Mental Illness and Developmental Disabilities: Some Basics

1 Mental Illness and Developmental Mental Illness and Developmental disabilities : some BasicsDisabilities: some BasicsLara Palay, LISWLara Palay, LISW--SSMental Illness / Developmental DisabilitiesMental Illness / Developmental DisabilitiesCoordinating Center of ExcellenceCoordinating Center of ExcellenceMental Illness / Developmental Mental Illness / Developmental disabilities Coordinating Center of disabilities Coordinating Center of ExcellenceExcellenceMIDDMIDD--CCOECCOETh is material is sponsored by This material is sponsored by The Mental Illness / Developmental disabilities The Mental Illness / Developmental disabilities Coordinating Center of ExcellenceCoordinating Center of Excellence Helping

2 OhioHelping Ohio s Communitiess CommunitiesServe People with Dual DiagnosisServe People with Dual Diagnosis http:// MIDDThe MIDD--CCOE is funded by the Ohio Departments of CCOE is funded by the Ohio Departments of Mental health , Developmental disabilities and theMental health , Developmental disabilities and theOhio Developmental disabilities CouncilOhio Developmental disabilities CouncilMental Illness / Developmental Mental Illness / Developmental disabilities Coordinating Center of disabilities Coordinating Center of ExcellenceExcellenceMental Illness andMental Illness andDevelopmental DisabilitiesDevelopmental DisabilitiesAbout oneAbout one--third of people with Developmental third of people with Developmental disabilities also have a Mental Illness of some also have a Mental Illness of some Developmental centers or

3 Other institutions, the In Developmental centers or other institutions, the number can be as high as 7 out of can be as high as 7 out of 10.(National Core Indicators, 2010)(National Core Indicators, 2010)This can mean a This can mean a mood disordermood disorder, like depression, , like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder (anxiety or bipolar disorder ( manic depressionmanic depression ). ). These disorders can make people sad, anxious, These disorders can make people sad, anxious, worried, overly happy/excited, or , overly happy/excited, or disordersBehavior disorderscan includecan includethingsthingslike conduct disorders, which can makelike conduct disorders, which can makepeople impulsive, not care about others,people impulsive, not care about others.

4 Dishonest or or Illness / Developmental Mental Illness / Developmental disabilities Coordinating Center of disabilities Coordinating Center of ExcellenceExcellenceWhat Kinds of Mental Illness ?What Kinds of Mental Illness ? Mental Illness / Developmental Mental Illness / Developmental disabilities Coordinating Center of disabilities Coordinating Center of ExcellenceExcellenceMental Illness , continuedMental Illness , continuedPersonality disordersPersonality disorders,,like borderline personality, can like borderline personality, can make people seem needy, overly dramatic and make people seem needy, overly dramatic and emotional, or , or disordersThinking disordersinclude schizophrenia and other include schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

5 These disorders make it hard for psychotic disorders. These disorders make it hard for individuals to know whatindividuals to know what s real and what isns real and what isn Illness / Developmental Mental Illness / Developmental disabilities Coordinating Center of disabilities Coordinating Center of ExcellenceExcellenceCommon Myths about Mental IllnessCommon Myths about Mental Illnessand Developmental Disabilitiesand Developmental DisabilitiesPeople with a Developmental disability do not have People with a Developmental disability do not have Mental illnesses severe enough to need illnesses severe

6 Enough to need with a Developmental disability cannot People with a Developmental disability cannot participate in or benefit from in or benefit from with Developmental disabilities already live People with Developmental disabilities already live in a therapeutic environment and do not need Mental in a therapeutic environment and do not need Mental health Jackson, LISWC arroll Jackson, LISW--S, 2010S, 2010 Mental Illness / Developmental Disability Mental Illness / Developmental Disability Coordinating Center of ExcellenceCoordinating Center of ExcellenceRealityRealityLevel of intelligence does not predict howLevel of intelligence does not predict howwell someone will do in someone will do in health treatment can and doesMental health treatment can and doesimprove the overall quality of peopleimprove the overall quality of people from Mental Illness Recovery from Mental Illness Jackson, LISWC arroll Jackson, LISW--S, 2010S.

7 2010 Mental Illness / Developmental Disability Mental Illness / Developmental Disability Coordinating Center of ExcellenceCoordinating Center of ExcellenceCommon Types of Mental IllnessesCommon Types of Mental IllnessesAnxiety DisordersAnxiety DisordersMood DisordersMood DisordersPersonality DisordersPersonality DisordersThought DisordersThought DisordersMental Illness / Developmental Mental Illness / Developmental disabilities Coordinating Center of disabilities Coordinating Center of ExcellenceExcellenceAnxietyAnxietyAnxiet y is related to chemicals in the brain and can be Anxiety is related to chemicals in the brain and can be helped with medication.

8 The right medication can take helped with medication. The right medication can take a while to figure out, but should helpa while to figure out, but should helpthe anxiety go down without leavingthe anxiety go down without leavingsomeone too someone too ssedated or edated or A primary care physician or psychiatristA primary care physician or psychiatristshould work carefully to reduce the anxiety, and the should work carefully to reduce the anxiety, and the behaviors should should Illness / Developmental Mental Illness / Developmental disabilities Coordinating Center of disabilities Coordinating Center of ExcellenceExcellenceAnxiety Disorders:Anxiety Disorders:PTSD, OCD, and TraumaPTSD, OCD, and TraumaOne type of disorder, called Anxiety One type of disorder, called Anxiety Disorders, is common with people who Disorders, is common with people who have Autism or Autism Spectrum have Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorders.

9 Obsessive CompulsiveDisorders. Obsessive CompulsiveDisorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder. People with Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder. People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder have frightening Obsessive Compulsive Disorder have frightening thoughts, like thoughts, like ssomething terrible is going to terrible is going to happen. Mental Illness / Developmental Mental Illness / Developmental disabilities Coordinating Center of disabilities Coordinating Center of ExcellenceExcellenceObsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

10 To try not to have the thoughts and to feel better, people To try not to have the thoughts and to feel better, people with OCD will feel driven to do with OCD will feel driven to do something to something to ward offward off the thought, the thought, like wash their hands, check locks or like wash their hands, check locks or light switches, count, or many other light switches, count, or many other things. Sometimes, this behavior things. Sometimes, this behavior gets out of control and takes up a lot gets out of control and takes up a lot of time, or disrupts time, or disrupts Illness / Developmental Mental Illness / Developmental disabilities Coordinating Center of disabilities Coordinating Center of ExcellenceExcellenceObsessive Compulsive Disorder:Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: How to HelpHow to Help Someone who is engaging in a compulsive Someone who is engaging in a compulsive behavior is trying to feel safe and calm.