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Catholic Concerns for Psychiatric Issues
MENTAL HEALTH Mental Health has to do with how one thinks, feels and acts. In general, people in good mental health have a positive attitude, feel good about themselves and act responsibly in their work and relationships. However, like physical health most people have their down time emotionally just the same as they have physical illness from time to time. One of the main inhibitors to good mental health is stress. Stress is a fact of life - it is the body's way of preparing for a challenge. However, too much stress can be harmful and if prolonged for any reason, can cause both physical and psychological harm. Good mental health generally stems from high self esteem. People with high self esteem are more likely to find satisfaction in life, have strong healthy relationships and have the confidence to cope with life's ups and downs. Sometimes normal every day ups and downs can develop into more severe, long lasting problems affecting relationship, job, school, work or physical health. Some indicators of deeper problems can be lack of energy and interest in life, changes in sleep or appetite patterns, sexual problems, inability to make decisions, irritability or moodiness, confusion and a feeling of helplessness or hopelessness. Depending on the exact nature of the problem, help is available through many professional counsellors, self-help groups and the medical profession. Treatment of mental illness is provided by a range of professional disciplines including psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, counsellors etc. Treatments are tailored to individual needs and may include psycho therapy, behaviour therapy and medications. In addition, there is a wide range of social and physical activities used to teach and encourage mentally ill people to cope with modern life. The Health Department provides the following symptoms of the main forms of mental illness Depression
Panic/Anxiety Disorders
Feeling tense, dizzy and nauseous
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
Bipolar Affective Disorder
Schizophrenia
CATHOLIC ORGANISATIONS
The
Chaplaincy is the main source of spiritual and pastoral support for
those in public hospitals, hostels, clinics etc.
Father Peter's Ministry is in the Parish Community. CATHOLIC CONCERNS COMMITTEE FOR PSYCHIATRIC ISSUES
The
Group provides a central information resource and outreach within
the Catholic Church, including spiritual and social activities and
carer's support. The Group supports the Catholic Mental Health Team.
WHO CAN HELP? Today most people with mental illness live in the general community rather than in institutions. As a consequence there is an increasing demand for community based support for their care and recovery. There are many resources available to those who wish to know more about mental health and mental illness. Families, friends and community groups can access these resources to become better informed and more able to help where this is needed. Often it is only a matter of pointing someone in the right direction, perhaps to special services or self help groups. There are also times when urgent help is needed and a knowledge of who can help quickly and decisively can be invaluable. The information contained in this section is aimed at providing a ready reference to key contacts who can quickly assess needs and refer the enquirer to the most effective service provider. CRISIS AND EMERGENCY PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY TEAM (PET)
SOME PRIVATE SUPPORT GROUPS ASSOCIATION OF RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THE MENTALLY ILL (ARAFMI)
ARAFMI is concerned for families needing support and information about mental illness. Services include individual counselling, caring and sharing groups and educational programmes, library and information services.
Support for people with manic depression (Bi-polar Affective Disorder) and their friends. GROW
GROW is a mutual help organisation formed by people seeking rehabilitation from psychotic mental illness. It has 30 groups in metro and country centres SCHIZOPHRENIA FELLOWSHIP OF WA INC
RUAH INREACH
The Ruah Inreach Service is a community-based inreach service for people with a psychiatric disability. The service is under the auspices of a non-government church agency, the Daughters of Charity Services (WA) Ltd.
NOLLAMARA CARERS SUPPORT GROUP
The fellowship offers support for relatives and carers, information about schizophrenia, courses on understanding and coping with schizophrenia (for relatives), telephone and personal support. The fellowship runs a clubhouse (Lorikeet) for members.
The Association promotes mental health and assists in the prevention of mental disorders. It is concerned for improving services for those who have mental illness and for furthering cooperation between voluntary organisations and the Government. This list is far from exhaustive, however, ARAFMI has a Directory of Psychiatric Services in Western Australia, which provides extensive information about:-
The
Directory also provides information about other organisations and
services which support people with mental illness. Directories can
be purchased from ARAFMI
MENTAL ILLNESS Mental illness is a collective name for a group of illnesses which produce physical, psychological or emotional symptoms making normal day to day functioning difficult for the individual. In the past mental illness was seen as something to be hidden, thus causing misunderstanding and untold misery to the people concerned. Today, much more is known about mental illness and major improvements have been made in its treatment. It is estimated that one in four persons will suffer mental illness requiring professional help at some point in their lives. Broadly speaking, mental illness are of two kinds: Neuroses or neurotic disorder and Psychotic disorders. Neuroses are really exaggerations or distortions of feelings, thought and behaviour. They include anxiety, phobias, obsessive thoughts and actions and neurotic depression. Psychotic disorders are normally characterised by some alienation from reality, confusion, inability to make sense of surroundings, delusions and hallucinations. These are very real to the sufferer and can cause them to act out in an unacceptable or disturbing way. Many factors interact and influence one another to cause mental illness. These factors include genetic inheritance, brain chemistry imbalance, family environment and cultural background, life stresses and events and physical illness. Most mentally ill people are treated successfully outside hospital but some people become disabled by their symptoms and do need a sheltered environment such as a hospital. Many people have one episode of mental illness and never break down again. A
small percentage of people have recurrent episodes and an even smaller
number have mental illness all their lives. Even people who have had
mental illness for years have recovered. GRAYLANDS HOSPITAL
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
FREMANTLE HOSPITAL
ROYAL PERTH HOSPITAL
PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN
CATHOLICS AND MENTAL HEALTH People with mental illness largely live in the community and because of this need support to avoid isolation and possible recurrence of the illness. Also people with a mental illness may suffer further if others, through ignorance and misunderstanding reject and discriminate against them. Various organisations within the Catholic Church have responded to this need providing services and support involving counselling, family support, accommodation, social and spiritual activities. Although these services are inclusive of all people, some are specifically oriented to the needs of Catholics, particularly in the area of the spiritual life.In this latter area the following provide specifically for the needs of Catholics.
Although no-one is excluded from the above services other Catholic organisations provide services to the wider community such as
For
details about other organisations see the section "Who can help". IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY TEAM
GRAYLANDS HOSPITAL 9347 6666 SIR CHARLES GARDINER HOSPITAL
CATHOLIC CONCERNS COMMITTEE FOR PSYCHIATRIC ISSUES
ARAFMI (ASSOCIATION OF RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THE MENTALLY ILL)
SCHIZOPHRENIA FELLOWSHIP
GROW 9328
3344
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