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Monday, January 5th 2023 - Gut Health Part II

Did you know? Your gut, or gastrointestinal (GI) tract, is a long tube that runs from your mouth all the way to you anus and is responsible for digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste.  The gut is also home to trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that make up our  gut microbiome. These microorganisms play a vital role in maintaining the health of our gut and the rest of the body. There are many factors that can affect gut health, including diet, stress, medication, and illness.  A diet high in processed, sugary, and high-fat foods can disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome and lead to digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.  Chronic stress and certain medications, such as antibiotics, can also alter the gut microbiome and contribute to digestive problems. Maintaining a healthy gut is important for overall health and well-being. Here are some tips for improving gut health: Take probiotics: Probiotics...
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Monday, November 21st 2022- Myth Busting Serious Mental Illness



There are many myths around serious mental illness (SMI) that are not accurate. 

Let’s take a look at 3 Common MYTHS  around the character of individuals who have SMI (Serious mental illness) and 3 Affirming FACT




MYTH: Individuals Who Have SMI Lack Insight About Their Conditions 


FACTS: 

Studies show that about half of people who have psychotic disorders lack insight about their illnesses to some degree. This is known as anosognosia. 

However, we know that this lack of insight is now viewed as more of a multidimensional, dynamic process. 

It is not simply a neurocognitive deficit.

The views that individuals have about their illnesses are shaped by social and cultural factors and these can and do change over time. 

Mental health professionals should see this issue as more than simply a need to educate patients about their conditions. You can best address insight through a dialogue that probes a range of factors that may affect how a person understands their condition.




MYTH: Individuals Who Have SMI Cannot and Should Not Make Decisions for Themselves


FACTS: Individuals who have SMI are far more informed than they were a few decades ago. Yet they still are often left out of decision making about their physical and mental health. 

This can cause people who have SMI to feel frustrated and undervalued by the mental health care team. They may not feel like they have adequate - if any - input into their treatment plan and targeted outcomes. 

We can do better and should do better. 

Decision-making capacity is impaired in only a subset of individuals who have SMI. This may change over time and depends on a person's emotional state. 

Clinicians have an ethical obligation to let people have a role in choices around their physical and mental health care. 

Shared decision making strengthens the therapeutic relationship and builds trust and understanding. 

All meetings between the care team and individual who have SMI should account for the two experts in the room. 

One is the clinical team. They are experts who have knowledge about treatment choices and the evidence that informs those options. 

The other is the individual. They know best their own goals, supports, and history. Together they should develop a treatment plan that represents the results of their shared decision making. 

This plan should be shared with the whole treatment team and revisited on a routine basis.




MYTH: Individuals Who Have SMI are Prone to Violence


This is a harmful myth that contributes to stigma around SMI.

It leads to a false public perception that equates criminality with SMI and other mental health conditions.

However, data do not support this perception. 

Overall, people who have SMI are much more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators. There is some risk for violence linked with schizophrenia, yet most of the excess risk for violence is linked to:

 co-occurring substance use disorders

 violence that occurs before the start of treatment 

 treatment non-adherence


2% Annual rate of violent behavior for the general population


2% Annual rate of violent behavior for individuals who have SMI and no history of violent victimization, exposure to violence, or co-occurring disorders 


25% Annual rate that people who have SMI are victims of violent crime each year


11.8x higher Likelihood for someone who has SMI to be the victim of a violent crime, compared to the general public.

See you soon & Thank You for your presence. 
JamiQuan R. MSW, QMHP
Older Adult Behavioral Health Specialist

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