"The mentality and behaviour of drug addicts and alcoholics is wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction and unless they have structured help they have no hope."
In the article My Life Without Drugs Russell Brand talks about his history with drugs to help us better understand those struggling with substance use, and encourages us to change our perspectives on addiction and provide these individuals with more compassion, empathy, and most importantly support ...
"The mentality and behaviour of drug addicts and alcoholics is wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction and unless they have structured help they have no hope."
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"After a lifetime of suicidal fixations, former Miramichi, N.B., lawyer Peter O'Neill was diagnosed with bipolar disorder seven years ago. It has cost him almost everything except a big, loyal family that knows one rule: In case of emergency, search everywhere ..." Some Are Born To Endless Night is an honest and poignant article and video that tells the story of a man who has struggled with suicidal thoughts since he was a child and whose mental illness has wreaked havoc on his life. More than that though, the story also describes the loving family who does everything they can to keep Peter safe at all times, and reminds us that proper mental health care can sometimes be hard to find in a small community. Mental health advocate Mark Henick shares his heart-wrenching story about attempting suicide and sheds light on one's perceptions at such a fragile moment to help us understand why some choose suicide. He also stresses the importance of needing to address this mental health issue, and what we can do to drive change: first by thinking about suicide, then talking about it, and finally by taking action to provide both hope and help to those who are contemplating suicide. CAMH's Dr. Lisa Lefebvre answers 5 key questions about heroin addiction ... Put your psychiatry knowledge and skills into action with the case of a patient who presents with altered mental status, hypotension, bradycardia, hypothermia, and is on both antidepressants and antipsychotics. Can you make the diagnosis or come up with a treatment plan? "Confused, Cold, and Lethargic" by Caridad Ponce Martinez, Christopher Holstege, and Nassima Ait-Daoud (Current Psychiatry) Rachel Williams, a student from Yale, was forced to withdraw from the university with no guarantee of return last year after opening up about her suicidal thoughts and asking for help. In her profound and alarming essay, Rachel explains her experience with having a mental health problem while away at school and argues that Yale, and likely other schools as well, handle mental health poorly and are too quick to send students home rather than offering help and support. You can find Rachel's essay "We Just Can't Have You Here" by visiting the link http://yaledailynews.com/weekend/2014/01/24/we-just-cant-have-you-here/ According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, substance use among Canadian adolescents is a growing issue. Studies have shown that youth are more likely than adults to "engage in risky substance use, but also to experience greater harm from that use" (CCSA, 2011). That being said, it is incredibly important that health professionals know how to approach the subject of alcohol and drug use with their young patients, develop the strategies and skills necessary to screen youth, and are able to effectively initiate a conversation about substance use and abuse with adolescents. Having a basic knowledge of the risk factors for substance use and addiction, protective factors that lead to resilience, and having some familiarity with the evidence-based treatment options and strategies to engage adolescents in preventative activities is also crucial. By having these skills and understanding, we may not only develop more trusted relationships with this patient population, but be better able to recognize substance use disorders, as well as better treat and support those with histories of substance use. For some great resources to get you started, check out the links below: A) Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents: Screening and Engagement in Primary Care Settings"
B) Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research Based Guide
C) NIDAMED: Medical & Health Professionals
Writer Scott Stossel, shares a detailed and incredibly enlightening account of his lifelong experience with anxiety in his article Surviving Anxiety, recently posted on The Atlantic. Though he refers to his article as his "coming out" about his mental health condition which he's been in constant battle with since he was a young boy, Stossel weaves his own personal experiences and stories in with research and informative background on anxiety itself. Definitely worth a read, as Stossel covers the concepts of stigma, differing treatment approaches, the use of medication, whether anxiety is due to nature or nurture, and the prevalence of anxiety today amidst his stories about his fear of vomiting, meeting JFK during an incident in which his anxiety led to a bout of GI trouble, and the concoction of medications and alcohol he uses to be able speak publicly and travel on a plane. |
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Supporting and enhancing students' and health professionals' knowledge and understanding of mental health and psychiatry
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