Introduction to Mental Health
Welcome to Introduction to Mental Health, developed and presented by the Indiana Child Welfare Education and Training Partnership. This training is available in different formats for State of Indiana employees and School of Social Work students. Scroll down the page for instructions on how to take this training.
State Employee Training #
State employees can take Introduction to Mental Health through the State of Indiana’s Learning Portal (also known as SuccessFactors). If you’re already logged into My Learning in SuccessFactors, you can select the Introduction to Mental Health button to go directly to the training.
If you haven’t logged in, the Introduction to Mental Health button will take you to a log-in screen. After you’ve logged in, select the My Learning button. From there, you can search for this training by name (using the Find Learning search box) or come back here and use the direct training link.
For a video walkthrough of how to access this training, select the help button.
School of Social Work: Student Training #
Introduction to Mental Health
Welcome to the Introduction to Mental Health Cat developed and presented by the Indiana Child Welfare Education and Training Partnership.
Course Outline
This course serves as a preliminary introduction to disorders which an FCM may encounter in the field. We will examine Categories of mental illness, symptoms, treatment options, and barriers to those treatment options. You will not learn how to diagnose, treat, or cure any disorder. The information within this course is simply meant to help inform your decision making process, improve communication regarding mental health during staffing, and enhance your understanding regarding appropriate service referrals.
Categories of Mental Health
Today we will review 5 categories of mental illness which you may encounter in the field. Starting at the top of your screen in a clockwise fashion, you will see a button representing Mood Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, Personality Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and Trauma and stressor related disorders respectively. When you are ready to review these disorders in more depth, click next.
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders are defined as: “A group of clinical conditions characterized by a loss of a sense of control, and a subjective experience of great distress.” Below are some examples of mood disorders that you may encounter within the parents or children you serve.
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder 0 & 0
- Cyclothymic Disorder
- Dysthymic Disorder
Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic Disorders are defined as: “Disorders which include the presence of the functionally disruptive symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, or both hallucinations and delusions.” Below are some examples of Psychotic disorders.
- Schizophrenia
- Schizotypal Disorder
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Brief Psychotic Disorder
- Delusional Disorder
Personality Disorders
“[a] way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time. ”
Personality Disorders are defined as “A way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time. Below are some examples of Personality disorders that you may encounter within the parents or children you serve. Note that Antisocial Personality Disorder is only diagnosed in individuals aged 18 or older, while those under 18 who meet the diagnostic criteria are diagnosed with conduct disorder.
- Antisocial Personality Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Histrionic Personality Disorder
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder
- Conduct Disorder
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Neurodevelopmental Disorders are defined as: “A group of disorders which affect the development of the nervous system leading to abnormal brain function.” Below are some examples of Neurodevelopmental disorders which you may encounter within the parents or children you serve.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Dyslexia (Reading Disorder)
- Distalia (Speech Disorder)
- Dysgraphia (Writing Disorder)
Trauma & Stressor Related Disorders
Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders are defined as: “Disorders in which exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is listed explicitly as a diagnostic criterion.” Below are some examples of Trauma & Stressor related disorders that you may encounter within the parents or children you serve.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Adjustment Disorder
- Reactive Atachment Disorder
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder
Lifetime Prevalence
While these five categories encompass a large amount of existing disorders defined by the DSM 5, there are more categories and diagnoses which you can learn more about by clicking the button to visit the American Psychological Association’s website.
As an FCM, it is important to understand just how prevalent mental health issues are for the general population and therefore the families we serve. The estimated lifetime prevalence for mental disorders was measured to be between 28 to 44 percent of the population. This means that 28 to 44 percent of the population will meet the criteria for at least one disorder in their lifetime.
Next, we will discuss seven specific disorders which FCMs most commonly encounter, including common symptoms and implications for your practice with these individuals. Again, FCMs do not diagnose disorders, but knowing symptoms and its impact on children and parenting can help you provide a family the proper service referrals.
- Mood Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Trauma & Stressor Related disorders
MDD
Major Depressive Disorder is a mood disorder which is commonly found within the general population as well as the families served by DCS. You may in some cases see a higher incidence of substance use with individuals who display depressive symptoms. Here you can see common symptoms and implications for your practice. When you are ready, click next.
Symptoms:
-
- Depressed most of the day, every day
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating
DSM-5. (2013).
Implications:
- Parent/ child reports feeling sad/hopeless
- Parent/ child is rarely seen awake/asleep
- Mental effort is significantly more challenging than normal
GAD
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a disorder which is estimated by the National Institutes of Health to have a lifetime prevalence of about 5% in the general population. This translates to roughly 1 in 20 hoosiers meeting the diagnostic criteria at some point in their lifetime. Here you can see common symptoms and implications for your practice. When you are ready, click next.
Symptoms:
-
- Excessive and frequent anxiety and worry
- Difficulty controlling the worry
- Fatigue, frritability, muscle tension, sleeplessness
DSM-5. (2013)
Implications:
- Parent/child reports excessive anxiety
- Parent/child may have job/school stress
- Parent/child may catastrophize and possess negative thoughts and behaviors
BPD
Bipolar disorder is an umbrella term which encapsulates two distinct diagnoses. While both diagnoses include episodes of mania and depression, the degree to which one experiences mania is the distinguishing factor. Bipolar Disorder 1 is diagnosed when an individual experiences at least one manic episode along with meeting other diagnostic criteria, while Bipolar Disorder 2 has less elevated manic episodes called “hypomania.” Here you can see common symptoms and implications for your practice. When you are ready, click next.
Symptoms:
-
- Elevated, expansive, or frritable mood
- Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
- Flight of fdeas and distractibility
DSM-5. (2013)
Implications:
- Parent/child may be challenging to
- Communicate with due to racing thoughts
- Parent/child may engage in risky behaviors
- Parent/child may not view manic episodes as pathological or disadvantageous
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder which is best known for the presence of delusions and hallucinations. It is a common mistake for individuals to confuse Schizophrenia with Dissociative Identity Disorder. People with Schizophrenia do not possess multiple personalities, they may simply hallucinate voices that do not belong to anyone. In some cases, individuals with Schizophrenia will smoke tobacco in order to diminish their symptoms. Here you can see common symptoms and implications for your practice. When you are ready, click next.
Symptoms:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized speech
Implications:
- Parent/child may have a relative diagnosed with schizophrenia
- Parent/child may express unusual or odd beliefs, or have odd perceptive experiences
- Parent/child may display inappropriate affect (e.g. laughing in absence of appropriate stimulus)
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder which is commonly diagnosed in childhood. Here you can see common symptoms and implications for your practice. When you are ready, click next.
symptoms;
-
- Unattention that interferes with functioning
- Difficulty in sustaining attention
- Forgetful in dafly activities
DSM-5. (2013)
Implications:
- The child may struggle to keep belongings in order.
- The parent/child may not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
- Child may fidget or otherwise have difficulty
Sitting still.
ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder which impacts social and emotional development. It is referred to as a spectrum disorder because individuals with Autism can have a range of symptoms. Here you can see common symptoms and implications for your practice. When you are ready, click next.
symptoms;
-
- Deficits in social-emotional interactions
- Deficits in nonverbal communication
- Deficits fn developing and understanding relationships
DSM-5. (2013)
Implications:
- Parent/ child may display restriced and repetitive patterns of behavior
- Parent/child may require inflexible and rigid routines
- Parent/child may possess restricted interests that are abnormal in intensity and focus
PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD is a trauma and stressor related disorder which can make the daily tasks of an individual challenging or impossible to accomplish. While typically associated with individuals who have served in a branch of the military, PTSD can occur whenever someone experiences an event that is subjectively traumatic to them. Here you can see common symptoms and implications for your practice. When you are ready, click next.
Symptoms:
-
- Intrusive, distressing memories of trauma
- Hypervigilance
- Sleep disturbance and irritable behavior
DSM-5. (2013)
Implications:
- Parent/child may startle easily
- Parent/child may so to lengths to avoid people or conversations surrounding trauma
- Parent/child may struggle in relationships or with school behavior
Treatment Options
There are many ways that individuals who live with the aforementioned disorders can improve the quality of their life. Counseling, medication, or a combination of the two can assist those who struggle daily to manage their disorder. In other cases, coping techniques and self-care are all that is needed for individuals to live happy and healthy lives with their loved ones.
Treatment Options
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- EMDR
- Risperdal & Klonopin
- Mindfulness Meditation
- Marriage & Family Therapy
Barriers
While the treatment options available to individuals struggling to manage their disorder are numerous, they may not be taken advantage of for various reasons. Here are a few of the reasons why individuals fail to receive treatment for their disorder. You will notice that nearly half of individuals who fail to receive treatment do not recognize the need for it. As an FCM, you have an opportunity to advocate for the efficacy of mental health care and the role it plays in keeping children in safe, stable, and permanent homes. You will continue to learn more about Mental Health and how it impacts parenting style in the new worker training titled Trauma and its Effects on Children & Families. Once you graduate from New worker cohort, you may also elect to take an Experienced worker training entitled Caregiver Mental Illness. These trainings will enrich your understanding of the intersection of mental illness and your responsibilities as an FCM.
Barriers to Treatment
- Stigma (9.1%)
- Availability (12.8%)
- Financial challenge (15.3%)
- Perceived ineffectiveness (16.4%)
- Low perceived need for treatment (44.8%)
Credits
This training was developed by Aaron Brutkiewicz, Instructional Technology Developer for the IU School of Social Work.