1. Screening Adults for Mental Health Disorders
Wendy Standifer, MA LPC, NCC

2. The Purpose of This Training
 Introductory knowledge of mental illness disorders
Identify Screening tools to identify mental health symptoms. Including self-assessments; symptoms checklists; questionnaires
Building screening questions into a full assessment and effective treatment strategies.

3. Mental Illness is…
A substantial disorder of thought or mood which significantly impairs:
Judgment
Behavior
Capacity to recognize reality
Ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life 

4. Mental Illness is…
A relative term – a particular illness can affect different people differently, or same person may have very different symptoms at different times.  

5. Appearance & Behavior Individuals may have: □ Limited vocabulary
□ Difficulty understanding or answering questions
□ A short attention span
□ Difficulty performing daily tasks such as counting or handling money

6. Individuals may also: ■ Exhibit behaviors which are inappropriate
Appearance & Behavior
Individuals may also:
■ Exhibit behaviors which are inappropriate
■ Be easily influenced by and/or eager to please others
■ Become easily frustrated
■ Not be able to tell time or understand basic information
■ Not be able to handle transitions or new situations
■ Avoid eye contact
■ Speak in unintelligible sentences
■ Walk unsteadily or dresses inappropriately

7. Assessing Behavior
❍ Severe changes in behavioral patterns and attitudes
❍ Unusual or bizarre mannerisms 
❍ Withdrawn behavior/refusal to speak 
❍ Confused or nonsensical verbal communication 
❍ Manic Behavior
❍ Delusions/hallucinations
❍ Expressions of emotion
❍ Strong emotional displays with no apparent reason

8. Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Common Mental Illnesses

9. Schizophrenia

10. Schizophrenia is….
A severely disabling thought disorder. It is a result of a brain disorder and may have genetic links from one generation to another.
The average onset for men is the mid ’s, and for women the late 20’s.
There are several types of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is treated with anti-psychotic medications.

11. Individuals with Schizophrenia Exhibit:
Impaired Behavior
Impaired Thinking
Impaired Perception
Impaired Mood

12. Major Depression

13. Depression is …
A serious condition that can interfere with a person’s life and can lead to suicide. Depression can be experienced as an episode (i.e., in response to a personal loss, the death of a spouse, the loss of job, etc.) or as a long-term condition. It is treated with prescribed antidepressant medications.

14. Common Symptoms of Depression
 Impaired Behavior:
Fatigue/loss of energy
Significant changes in weight
Sleep issues
Irritability
Lost of interests
Feelings of extreme guilt/worthlessness

15. Common Depression Symptoms
Impaired Thinking:
Diminished ability to think
Inability to concentrate
Indecisiveness
Recurrent thoughts of death

16. Bipolar Disorder

17. Bipolar Disorder is…
A long-term mood disorder that includes at least one episode of mania and one episode of depression. This disorder often cycles repeatedly through these episodes.
Bipolar disorder is also called Manic-Depression. Mood stabilizers are prescribed to help control symptoms.

18. Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
❒ Impaired behavior, thinking and mood
❒ People in the depressed phase of Bipolar disorder exhibit symptoms similar to those who have depression
❒ Symptoms of the manic phase include accelerated speech and movement, general excitability, and impulsivity

19. Anxiety

20. Anxiety is…
A normal part of life. It can even be useful when it alerts us to danger. For some people, anxiety is a persistent problem that interferes with daily activities such as work, school or sleep.
This type of anxiety can disrupt relationships and enjoyment of life, and over time it can lead to health concerns and other problems.

21. Common Anxiety Disorders
Panic attacks
Agoraphobia
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Generalized anxiety disorder

22. Common Anxiety Symptoms
Feeling apprehensive
Feeling powerless
Sense of impending panic or doom
Increased heart rate
Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)

23. Common Anxiety Symptoms
■ Sweating
■ Trembling/Shaking
■ Dizziness/Nausea
■ Anger/Easily Frustrated
■ Feeling weak or fatigued
■ Problems with daily decisions and memory

24. Why Screen?
Early intervention and prevention programs can be integral in managing symptoms of mental illness and improving treatment outcomes
The notion of a regular mental health checkup is less established, perhaps because of the historical stigma about mental illness.
But taking periodic stock of your emotional well-being can help identify warning signs of common ailments like depression or anxiety. Such illnesses are highly treatable, especially when they are identified in their early stages, before they get so severe that they precipitate some sort of personal — and perhaps financial — crisis.

25. SCREENING TOOLS PTSD Checklist-PCL – Handout A
Trauma Checklist-40- Handout B
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)- Handout C
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD 7)- Handout D
Mood Disorder Questionnaire-Handout E
Sample Screening- Handout F

26. Screenings into Assessments
It is recommended that you review the screening and ask the individual about experiences they may have identified particularly in conducting a thorough assessment and in setting goals.
Develop into a full Psychosocial assessment to include basic information, presenting needs, risk factors, medical information, Mental Status Exam, Substance Abuse, Diagnostic and Clinical Summary

27. Treatment Modalities Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Solution Focus Therapy
Person Centered
Motivational Interviewing
Stages of Change

28. QUESTIONS
THANK YOU