Tag: Mental Illness

Take Charge Training: Exercise and Nutrition for Individuals with Mental Illness

Individuals with mental illness die an average of 25 years younger than the general population. Often these early deaths are attributable to medical factors such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. These other medical factors can be prevented and/or managed with the implementation of good nutritional habits and proper exercise. In this training, Ms. Kincade takes us through the experiences of the Independence Center in St. Louis which set up a Wellness Program for its members. She discusses the challenges faced in various settings–the mental health center, the home and the community–while trying to help people develop good habits, and several practical tips and solutions.

Empowering People with Mental Illness through Treatment Planning

People have the right to participate in their own lives to the extent they can, and this applies to people with mental illnesses and other vulnerable populations. In this presentation, Dr. Linhorst defines empowerment, lays out the conditions and circumstances under which empowerment is likely to take place, and provides concrete examples of applying the principles of empowerment.

Diabetes Management for Persons with Mental Illness and Developmental Disabilities

The diagnosis of diabetes is serious, and of particular concern when an individual also has a mental illness or a developmental disability. People need to take an active role in the management of diabetes just as they do with a mental illness. In this presentation, Ms. Farley explains how diabetes is recognized and managed, and shares her experiences caring for people who have diabetes along with a developmental disability or a mental illness.

Deep Dark Secret: A Closer Look at Mental Illness in the African American Community

Vetta Sanders-Thompson, PhD, and Jermine Alberty, BSB/M, MDiv, will discuss the taboo subject of mental illness in the African American community. They will explore topics surrounding the causes of the illness, the reason for the secret, and the need to break the silence.Sanders-Thompson and Alberty will address major mental health issues in the African American community, their causes, their effects on physical health, and the taboos surrounding them. They will also discuss the role of the clergy in combating the stigma against mental illness, and Mental Health First Aid-an education program that helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.