4 Step Process to Mental Illness: A Home Guide

By H. V. Smith

An estimated 44 million adults and 13.7 million children in America have been diagnosed with a mental disorder each year. The issue of mental health remains surrounded by stigma and misunderstanding. The problem of mental illness requires greater attention as a major twenty-first-century public health challenge.

Among millions of affected Americans, fewer than half get help even though 80 to 90 percent of mental disorders are treatable using medication and other therapies.

These disorders take an enormous toll on individuals and families, as well as society.

The guide is an educational tool that helps families determine if they should seek professional or additional help. The four-step process has been created as a tool to help and support families that may be or is dealing with someone with a mental illness. Explore this riveting guide for the four-step process families can use to determine if they should seek professional or additional help.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483689005

H. V. Smith

Dr. H. V. Smith received his doctorate in 2009, and after working with several families and developing strategies to improve their lives and the individuals that suffered from mental illnesses, he decided to write this home guide.

Book preview

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Copyright © 2013 by H. V. Smith, PhD.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013915370

ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4836-8899-2

Softcover 978-1-4836-8898-5

Ebook 978-1-4836-8900-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 09/06/2013

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1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

About the Author

Disclaimer

What Is Mental Illness?

Chapter 1

Identifying Mental Illness

Chapter 2

How Can We Effectively Treat Mental Illness?

Chapter 3

Mental Illness Society And The School

Chapter 4

Neurological/Environmental Factors That May Affect Mental Illness And The Role Of Nutrition

Chapter 5

Effective Steps To Identify Mental Illnesses

Chapter 6

Conclusion

Chapter 7

Acknowledgments

Appendix

Glossary

References

About the Author

My name is Dr. Hearley Smith, and for as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with the mind and how it operates. Throughout the years, mental illness and the effects that it is having on society is becoming more evident. With the number of violent and aggressive crimes that have been happening in the United States, I decided to do something that would help and have an impact on society. Throughout my seventeen years of experience, I have seen a number of individuals who suffer from mental illnesses. In addition, I have also seen how mental illness has had a major impact on families and individuals. After diagnosing a number of disabilities, such as emotional disturbance and autism, I realized how families and individuals can be affected in everyday living. Many families had concerns about an illness or suspected that something was wrong, but they were not sure how to receive help. Many did not seek help until it was too late, not because they did not want help, but because they did not recognize the signs leading to mental illness. After working with several families and developing strategies to improve their lives and the individuals that suffered from mental illnesses, I decided to write this home guide. The guide is an educational tool that helps families determine if they should seek professional or additional help. The four-step process I created has been used to help families and those suffering from mental illnesses. I want to share these ideas with families around the world in order to help and assist them in a way that they can understand mental illness. Education is power, and this guide is a tool that can be used to make life more enjoyable for all.

A Home Guide to Mental Illness

"The Four-Step Process

that Everyone Must Know"

H. V. Smith, PhD

Disclaimer

The purpose of this book is to address mental illness and the impact that it is having on today’s society and to offer a guide to seeking professional help, if needed. The author and publishing company shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information contained in this book.

This book is intended to be a guide, and it is not intended to be used as a diagnosing tool or for the purpose of any type of treatment. The purpose of the book is only to act as a guide and a tool to gain information about mental illness and some of its signs and symptoms. If one thinks that he or she or someone that he or she knows may be suffering from a mental illness, it is recommended that the person seek professional counsel with a doctor, clinician, or person licensed to diagnose and treat mental illnesses.

What Is Mental Illness?

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Chapter 1

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), mental disorders are classified as psychological conditions marked primarily by sufficient disorganization of personality, mind, and emotions to seriously impair the normal psychological and often social functioning of an individual. Individuals diagnosed with mental disorders are typically deemed unable to function in society. Mental disorders occasionally consist of a combination of affective, behavioral, cognitive, and perceptual components.

The acknowledgment and understanding of mental health conditions have changed over time and across cultures, and there are still variations in the definitions, classifications, and treatments of mental disorders. To regulate the potentially powerful influences of therapies, psychologists hold themselves to a set of ethical standards for the treatment of people with mental disorders as noted by the American Psychological Association. These ethical standards include striving to benefit clients and making sure that no harm is done. In addition to establishing relationships of trust with clients, psychologists strive to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness. The ethical standards also seek fairness in treatment and use every precaution to avoid biases while respecting the dignity and worth of all people.

Not very many changes have been made in the way health care professionals diagnose mental illnesses because the signs and symptoms of many illnesses have remained similar over a number of years. Advances in research and medicine have made a tremendous difference in the way health care professionals treat and diagnose disorders.

Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. It is estimated that over 25 percent of Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. This is equivalent to millions of people. In addition, according to some experts, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the United States and Canada. Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time.

The purpose of this book is to address mental illness and the impact that it is having in today’s society and to offer a guide that may be used as a tool to seek professional help, if needed. In order to improve and make daily living better for people who may be suffering from mental illnesses and to stop some of the violence that has occurred in communities, homes, schools, and public places, we must address the problems that many people face each day and offer solutions to them. Implementing new gun laws is