I recently attended a traumatology conference in Florida. One of the interesting classes that I was able to attend was Trauma Symptoms vs. Mental Health Diagnosis.The young lady that taught this class was exveptional, for that I owe this paper to her. She is an advocate for both children and adults.

When we work with people that have gone through or suffered some sort of trauma, we are quick to give them a diagnosis of depression, acute stress disorder, anxiety, etc and want to medicate them ASAP. She gave an example of a young that found wondering the streets, age 6. Her agency took this young boy, he was checked out, they found a home for him, and became his advocate. The doctor prescribed 6 different medications. Her question to us; was the symptoms he was displaying truly mental illness or symptoms of trauma?

This young woman handed us scenarios and requested that we discuss how would feel as that victim, the feelings the emotions, both short and long term. To my surprise, one of the ladies seated at the table with me had experienced the same traumatic event as the scenario. We would find out later that this same person would be a presenter our conference later on that day.

As I read the scenario to our group, this precious woman began to shake and displayed extreme anxiety. She stated that only a few minor details were different. I want to share some of the details of this event.

She worked in a hospital. She had just finished her shift and was on her way out of the building. She was walking down the steps to the parking garage, young man pulled a knife on her, threatened to kill her if she made a sound. He robbed her and cut her face almost beyond recognition. She shared with us that it took several surgeries to reconstruct her face. She felt as though she had made progress with the emotions and feelings of this event, but we could see it was still affecting her. She kept apologizing to us for her display of emotions. She looked to us at that table for validation that it was okay and she was not “crazy”. She told us that she still has someone to walk her to her car. It was as emotional for us listen, to watch this person relive this traumatic event. Her trauma took place almost 25 years ago.

She shared with us that the counselor she seen saved her life. He stuck with her for the first few months and made himself available to her if needed. How do you think she would have felt if that counselor had said, you will get over this. All you need is medication and everything will be fine. She told us of her well-meainig co-workers kept asking her if she was okay. They kept wanting to hug her everytime they saw her. She said she wasn’t okay and wanted people to leave her alone.

Are we a country that needs to medicate people who have issues that we do not understand? Trauma has been looked at for years, but no one took the time to understand it until recent years. We treat trauma as a mental illness when it is just normal people going through normal feelings and emotions after suffering a trauma. They are never the same, it should only stand to reason there is no way they can. They need to experience those emotions and feelings in order to begin healing.

When someone suffers a trauma or traumatic event, the one thing they need above everything else is to understand why. They may not ever have that question answered, but they need to have someone to listen, to understand, and give them reassurance that life will one day return to some sort of normalcy. Over medicating someone does not assist in this process, neither does being labled. They then suffer two tramatic events, the event itself and being labled as mentally ill.

Little research has been conducted on this subject. IT IS IMPORTANT to know the difference between traumatic symptoms and a mental health diagnosis. We as professionals have the education and/or training. We are the first in line to help someone that is suffering. It is our job to provide the voice for them when they cannot. Lets not be so quick to medicate and hope they will cope. Lets advocate for their mental sanity when they feel they have none.



By: Elaine Dilbeck

About the Author:

Mental health disorders and mental illnesses affect a greater number of children and juveniles than many people are aware of. These emotional and behavioral disorders can have profound negative effects on the growth and development of children, especially when they go unnoticed and untreated. A greater proportion of children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems have mental health problems than children and youth in the general population.

-50% of children and youth in the child welfare system have mental health problems.

-67% to 70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health disorder.

Prevalence Estimates of Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders In Young People

DISORDER                                            PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE AFFECTED

Learning D/O:                                                                5%

Substance use / addiction disorder:                                  10.3%

CD:                                                                              3.5%

ODD:                                                                            2.8%

ADHD:                                                                           4.5%

Anxiety Disorders (various):                                             8%

Unipolar Disorder:                                                           5.2%

One or more disorders:                                                   17%

(D/O = Disorder; CD = Conduct Disorder; ODD = Oppositional Defiant Disorder; ADHD = Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Source: Preventing Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People, 2009. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, of the National Academies.)

Early Detection and Intervention are Critical

The onset of major mental illness may occur as early as 7 to 11 years old.

-Research supported by the National Institute of Mental Health indicates that half of adults with MEB disorders were first diagnosed by age 14 and three fourths were diagnosed by age 24.  

-Factors that predict mental health problems can be identified in the early years, with children and youth from low-income  households at increased risk for mental health problems.  

Age at Onset of First Symptom of Full Psychiatric Disorder, by Age 21

DISORDER                        AVG. AGE OF FIRST SYMPTOM            AVG. AGE OF FIRST DIAGNOSIS

ADHD:                                            Age 5                                                 Age 5

ODD:                                              Age 5                                                 Age 10

CD:                                                Age 6                                                 Age 11

Anxiety Disorders (Various):              Age 7                                                 Age 8

Depression:                                     Age 12                                               Age 15

Substance Abuse:                             Age 14                                               Age 15

Substance Dependence:                    Age 16                                               Age 17

Any Psychiatric Diagnosis:                  Age 9                                                 Age 11

(Source: Preventing Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People, 2009. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, of the National Academies)

Obstacles to Access and Quality in Mental Healthcare

Several federal commissions and workgroups federal task forces have documented the need for improved and expanded mental health services for children and youth.

-It is estimated that less than 1 in 5 of these children receive the appropriate needed treatment  

-Only 15% of youths who had difficulties had parents that actively talked to a health care provider or school staff about their child?s emotional or behavioral difficulties.  

There is not adequate financial support for quality services to prevent and treat mental health problems of children and youth. Many child mental health services are not covered by managed care payers. In 2007, 3.1 million youths, (12.5 percent of 12 to 17 year olds) received treatment or counseling for problems with behavior or emotional disturbances in specialty mental health settings (which include inpatient and outpatient care).

Effective Treatment and Prevention Exists

Clear windows of opportunity are available to prevent MEB disorders and related problems before they occur. An intervention before a disorder manifests itself is possible and offers the best opportunity to protect young people. Effective prevention includes strengthening families by targeting problems, strengthening individuals by building resilience and skills, preventing specific disorders by screening individuals at risk, promoting mental health in schools and promoting mental health through health care and community programs. The key to most approaches is to identify risks (biological, psychological and social factors) that may increase a child?s risk of MEB disorders.



By: Linda Rosenberg

About the Author:

ehowfinance asked:

Medicaid does cover mental health care, but it can be difficult to qualify for Medicaid coverage depending on income and assets. Find out how Medicaid mental health care coverage may depend on the state with information from alicensed life and health insurance representative in this free video on insurance. Expert: John Pinelli Bio: John Pinelli is a financial service broker for Northwestern Mutual Insurance. Filmmaker: Bing Hu

Ted asked:


I’m a support worker already, but I’m seriously thinking of moving into nursing so I can forge a career out of caring for people with mental ill health. However, I also have bipolar disorder. I am on medication and it is under control and I know organisations aren’t allowed to discriminage, but I was off ill for four years after being diagnosed. I attempted suicide and self harm but I was never sectioned. Will these incidents go against me if I apply?

drlawless asked:

David Rice, President of the Tri-Valley Community Foundation, and Cedric Hurskin, Chief Operating Officer of Becton Healthcare Researouces, discuss mental health care needs and services in the Tri-Valley region with Comcast host Mark Curtis.