery may increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorder or of relapsing after recovering from alcohol use disorder.

Social and cultural factors. Having friends or a close partner who drinks regularly could increase your risk of alcohol use disorder. The glamorous way that drinking is sometimes portrayed in the media also may send the message that it's OK to drink too much. For young people, the influence of parents, peers and other role models can impact risk.

Complications

Alcohol depresses your central nervous system. In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy. But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions.

Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain. A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death. This is of particular concern when you're taking certain medications that also depress the brain's function.

Impact on your safety

Excessive drinking can reduce your judgment skills and lower inhibitions, leading to poor choices and dangerous situations or behaviors, including:

Motor vehicle accidents and other types of accidental injury, such as drowning

Relationship problems

Poor performance at work or school

Increased likelihood of committing violent crimes or being the victim of a crime

Legal problems or problems with employment or finances

Problems with other substance use

Engaging in risky, unprotected sex, or experiencing sexual abuse or date rape

Increased risk of attempted or completed suicide

Impact on your health

Drinking too much alcohol on a single occasion or over time can cause health problems, including:

Liver disease. Heavy drinking can cause increased fat in the liver (hepatic steatosis) and inflammation of the liver (alcoholic hepatitis). Over time, heavy drinking can cause irreversible destruction and scarring of liver tissue (cirrhosis).

Digestive problems. Heavy drinking can result in inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), as well as stomach and esophageal ulcers. It can also interfere with your body's ability to get enough B vitamins and other nutrients. Heavy drinking can damage your pancreas or lead to inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

Heart problems. Excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure and increases your risk of an enlarged heart, heart failure or stroke. Even a single binge can cause serious irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia) called atrial fibrillation.

Diabetes complications. Alcohol interferes with the release of glucose from your liver and can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This is dangerous if you have diabetes and are already taking insulin or some other diabetes medications to lower your blood sugar level.

Issues with sexual function and periods. Heavy drinking can cause men to have difficulty maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction). In women, heavy drinking can interrupt menstrual periods.

Eye problems. Over time, heavy drinking can cause involuntary rapid eye movement (nystagmus) as well as weakness and paralysis of your eye muscles due to a deficiency of vitamin B-1 (thiamin). A thiamin deficiency can result in other brain changes, such as irreversible dementia, if not promptly treated.

Birth defects. Alcohol use during pregnancy may cause miscarriage. It may also cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). FASDs can cause a child to be born with physical and developmental problems that last a lifetime.

Bone damage. Alcohol may interfere with making new bone. Bone loss can lead to thinning bones (osteoporosis) and an increased risk of fractures. Alcohol can also damage bone marrow, which makes blood cells. This can cause a low platelet count, which may result in bruising and bleeding.

Neurological complications. Excessive drinking can affect your nervous system, causing numbness and pain in your hands and feet, disordered thinking, dementia, and short-term memory loss.

Weakened immune system. Excessive alcohol use can make it harder for your body to resist disease, increasing your risk of various illnesses, especially pneumonia.

Increased risk of cancer. Long-term, excessive alcohol use has been linked to a higher risk of many cancers, including mouth, throat, liver, esophagus, colon and breast cancers. Even moderate drinking can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Medication and alcohol interactions. Some medications interact with alcohol, increasing its toxic effects. Drinking while taking these medications can either increase or decrease their effectiveness, or make them dangerous.

Prevention

Early intervention can prevent alcohol-related problems in teens. If you have a teenager, be alert to signs and symptoms that may indicate a problem with alcohol:

Loss of interest in activities and hobbies and in personal appearance

Red eyes, slurred speech, problems with coordination and memory lapses

Difficulties or changes in relationships with friends, such as joining a new crowd

Declining grades and problems in school

Frequent mood changes and defensive behavior

You can help prevent teenage alcohol use:

Set a good example with your own alcohol use.

Talk openly with your child, spend quality time together and become actively involved in your child's life.

Let your child know what behavior you expect - and what the consequences will be for not following the rules.

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Alcohol use disorder - Symptoms and causes

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Unhealthy alcohol use ranges from mild to severe, including alcoholism and binge drinking, putting health and safety at risk. Early treatment is important.

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This learning disorder involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words.

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Overview

Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Adult ADHD can lead to unstable relationships, poor work or school performance, low self-esteem, and other problems.

Though it's called adult ADHD, symptoms start in early childhood and continue into adulthood. In some cases, ADHD is not recognized or diagnosed until the person is an adult. Adult ADHD symptoms may not be as clear as ADHD symptoms in children. In adults, hyperactivity may decrease, but struggles with impulsiveness, restlessness and difficulty paying attention may continue.

Treatment for adult ADHD is similar to treatment for childhood ADHD. Adult ADHD treatment includes medications, psychological counseling (psychotherapy) and treatment for any mental health conditions that occur along with ADHD.

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Symptoms

Some people with ADHD have fewer symptoms as they age, but some adults continue to have major symptoms that interfere with daily functioning. In adults, the main features of ADHD may include difficulty paying attention, impulsiveness and restlessness. Symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Many adults with ADHD aren't aware they have it - they just know that everyday tasks can be a challenge. Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to focus and prioritize, leading to missed deadlines and forgotten meetings or social plans. The inability to control impulses can range from impatience waiting in line or driving in traffic to mood swings and outbursts of anger.

Adult ADHD symptoms may include:

Impulsiveness

Disorganization and problems prioritizing

Poor time management skills

Problems focusing on a task

Trouble multitasking

Excessive activity or restlessness

Poor planning

Low frustration tolerance

Frequent mood swings

Problems following through and completing tasks

Hot temper

Trouble coping with stress

What's typical behavior and what's ADHD?

Almost everyone has some symptoms similar to ADHD at some point in their lives. If your difficulties are recent or occurred only occasionally in the past, you probably don't have ADHD. ADHD is diagnosed only when symptoms are severe enough to cause ongoing problems in more than one area of your life. These persistent and disruptive symptoms can be traced back to early childhood.

Diagnosis of ADHD in adults can be difficult because certain ADHD symptoms are similar to those caused by other conditions, such as anxiety or mood disorders. And many adults with ADHD also have at least one other mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety.

When to see a doctor

If any of the symptoms listed above continually disrupt your life, talk to your doctor about whether you might have ADHD.

Different types of health care professionals may diagnose and supervise treatment for ADHD. Seek a provider who has training and experience in caring for adults with ADHD.

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Causes

While the exact cause of ADHD is not clear, research efforts continue. Factors that may be involved in the development of ADHD include:

Genetics. ADHD can run in families, and studies indicate that genes may play a role.

Environment. Certain environmental factors also may increase risk, such as lead exposure as a child.

Problems during development. Problems with the central nervous system at key moments in development may play a role.

Risk factors

Risk of ADHD may increase if:

You have blood relatives, such as a parent or sibling, with ADHD or another mental health disorder

Your mother smoked, drank alcohol or used drugs during pregnancy

As a child, you were exposed to environmental toxins - such as lead, found mainly in paint and pipes in older buildings

You were born prematurely

Complications

ADHD can make life difficult for you. ADHD has been linked to:

Poor school or work performance

Unemployment

Financial problems

Trouble with the law

Alcohol or other substance misuse

Frequent car accidents or other accidents

Unstable relationships

Poor physical and mental health

Poor self-image

Suicide attempts

Coexisting conditions

Although ADHD doesn't cause other psychological or developmental problems, other disorders often occur along with ADHD and make treatment more challenging. These include:

Mood disorders. Many adults with ADHD also have depression, bipolar disorder or another mood disorder. While mood problems aren't necessarily due directly to ADHD, a repeated pattern of failures and frustrations due to ADHD can worsen depression.

Anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders occur fairly often in adults with ADHD. Anxiety disorders may cause overwhelming worry, nervousness and other symptoms. Anxiety can be made worse by the challenges and setbacks caused by ADHD.

Other psychiatric disorders. Adults with ADHD are at increased risk of other psychiatric disorders, such as personality disorders, intermittent explosive disorder and substance use disorders.

Learning disabilities. Adults with ADHD may score lower on academic testing than would be expected for their age, intelligence and education. Learning disabilities can include problems with understanding and communicating.

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Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - Symptoms and causes

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This mental health disorder includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.

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Remember WRAP? Think about how it would benefit an individual diagnosed with a mental illness.

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The Wellness Recovery Action Plan ® or WRAP ®, is a self-designed prevention and wellness process that anyone can use to get well, stay well and make their life the way they want it to be. It was developed in 1997 by a group of people who were searching for ways to overcome their own mental health issues and move on to fulfilling their life dreams and goals. It is now used extensively by people in all kinds of circumstances, and by health care and mental health systems all over the world to address all kinds of physical, mental health and life issues.

WRAP has been studied extensively in rigorous research projects and is listed in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices.

WRAP Will Help You:

Discover your own simple, safe wellness tools

Develop a list of things to do every day to stay as well as possible

Identify upsetting events, early warning signs and signs that things have gotten much worse and, using wellness tools, develop action plans for responding at these times

Create a crisis plan

Create a post-crisis plan

WRAP is for anyone, any time. It will support you in being the way you want to be and doing the things you want to do.

"When the group developed WRAP, I was so impressed that I went home and wrote one for myself. As I began to live WRAP, my life changed dramatically. Over time I felt better and better and better. WRAP is a way of life for me-a great life."
- Mary Ellen Copeland, PhD, author of the original Wellness Recovery Action Plan

Overview

Wellness Toolbox - A list of resources used to develop your WRAP. It includes things like: contacting friends and supporters, peer counseling, focusing exercises, relaxation and stress reduction techniques, journaling, affirming activities, exercise, diet, light, and getting a good night's sleep. See examples of wellness tools

Daily Plan - Describe yourself when you are well, and list things you need to do every day to maintain wellness.

Stressors - External events or circumstances that, if they happen, may make you feel uncomfortable. These are normal reactions, but if we don't deal with them in some way, they may actually cause us to feel worse.
Audio clip, Mary Ellen on Stressors (formerly referred to as triggers): https://mentalhealthrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Triggers-snippet.mp3
Early Warning Signs - Internal, subtle signs that let you know you are beginning to feel worse. Reviewing Early Warning Signs regularly helps us to become more aware of them and allow us to take action before they worsen.

When Things are Breaking Down - List signs that let you know you are feeling much worse, like feeling sad all the time, or are hearing voices. Using your Wellness Toolbox, develop a powerful action plan to help you feel better as quickly as possible and prevent an even more difficult time.

Crisis Plan - Identify signs that let others know they need to take over responsibility for your care and decision making. Outline a plan for who you want to take over and support you through this time, healthcare, staying home, things others can do to help and things they might choose to do that would not be helpful. This kind of proactive advanced planning keeps you in control even when it seems like things are out of control. Visit the WRAP Info Center's Crisis Planning Page.
Click Here to Download a Crisis Plan Click Here to Download a Post Crisis Plan
Post-Crisis Plan - You may want to think about this part of the plan in advance and write some things to do post crisis. However, you may want to write most of it as you are beginning to recover from the crisis-when you have a clearer picture of what you need to do for yourself to get well. If you have just been through a crisis, let your Post Crisis Plan guide you as you heal.

Key Recovery Concepts

Five key recovery concepts provide the foundation of effective recovery work.

Hope - People who experience mental health difficulties get well, stay well and go on to meet their life dreams and goals.

Personal Responsibility - It's up to you, with the assistance of others, to take action and do what needs to be done to keep yourself well.

Education - Learning all you can about what you are experiencing so you can make good decisions about all aspects of you life.

Self Advocacy - Effectively reaching out to others so that you can get what it is that you need, want and deserve to support your wellness and recovery.

Support - While working toward your wellness is up to you, receiving support from others, and giving support to others will help you feel better and enhance the quality of your life.

For more information about WRAP and related topics, visit the WRAP Info Center.

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The Wellness Recovery Action Plan ® or WRAP ®, is a self-designed prevention and wellness process that anyone can use to get well, stay well and make their life the way they want it to be.

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Many people assume occupational therapists work in hospitals and nursing facilities along with many other healthcare professionals who physically rehabilitate patients. However, occupational therapists are also found in any setting where psychiatric patients are seen. Mental health occupational therapists work in a variety of outpatient and supported living settings. One of the most common psychiatric settings where these practitioners are found is mental health units in hospitals.

While any job as an occupational therapist brings a fair amount of variety, this is especially true for a mental health occupational therapist.

The day of a mental health occupational therapist typically starts by attending a morning meeting. Doctors, nurses, counselors, social workers, and therapists review each patient on the unit. This allows each professional to collectively share a patient's therapeutic progress, interpersonal relations, medical status, psychiatric status, and other pertinent changes to their condition. These changes may include incidents such as self-harm, violence, or altercations which may have occurred since the last working day. Professionals will also share updates regarding discharge and a review of newly admitted patients. This gives each professional the information they need before starting the day and beginning patient interactions.

The next step is patient chart reviews, which provide a detailed look at the progress and status of each patient. This also allows the therapist to check in with the goals on each patient's treatment plan and receive a snapshot of their condition to inform note-taking and daily interactions.

Once the therapist is up-to-date, they can begin patient treatments. The main goal of a mental health occupational therapist is to assist the rest of the healthcare team in stabilizing a patient's mood and behaviors. The main way in which mental health occupational therapists do this is through group therapy sessions.

Patient populations change over time with discharges and new patient admissions. Thus, the content covered in these groups also changes to meet these needs. This is where a mental health occupational therapist most uses their clinical reasoning, judgment, and adaptive thinking skills.

Educational group therapy sessions focus on a variety of recovery and wellness-based topics including:

Life skills

Coping strategies

Relaxation and stress reduction skills

Emotional regulation such as anger management

Symptom management

Medication management

Communication skills

Disease education

These groups are typically small. Small groups allow a therapist to spend time ensuring that each patient is participating and understanding the content being reviewed.

In addition to educational group therapy sessions, occupational therapists may hold activity-based groups. Activity-based groups provide subtle ways to address areas such as communication, emotional regulation, behavior management, and life skills. These groups may directly focus on purposeful leisure including crafts, yoga, exercise, gardening, reading, and writing. They may also address employment by practicing job simulations and skills-based tasks.

Group therapy is often followed by and supplemented with individual therapy sessions. While individual sessions are more common for psychologists or licensed mental health counselors for the purposes of direct counseling, there are instances where a mental health occupational therapist will use individual sessions to achieve a patient's goals.

These are needed if a patient is behaviorally unable to attend group therapy sessions for the safety of other patients. Individual sessions may also be a necessity due to a medical condition with isolation or contact precautions which prevent a patient from being in any group environment. Individual sessions often work best for benefit patients who need more focused work on life skills or job simulations. Occupational therapists in this setting may also practice activities of daily living (ADLs) with patients who also experience physical impairments due to a medical condition.

In such instances, a mental health occupational therapist must develop a plan specifically for those individual sessions. Typically, the occupational therapist creates this plan along with other documentation at the end of the work day.

Documentation includes daily notes describing patient participation in group and/or individual sessions and progress notes indicating patient improvement or incidents preventing goal achievement. Occupational therapists also write lengthier evaluation and discharge notes to discuss goals specific to patient needs and behavioral presentation.

Another important piece of documentation mental health occupational therapists may spend time developing is a group proposal. The occupational therapist drafts a group proposal prior to beginning a new group. The proposal requests required supplies and space to complete the group sessions along with detailing the objectives of the group, number of patients, and skills to address.

Documentation in mental health settings is not as detailed or structured as occupational therapy documentation in other settings such as nursing facilities and home health care. This allows for more freedom to add pertinent notes to documents as they occur and to incorporate therapeutic progress in any document as the therapist sees fit.

Mental health settings are where the field of occupational therapy began. However, this is just one of the places where occupational therapists work to improve the function of their patients. Most mental health settings house patients who have a range of diagnoses, presenting problems, and co-occurring medical problems which can make a mental health occupational therapist's day both exciting and rewarding while allowing for ample experience in the field.

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A Day in the Life of a Mental Health Occupational Therapist * Student Doctor Network

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Many people assume occupational therapists work in hospitals and nursing facilities along with many other healthcare professionals who physically rehabilitate patients. However, occupational therapists are also found in any setting where psychiatric patients are seen. Mental health occupational therapists work in a variety of outpatient and supported living settings.