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Understanding the Behavioral Healthcare Crisis is a necessary book, edited and contributed to by a great variety of authors from academia, government, and industry. The book takes a bold look at what reforms are needed in healthcare and provides specific recommendations. Some of the serious concerns about the healthcare system that Cummings, O’Donohue, and their contributors address include access problems, safety problems, costs problems, the uninsured, and problems with efficacy. When students, practitioners, researchers, and policy makers finish reading this book they will have not just a greater idea of what problems still exist in healthcare, but, more importantly, a clearer idea of how to tackle them and provide much-needed reform.
Book Synopsis Understanding the Behavioral Healthcare Crisis by : Nicholas A. Cummings
Download or read book Understanding the Behavioral Healthcare Crisis written by Nicholas A. Cummings and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012-03-29 with total page 516 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Understanding the Behavioral Healthcare Crisis is a necessary book, edited and contributed to by a great variety of authors from academia, government, and industry. The book takes a bold look at what reforms are needed in healthcare and provides specific recommendations. Some of the serious concerns about the healthcare system that Cummings, O’Donohue, and their contributors address include access problems, safety problems, costs problems, the uninsured, and problems with efficacy. When students, practitioners, researchers, and policy makers finish reading this book they will have not just a greater idea of what problems still exist in healthcare, but, more importantly, a clearer idea of how to tackle them and provide much-needed reform.
Psychological Crisis Intervention: The SAFER-R Model is designed to provide the reader with a simple set of guidelines for the provision of psychological first aid (PFA). The model of psychological first aid (PFA) for individuals presented in this volume is the SAFER-R model developed by the authors. Arguably it is the most widely used tactical model of crisis intervention in the world with roughly 1 million individuals trained in its operational and derivative guidelines. This model of PFA is not a therapy model nor a substitute for therapy. Rather it is designed to help crisis interventionists stabile and mitigate acute crisis reactions in individuals, as opposed to groups. Guidelines for triage and referrals are also provided. Before plunging into the step-by-step guidelines, a brief history and terminological framework is provided. Lastly, recommendations for addressing specific psychological challenges (suicidal ideation, resistance to seeking professional psychological support, and depression) are provided.
Book Synopsis The SAFER-R Model by : George Everly, Jr.
Download or read book The SAFER-R Model written by George Everly, Jr. and published by . This book was released on 2017-04 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Psychological Crisis Intervention: The SAFER-R Model is designed to provide the reader with a simple set of guidelines for the provision of psychological first aid (PFA). The model of psychological first aid (PFA) for individuals presented in this volume is the SAFER-R model developed by the authors. Arguably it is the most widely used tactical model of crisis intervention in the world with roughly 1 million individuals trained in its operational and derivative guidelines. This model of PFA is not a therapy model nor a substitute for therapy. Rather it is designed to help crisis interventionists stabile and mitigate acute crisis reactions in individuals, as opposed to groups. Guidelines for triage and referrals are also provided. Before plunging into the step-by-step guidelines, a brief history and terminological framework is provided. Lastly, recommendations for addressing specific psychological challenges (suicidal ideation, resistance to seeking professional psychological support, and depression) are provided.
In the devastation that follows a major disaster, there is a need for multiple sectors to unite and devote new resources to support the rebuilding of infrastructure, the provision of health and social services, the restoration of care delivery systems, and other critical recovery needs. In some cases, billions of dollars from public, private and charitable sources are invested to help communities recover. National rhetoric often characterizes these efforts as a "return to normal." But for many American communities, pre-disaster conditions are far from optimal. Large segments of the U.S. population suffer from preventable health problems, experience inequitable access to services, and rely on overburdened health systems. A return to pre-event conditions in such cases may be short-sighted given the high costs - both economic and social - of poor health. Instead, it is important to understand that the disaster recovery process offers a series of unique and valuable opportunities to improve on the status quo. Capitalizing on these opportunities can advance the long-term health, resilience, and sustainability of communities - thereby better preparing them for future challenges. Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters identifies and recommends recovery practices and novel programs most likely to impact overall community public health and contribute to resiliency for future incidents. This book makes the case that disaster recovery should be guided by a healthy community vision, where health considerations are integrated into all aspects of recovery planning before and after a disaster, and funding streams are leveraged in a coordinated manner and applied to health improvement priorities in order to meet human recovery needs and create healthy built and natural environments. The conceptual framework presented in Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters lays the groundwork to achieve this goal and provides operational guidance for multiple sectors involved in community planning and disaster recovery. Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters calls for actions at multiple levels to facilitate recovery strategies that optimize community health. With a shared healthy community vision, strategic planning that prioritizes health, and coordinated implementation, disaster recovery can result in a communities that are healthier, more livable places for current and future generations to grow and thrive - communities that are better prepared for future adversities.
Book Synopsis Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters by : Institute of Medicine
Download or read book Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2015-09-10 with total page 535 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the devastation that follows a major disaster, there is a need for multiple sectors to unite and devote new resources to support the rebuilding of infrastructure, the provision of health and social services, the restoration of care delivery systems, and other critical recovery needs. In some cases, billions of dollars from public, private and charitable sources are invested to help communities recover. National rhetoric often characterizes these efforts as a "return to normal." But for many American communities, pre-disaster conditions are far from optimal. Large segments of the U.S. population suffer from preventable health problems, experience inequitable access to services, and rely on overburdened health systems. A return to pre-event conditions in such cases may be short-sighted given the high costs - both economic and social - of poor health. Instead, it is important to understand that the disaster recovery process offers a series of unique and valuable opportunities to improve on the status quo. Capitalizing on these opportunities can advance the long-term health, resilience, and sustainability of communities - thereby better preparing them for future challenges. Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters identifies and recommends recovery practices and novel programs most likely to impact overall community public health and contribute to resiliency for future incidents. This book makes the case that disaster recovery should be guided by a healthy community vision, where health considerations are integrated into all aspects of recovery planning before and after a disaster, and funding streams are leveraged in a coordinated manner and applied to health improvement priorities in order to meet human recovery needs and create healthy built and natural environments. The conceptual framework presented in Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters lays the groundwork to achieve this goal and provides operational guidance for multiple sectors involved in community planning and disaster recovery. Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters calls for actions at multiple levels to facilitate recovery strategies that optimize community health. With a shared healthy community vision, strategic planning that prioritizes health, and coordinated implementation, disaster recovery can result in a communities that are healthier, more livable places for current and future generations to grow and thrive - communities that are better prepared for future adversities.
“There is plenty in this book to get your teeth into and help us think about how we work with people in mental health crises and how we might best make a difference.” Alan Simpson, Professor of Mental Health Nursing, Health Service and Population Research, King’s College London, UK “Any one of us could experience a mental health crisis. However, a high-quality interdisciplinary response can be lifesaving and life changing. This book is an important contribution to the literature as it has examples of good practice for all professionals – both on the frontline and in service development.” Dr Adrian James, President, Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK “This publication is a valuable and timely resource given the increasing recognition of the impact of mental health needs in a range of different professional settings.” Victoria Sweetmore, Acting Discipline Lead for Mental Health and Learning Disability Nursing, University of Derby, UK Interprofessional Perspectives of Mental Health Crisis improves the care of those experiencing a mental health-related crisis by providing insight into the roles different UK statutory services have and the need for collaborative mental health care. For those studying and working in the field of mental health crisis, this vital work will bridge your understanding by offering a cross-discipline perspective of the different services, their role in aiding service users and, the ways we can work more collaboratively together to meet the mental health needs of those requiring care. Throughout, the book: • Promotes understanding of the various roles each of the key services play within the crucial first 24-hours of a mental health crisis and the challenges they face • Fosters interprofessional collaboration to create a whole-system approach to crisis care • Helps professionals to understand good practice and the challenges of other services when aiding a person in crisis • Critically evaluates service provision and ways to improve crisis care • Explores recovery and collaboration with service users experiencing a crisis and their significant others The book is timely and essential in its promotion of high-quality interdisciplinary response and emphasis on integration and collaboration between service providers. Kris Deering is Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing and the module lead of Working with a Person Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis at UWE Bristol, UK. Including working as a senior practitioner for a mental health crisis team, Kris has over 15 years of mental health nursing experience. Jo Williams is Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at UWE Bristol, UK. Her clinical practice experience includes civilian and military nursing, supporting people living with co-existing mental health and substance misuse issues.
Book Synopsis Interprofessional Perspectives Of Mental Health Crisis: For Nurses, Health, and the Helping Professions by : Kris Deering
Download or read book Interprofessional Perspectives Of Mental Health Crisis: For Nurses, Health, and the Helping Professions written by Kris Deering and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2022-03-04 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “There is plenty in this book to get your teeth into and help us think about how we work with people in mental health crises and how we might best make a difference.” Alan Simpson, Professor of Mental Health Nursing, Health Service and Population Research, King’s College London, UK “Any one of us could experience a mental health crisis. However, a high-quality interdisciplinary response can be lifesaving and life changing. This book is an important contribution to the literature as it has examples of good practice for all professionals – both on the frontline and in service development.” Dr Adrian James, President, Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK “This publication is a valuable and timely resource given the increasing recognition of the impact of mental health needs in a range of different professional settings.” Victoria Sweetmore, Acting Discipline Lead for Mental Health and Learning Disability Nursing, University of Derby, UK Interprofessional Perspectives of Mental Health Crisis improves the care of those experiencing a mental health-related crisis by providing insight into the roles different UK statutory services have and the need for collaborative mental health care. For those studying and working in the field of mental health crisis, this vital work will bridge your understanding by offering a cross-discipline perspective of the different services, their role in aiding service users and, the ways we can work more collaboratively together to meet the mental health needs of those requiring care. Throughout, the book: • Promotes understanding of the various roles each of the key services play within the crucial first 24-hours of a mental health crisis and the challenges they face • Fosters interprofessional collaboration to create a whole-system approach to crisis care • Helps professionals to understand good practice and the challenges of other services when aiding a person in crisis • Critically evaluates service provision and ways to improve crisis care • Explores recovery and collaboration with service users experiencing a crisis and their significant others The book is timely and essential in its promotion of high-quality interdisciplinary response and emphasis on integration and collaboration between service providers. Kris Deering is Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing and the module lead of Working with a Person Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis at UWE Bristol, UK. Including working as a senior practitioner for a mental health crisis team, Kris has over 15 years of mental health nursing experience. Jo Williams is Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at UWE Bristol, UK. Her clinical practice experience includes civilian and military nursing, supporting people living with co-existing mental health and substance misuse issues.
Bringing together treatment and referral advice from existing guidelines, this text aims to improve access to services and recognition of common mental health disorders in adults and provide advice on the principles that need to be adopted to develop appropriate referral and local care pathways.
Book Synopsis Common Mental Health Disorders by : National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (Great Britain)
Download or read book Common Mental Health Disorders written by National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (Great Britain) and published by RCPsych Publications. This book was released on 2011 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bringing together treatment and referral advice from existing guidelines, this text aims to improve access to services and recognition of common mental health disorders in adults and provide advice on the principles that need to be adopted to develop appropriate referral and local care pathways.
Crisis Services are a continuum of services that are provided to individuals experiencing a psychiatric emergency. The primary goal of these services is to stabilize and improve psychological symptoms of distress and to engage individuals in an appropriate treatment service to address the problem that led to the crisis. Core crisis services include: 23-hour crisis stabilization/observation beds, short term crisis residential services and crisis stabilization, mobile crisis services, 24/7 crisis hotlines, warm lines, psychiatric advance directive statements, and peer crisis services. The research base on the effectiveness of crisis services is growing. There is evidence that crisis stabilization, community-based residential crisis care, and mobile crisis services can divert individuals from unnecessary hospitalizations and ensure the least restrictive treatment option is available to people experiencing behavioral health crises.
Book Synopsis Crisis Services:Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness, and Funding Strategies by : U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Download or read book Crisis Services:Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness, and Funding Strategies written by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2019-11-23 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Crisis Services are a continuum of services that are provided to individuals experiencing a psychiatric emergency. The primary goal of these services is to stabilize and improve psychological symptoms of distress and to engage individuals in an appropriate treatment service to address the problem that led to the crisis. Core crisis services include: 23-hour crisis stabilization/observation beds, short term crisis residential services and crisis stabilization, mobile crisis services, 24/7 crisis hotlines, warm lines, psychiatric advance directive statements, and peer crisis services. The research base on the effectiveness of crisis services is growing. There is evidence that crisis stabilization, community-based residential crisis care, and mobile crisis services can divert individuals from unnecessary hospitalizations and ensure the least restrictive treatment option is available to people experiencing behavioral health crises.
A bold, expert, and actionable map for the re-invention of America’s broken mental health care system. “Healing is truly one of the best books ever written about mental illness, and I think I’ve read them all." —Pete Earley, author of Crazy As director of the National Institute of Mental Health, Dr. Thomas Insel was giving a presentation when the father of a boy with schizophrenia yelled from the back of the room, “Our house is on fire and you’re telling me about the chemistry of the paint! What are you doing to put out the fire?” Dr. Insel knew in his heart that the answer was not nearly enough. The gargantuan American mental health industry was not healing millions who were desperately in need. He left his position atop the mental health research world to investigate all that was broken—and what a better path to mental health might look like. In the United States, we have treatments that work, but our system fails at every stage to deliver care well. Even before COVID, mental illness was claiming a life every eleven minutes by suicide. Quality of care varies widely, and much of the field lacks accountability. We focus on drug therapies for symptom reduction rather than on plans for long-term recovery. Care is often unaffordable and unavailable, particularly for those who need it most and are homeless or incarcerated. Where was the justice for the millions of Americans suffering from mental illness? Who was helping their families? But Dr. Insel also found that we do have approaches that work, both in the U.S. and globally. Mental illnesses are medical problems, but he discovers that the cures for the crisis are not just medical, but social. This path to healing, built upon what he calls the three Ps (people, place, and purpose), is more straightforward than we might imagine. Dr. Insel offers a comprehensive plan for our failing system and for families trying to discern the way forward. The fruit of a lifetime of expertise and a global quest for answers, Healing is a hopeful, actionable account and achievable vision for us all in this time of mental health crisis.
Book Synopsis Healing by : Thomas Insel, MD
Download or read book Healing written by Thomas Insel, MD and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2022-02-22 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A bold, expert, and actionable map for the re-invention of America’s broken mental health care system. “Healing is truly one of the best books ever written about mental illness, and I think I’ve read them all." —Pete Earley, author of Crazy As director of the National Institute of Mental Health, Dr. Thomas Insel was giving a presentation when the father of a boy with schizophrenia yelled from the back of the room, “Our house is on fire and you’re telling me about the chemistry of the paint! What are you doing to put out the fire?” Dr. Insel knew in his heart that the answer was not nearly enough. The gargantuan American mental health industry was not healing millions who were desperately in need. He left his position atop the mental health research world to investigate all that was broken—and what a better path to mental health might look like. In the United States, we have treatments that work, but our system fails at every stage to deliver care well. Even before COVID, mental illness was claiming a life every eleven minutes by suicide. Quality of care varies widely, and much of the field lacks accountability. We focus on drug therapies for symptom reduction rather than on plans for long-term recovery. Care is often unaffordable and unavailable, particularly for those who need it most and are homeless or incarcerated. Where was the justice for the millions of Americans suffering from mental illness? Who was helping their families? But Dr. Insel also found that we do have approaches that work, both in the U.S. and globally. Mental illnesses are medical problems, but he discovers that the cures for the crisis are not just medical, but social. This path to healing, built upon what he calls the three Ps (people, place, and purpose), is more straightforward than we might imagine. Dr. Insel offers a comprehensive plan for our failing system and for families trying to discern the way forward. The fruit of a lifetime of expertise and a global quest for answers, Healing is a hopeful, actionable account and achievable vision for us all in this time of mental health crisis.
In Within Our Reach, Rosalynn Carter and coauthors Susan K. Golant and Kathryn E. Cade render an insightful, unsparing assessment of the state of mental health. Mrs. Carter has been deeply invested in this issue since her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, campaigned for governor of Georgia, when she saw firsthand the horrific, dehumanizing treatment of people with mental illnesses. Using stories from her 35 years of advocacy to springboard into a discussion of the larger issues at hand, Carter crafts an intimate and powerful account of a subject previously shrouded in stigma and shadow, surveying the dimensions of an issue that has affected us all. She describes a system that continues to fail those in need, even though recent scientific breakthroughs with mental illness have potential to help most people lead more normal lives. Within Our Reach is a seminal, searing, and ultimately optimistic look at how far we've come since Jimmy Carter's days on the campaign trail and how far we have yet to go.
Book Synopsis Within Our Reach by : Rosalynn Carter
Download or read book Within Our Reach written by Rosalynn Carter and published by Rodale Books. This book was released on 2010-04-27 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Within Our Reach, Rosalynn Carter and coauthors Susan K. Golant and Kathryn E. Cade render an insightful, unsparing assessment of the state of mental health. Mrs. Carter has been deeply invested in this issue since her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, campaigned for governor of Georgia, when she saw firsthand the horrific, dehumanizing treatment of people with mental illnesses. Using stories from her 35 years of advocacy to springboard into a discussion of the larger issues at hand, Carter crafts an intimate and powerful account of a subject previously shrouded in stigma and shadow, surveying the dimensions of an issue that has affected us all. She describes a system that continues to fail those in need, even though recent scientific breakthroughs with mental illness have potential to help most people lead more normal lives. Within Our Reach is a seminal, searing, and ultimately optimistic look at how far we've come since Jimmy Carter's days on the campaign trail and how far we have yet to go.
Estimates indicate that as many as 1 in 4 Americans will experience a mental health problem or will misuse alcohol or drugs in their lifetimes. These disorders are among the most highly stigmatized health conditions in the United States, and they remain barriers to full participation in society in areas as basic as education, housing, and employment. Improving the lives of people with mental health and substance abuse disorders has been a priority in the United States for more than 50 years. The Community Mental Health Act of 1963 is considered a major turning point in America's efforts to improve behavioral healthcare. It ushered in an era of optimism and hope and laid the groundwork for the consumer movement and new models of recovery. The consumer movement gave voice to people with mental and substance use disorders and brought their perspectives and experience into national discussions about mental health. However over the same 50-year period, positive change in American public attitudes and beliefs about mental and substance use disorders has lagged behind these advances. Stigma is a complex social phenomenon based on a relationship between an attribute and a stereotype that assigns undesirable labels, qualities, and behaviors to a person with that attribute. Labeled individuals are then socially devalued, which leads to inequality and discrimination. This report contributes to national efforts to understand and change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that can lead to stigma and discrimination. Changing stigma in a lasting way will require coordinated efforts, which are based on the best possible evidence, supported at the national level with multiyear funding, and planned and implemented by an effective coalition of representative stakeholders. Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders: The Evidence for Stigma Change explores stigma and discrimination faced by individuals with mental or substance use disorders and recommends effective strategies for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek treatment and other supportive services. It offers a set of conclusions and recommendations about successful stigma change strategies and the research needed to inform and evaluate these efforts in the United States.
Book Synopsis Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Download or read book Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2016-09-03 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Estimates indicate that as many as 1 in 4 Americans will experience a mental health problem or will misuse alcohol or drugs in their lifetimes. These disorders are among the most highly stigmatized health conditions in the United States, and they remain barriers to full participation in society in areas as basic as education, housing, and employment. Improving the lives of people with mental health and substance abuse disorders has been a priority in the United States for more than 50 years. The Community Mental Health Act of 1963 is considered a major turning point in America's efforts to improve behavioral healthcare. It ushered in an era of optimism and hope and laid the groundwork for the consumer movement and new models of recovery. The consumer movement gave voice to people with mental and substance use disorders and brought their perspectives and experience into national discussions about mental health. However over the same 50-year period, positive change in American public attitudes and beliefs about mental and substance use disorders has lagged behind these advances. Stigma is a complex social phenomenon based on a relationship between an attribute and a stereotype that assigns undesirable labels, qualities, and behaviors to a person with that attribute. Labeled individuals are then socially devalued, which leads to inequality and discrimination. This report contributes to national efforts to understand and change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that can lead to stigma and discrimination. Changing stigma in a lasting way will require coordinated efforts, which are based on the best possible evidence, supported at the national level with multiyear funding, and planned and implemented by an effective coalition of representative stakeholders. Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders: The Evidence for Stigma Change explores stigma and discrimination faced by individuals with mental or substance use disorders and recommends effective strategies for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek treatment and other supportive services. It offers a set of conclusions and recommendations about successful stigma change strategies and the research needed to inform and evaluate these efforts in the United States.
“Skillfully crafted, thoughtful, and expertly written.” —Sheryl Denise Jones, MD “Comprehensive and educational . . . from a practical and relatable point of view." —Napoleon Higgins, MD “A well needed resource! . . . It allows us to better understand and support the people we care about, but who struggle with mental illness.” —Thomas Kerrihard, MD Get the straight facts about mental illness from two Harvard trained psychiatrists. More than 40 million people in the US suffer from mental health problems—yet less than half receive adequate care and treatment. Even in the 21st century with the most advanced medical care in the world, social stigma still surrounds psychiatric problems, and this, combined with a lack of understanding, perpetuates a national mental health crisis affecting those in need and their families. Ignoring and/or being unaware of a problem can have devastating effects in our families and for society at large—many people living with mental illness go untreated, and as a result, people with untreated mental illnesses make up one third of the nation’s homeless population and can be imprisoned. To meet these challenges, Dr. Carlin Barnes and Dr. Marketa Wills have written this necessary and comprehensive, practical guide to educate and help everyone better understand mental health. Each chapter offers insights and wisdom concerning a variety of psychiatric conditions, including: Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Personality disorders Substance abuse issues Eating disorders Women’s mental health issues Suicide in America Geriatric mental health Professional athletes and mental health And more Armed with this knowledge, you and your loved one can better appreciate the real struggles at hand, and as a result, seek the proper care needed.
Book Synopsis Understanding Mental Illness by : Carlin Barnes
Download or read book Understanding Mental Illness written by Carlin Barnes and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2019-09-10 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Skillfully crafted, thoughtful, and expertly written.” —Sheryl Denise Jones, MD “Comprehensive and educational . . . from a practical and relatable point of view." —Napoleon Higgins, MD “A well needed resource! . . . It allows us to better understand and support the people we care about, but who struggle with mental illness.” —Thomas Kerrihard, MD Get the straight facts about mental illness from two Harvard trained psychiatrists. More than 40 million people in the US suffer from mental health problems—yet less than half receive adequate care and treatment. Even in the 21st century with the most advanced medical care in the world, social stigma still surrounds psychiatric problems, and this, combined with a lack of understanding, perpetuates a national mental health crisis affecting those in need and their families. Ignoring and/or being unaware of a problem can have devastating effects in our families and for society at large—many people living with mental illness go untreated, and as a result, people with untreated mental illnesses make up one third of the nation’s homeless population and can be imprisoned. To meet these challenges, Dr. Carlin Barnes and Dr. Marketa Wills have written this necessary and comprehensive, practical guide to educate and help everyone better understand mental health. Each chapter offers insights and wisdom concerning a variety of psychiatric conditions, including: Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Personality disorders Substance abuse issues Eating disorders Women’s mental health issues Suicide in America Geriatric mental health Professional athletes and mental health And more Armed with this knowledge, you and your loved one can better appreciate the real struggles at hand, and as a result, seek the proper care needed.