| Supporting individuals who are both
| |
| | especially mood disorders, tend to live
|
| developmentally delayed as well as
| |
| | in a highly emotional environment & draw
|
| diagnosed with a mental illness is, at
| |
| | all those around them into that
|
| best, a challenging proposition. However,
| |
| | atmosphere. In order to make sure that
|
| as more & more individuals with
| |
| | your team makes clear-headed logical
|
| developmental disabilities are
| |
| | decisions, it is essential to use
|
| successfully supported in their home
| |
| | objective behavioral measures to help
|
| communities it is this portion of the
| |
| | gage the level & intensity of changes.
|
| population, which is struggling.
| |
| | Over time, this data will also allow you
|
| Frequently, it is the combination of
| |
| | to see patterns of behavior & then to
|
| challenges that keeps them from being
| |
| | anticipate coming mood changes so that
|
| adequately served by either support
| |
| | mental health episodes are approached in
|
| system as they are shuttled back & forth
| |
| | a more prepared & conscious manner.
|
| in search of a "more appropriate"
| |
| | 7. Integrate your behavioral &
|
| placement. To stop this scenario it is
| |
| | psychiatric information Once you've
|
| essential for ethical human service
| |
| | collected objective data on the
|
| professionals to stop passing the buck &
| |
| | individuals' mental health patterns, it
|
| develop a support system sensitive to
| |
| | is essential to share this information
|
| both the individuals cognitive
| |
| | with your team's psychiatrist. Sending
|
| limitations as well as their changes in
| |
| | the data (& someone who can explain it in
|
| mental health status. So what are the
| |
| | a knowledgeable & straightforward manner)
|
| keys to developing a successful plan?
| |
| | along to the individual's psychiatric
|
| Those who have been effective list the
| |
| | consultation will improve the accuracy of
|
| following 10 things as crucial:
| |
| | their treatment & allow the individual to
|
| 1. Double-check your psychiatric
| |
| | reach stabilization as quickly as
|
| diagnosis Because the "science" of mental
| |
| | possible, with a minimum of medication(s)
|
| health diagnosis relies so heavily on
| |
| | and side effects.
|
| self-report (usually not available or
| |
| | 8. Develop a network of support around
|
| reliable in this population) it is
| |
| | the individual Along with the
|
| extremely easy to misdiagnosis a
| |
| | well-trained staff mentioned above, it is
|
| psychiatric condition. Frequently when an
| |
| | advisable to help the individual develop
|
| individual is misdiagnosed the medication
| |
| | trusted relationships with a number of
|
| prescribed to improve the situation may
| |
| | other people in their lives. This gives
|
| actually be contributing to the problems.
| |
| | them a variety of options when they are
|
| 2. Be aware that many psychiatric
| |
| | feeling insecure or emotionally charged.
|
| conditions can "look" different in
| |
| | It allows them to seek out whoever they
|
| someone with a developmental disability.
| |
| | feel would best understand their current
|
| For instance, if you are observing a
| |
| | concern & confide in them, possible
|
| 30-year old man & he appears to be
| |
| | avoiding or minimizing a mental health
|
| talking to himself that might be
| |
| | crisis.
|
| considered a psychiatric manifestation.
| |
| | 9. Always have a back up plan! That being
|
| On the other hand, if you observing a 30
| |
| | said, in the best-laid support plans,
|
| year old man with developmental delays (&
| |
| | there will be moments of crisis. That,
|
| therefore a cognitive age of 4) who is
| |
| | unfortunately, is simply the nature of
|
| talking to himself he may simply be
| |
| | mental illness. So it is critical to
|
| engaging in verbal rehearsal, a
| |
| | think through as much as possible how
|
| developmentally normal milestone at that
| |
| | crises will be managed before they
|
| developmental age (4). Bottom line -- be
| |
| | happen. For instance:
|
| sure you know what you're dealing with.
| |
| | ** When this set of circumstances occur
|
| 3. Do your medication homework Because of
| |
| | -- we will seek inpatient psychiatric
|
| the complex nature of their diagnosis,
| |
| | care at hospital X.
|
| these individuals tend to end up on
| |
| | ** If there are legal allegations -- we
|
| multiple medications. As a support
| |
| | will follow the individual justice plan
|
| person, you need to be highly educated
| |
| | developed in cooperation with local law
|
| about the possible side effects &
| |
| | enforcement officials.
|
| interactions of these medications &
| |
| | ** If these symptoms reach this level --
|
| constantly on the alert. All too often,
| |
| | we will increase the individual's access
|
| medication side effects are reported as
| |
| | to mental health counseling to this
|
| "new" symptoms & "treated" with
| |
| | number of visits per week.
|
| additional medication rather than simply
| |
| | ** If these symptoms occur -- we will
|
| reducing or eliminating the medication
| |
| | implement the individual's suicide
|
| causing the side effect.
| |
| | prevention plan.
|
| 4. Find the right doctor & psychiatrist
| |
| | ** If the individual cycles in & out of
|
| to complement your team To successfully
| |
| | competency to make life decisions -- we
|
| support individuals with a dual diagnosis
| |
| | will work with the local court & family
|
| you need a knowledgeable team. That
| |
| | members to establish a plan for
|
| includes both your doctor & your
| |
| | conservatorship or guardianship with
|
| psychiatrist. To be effective they will
| |
| | criteria for when and how long it would
|
| need to be:
| |
| | be necessary.
|
| ** familiar with developmental
| |
| | 10. Know when you need help As with any
|
| disabilities as well as mental health
| |
| | challenging field, there will be moments
|
| issues
| |
| | when you and your team will simply be out
|
| ** up to date on medications, medication
| |
| | of ideas & unsure what to do next. When
|
| side effects/interactions & new treatment
| |
| | that moment occurs, don't be afraid to
|
| options
| |
| | ask for help. Go to other professionals
|
| ** willing to research unusual symptom
| |
| | who are experienced with this population
|
| presentations &
| |
| | & seek out feedback. Frequently a fresh
|
| ** willing to listen to input from those
| |
| | perspective will get your team back on
|
| who know the person best -- namely you &
| |
| | track or at least offer a direction to
|
| your direct support staff.
| |
| | head while you re-group.
|
| 5. Create flexible, well-trained support
| |
| | One final note: This is a highly complex
|
| staff To be successful, especially in a
| |
| | population & this article is by no means
|
| community setting, an individual with a
| |
| | exhaustive. Please use the information
|
| dual diagnosis will need to be surrounded
| |
| | provided here as a place to start & learn
|
| by a support network that understands
| |
| | all that you can about successful
|
| both the nature of their mental health
| |
| | treatment methods from our resources &
|
| condition, how it interacts with their
| |
| | those of others if you are supporting
|
| developmental disability, & how to adjust
| |
| | individuals within this population. We
|
| their support procedures during mental
| |
| | would also like to express our thanks to
|
| health episodes.
| |
| | Robert Simmons, one of our consulting
|
| 6. Collect & use behavioral data
| |
| | psychologists, who provided the tips
|
| Individuals with mental health issues,
| |
| | contained in today's column.
|
