Dec 5: Jesus Healed the Sick and So Can You

I work in the mental health profession.  I work at a hospital, but not directly with clients.  I work at a call center.  Many of the suggested tasks I have already done; however I have decided to tell others about advances in mental health treatment by sharing a post in my health blog.

Health As I See It: Jeffrey R. Holland Speaks of Compassion and Mental Illness

Jeffrey R. Holland's talk from conference Saturday on mental illness and suicide is classic.  To me it justifies my career selection.  It had me in tears.
http://bcove.me/z72c8hkc
Elder Holland talks about the stigma, and points out there should be no shame in these illnesses, just as there should be no shame for diabetes or other illnesses.
His advice for one we ourselves or loved ones have problems:  Never loss faith in your Father in Heaven.  Quoting President Monson, "God's love is there whether or not you deserve it."  Follow time-tested devotionals in your life, seek priesthood counseling, ask for and cherish priesthood blessings, take the sacrament every week, believe in miracles, watch for the stress indicators in yourself and in others you may be able to help, get medical care, don't assume you can fix everything but fix what you can and finally be patient.
He concludes with the emotional play, "Whatever ever your struggles, do not vote against the preciousness of life by ending it.  Trust in God, hold on in his love.  Know that one day the dawn will break brightly."  Then he says while God works making repairs, "the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental and kind."
I encourage you to listen to his remarks. 

Book Rieview: Dynamic Health: Dual Diagnosis

David Wright interviewed Dr. David Mee-Lee about dual diagnosis services.  This is treatment for people with co-occurring substance us and mental health problems.  Dr. Mee-Lee consults with Santa Clara County departments of Alcohol and Drugs as well as Mental Health.  As such I have had the opportunity to attend his trainings as well as sit in consultation of cases with him.  He is a pioneer of motivation interviewing, and he works with the call center on being able to figure out what people would like to get from mental health.  “You start at the door they open and where they let you in rather than telling them they have to work on a problem they don’t think they have.  Work on what they’re there for and from that point move to how their substance use and their mental health problems have been shooting themselves in the foot, preventing them from getting what they really want. 

This article is best when it talks about rehabilitation of mental health and substance abuse problems.  “Recover doesn’t necessarily mean they’re cured when you’re talking about a chronic illness—no more than if somebody with diabetes  or hypertension or asthma. … A person suffering from a mental illness as well as a substance problem won’t be able to be cured in the sense that they will never have a mental health problem or substance problem again.  They can recover, meaning they can live beyond just the fact that they have alcoholism or a mental illness.  They can have goals and aspirations and be empowered to have hope to change their life in terms of their relationships, in terms of productivity in the community, and reaching their dreams and aspirations. … Recover really means stabilizing their mental health and substance problem, but then living and growing to have an identity beyond just their illness.”

Dr. Mee-Lee concludes with advice for family and community.  The first is to realize that mental illness is not unusual.  There is “nothing bizarre or weird about…having substance problems or mental health issues.  The second point he makes is that there is help for mental illness.  Getting treatment sooner rather than later leads to a better result. 

Book Review: Youth Mental Health First Aid USA for Adults Assisting Young People

C 2012 Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Missouri Department of Mental Health and National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.
This book was given to me as part of a training presentation by the same name.  This training is geared towards nonprofessional people, and provides assistance so they can offer help to their family members, friends, community members or others.  It compares this program to first Aid for a physical problem.  First Aid aims to preserve life, prevent further harm, promote recovery and resiliency and provide comfort.  Mental Health First Aid is geared to promote life when a person may be a danger to themselves or others, prevent the problem from becoming worse, promote recovery, provide comfort and support and help to identify or guide a person to appropriate resources and supports.  It does this through the “Youth Mental Health first Aid Action Plan.”  This plan includes five steps which spell out ALGEE.  1) Assess for risk of suicide or harm; 2) Listen nonjudgmentally; 3) Give reassurance and information; 4) Encourage appropriate professional help; 5) Encourage self-help and other support strategies. 
It includes a section on adolescence and young adulthood, and distinguishing these transitional steps which are part of normal development from mental health issues.  It then has a very large section on different mental health issues, and how to apply this model.  These include: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis, substance use and attention and disruptive behavior problems. 
It concludes with a how-to handle certain situations.  This includes suicidal thoughts, self injury, panic attacks, trauma, acute psychosis, aggressive behavior and emergencies from alcohol or drug abuse.
This workbook is a tremendous resource.  However, I would advise taking the course so as to have some practice in the techniques before trying them.

Book Review: Experiencing Grief (Journeying Through Grief)

I found this book at the library in the used book section.  20c for a book is my kind of book.  This is book two of a four part series: Journeying Through Grief.  (Buying used you don't always get the whole set.)  It is suggested for three months after a loss.  It is written by Kenneth C. Haugk of Stephen Ministries.
I think the most significant thing this book says is "you cannot not grieve."  By this the author is saying that we can put on a happy face, but grief is grief, and we cannot just whisk it away, it will have its day.  The book quotes Therese Rando, "There is no way around the pain that you naturally feel when someone you love dies."  You can't go over it, under it, or around it. ... Going through it is what will help heal you."  The Bible says, "Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Mathew 5:4
Another concept I found interesting was that of firsts.  After a loss, there are many firsts without are loved one.  Holidays and special events become a part of this.  Each in and of it self is a hard time and a reexperiencing of the loss. 
In Isaiah we read of how the Lord can help us through these times:
1...I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee...  (Isaiah 43)

The Book of Mormon echos this:  17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.  (1 Nephi 11)

Another concept from the pamphlet is that of secondary looses.  We not only loss a love one, we loss what ever else that person may have been in our life, financial support, listening ear, etc etc.

This pamphlet suggests going through the emotions; it hurts.  A good cry, or many good cries are ok as we deal with this loss.  The pamphlet conclude with; Is it Christian to grieve?  One might also ask, knowing all we do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Is it Mormon to grieve?  I think the answe  r is a resounded yes.  We can have faith, and still feel pain and loss.  "Jesus wept."  (John 11:35)  Many times we too as mortals need to cry, need to grieve.

HOPE

I was attending a mental health conference five years ago when this quote was presented:

There is no medicine like hope,
No incentive so great
And no tonic so powerful
As expectation of something tomorrow.
Orison Swett Marden