1st Edition

Severe Mental Illness in Primary Care A Companion Guide for Counsellors, Psychotherapists and Other Professionals

By April Russello Copyright 2007

    Managing patients with severe mental illness in the primary care setting is often a daunting prospect to even the most experienced of healthcare professionals. The stigma associated with mental illness can be difficult to overcome, and many practitioners are unprepared for dealing with the mentally ill. Even counsellors can be left without proper training in severe mental health matters. This is a practical guide to managing mentally ill patients, focusing on the role between general practitioners and counsellors within the primary care setting. The proactive approach encourages a positive outlook and a ‘can do’ approach. This guide is ideal for general practitioners and all primary healthcare professionals, particularly counsellors and therapists.

    Living with schizophrenia. Counselling individuals with severe and enduring mental illness. Understanding mental health and mental illness. Individuals with severe and enduring mental illness and the role of primary care. Filling the gap; creating models of care for people with long-term, complex, non-psychotic mental health problems. Severe and enduring mental illness in relation to discrimination, racism, prejudice, ethnicity and culture. Political and philosophical dimensions of severe and enduring mental illness. The association between pain and mental ill health. Serious mental illness and dual diagnosis. Critical appraisal; how to find the evidence on severe and enduring mental illness. End piece and last word.

    Biography

    April Russello