Caring for the Mind: Tools & Resources for Mental Health Kate Flewelling, MLIS National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region [email protected].

Caring for the Mind:Tools & Resources for

Mental Health

Kate Flewelling, MLISNational Network of Libraries of Medicine,

Middle Atlantic Region

[email protected]

October 16, 2013

Objectives

1)Increase awareness of mental health issues

2)Learn tools to improve your mental health

3)Be informed of resources for mental health information

Prevalence1 in 4 adults suffer

from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.

1 in 17 adults have a serious mental illness.

Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in US and Canada.

Source: NIMH http://1.usa.gov/10afTre

FactorsPhysicalSocialFinancialEnvironmentalSexualSpiritualEmotionalIntellectualOccupational Image:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/samhsa/

Stigma

Misconceptions portrayed by news & media Inaccurate linking of mental illness and

violent behaviorPrompts subtle and overt prejudice,

discrimination, fear, and stereotypingResults in avoidance to work, socialize, and

live with persons with mental illness Impedes persons with mental illness to seek

help

Sources: NAMI and Mental Health America

Expressions

Avoid expressions like:“a schizophrenic or an alcoholic”

In favor of:“a person with schizophrenia” or “an individual with alcohol

dependence”

Cultivating mental health

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samhsa/

Disclaimer

Information provided today is not a substitute for care of a health professional. If you are in need of mental health care,

please consult your doctor.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samhsa/

Rethinking HappinessPositive strategies to help us build

resilience and lead fuller, happier lives

ForgivenessHumorMeditationResilience

This Emotional Life, PBShttp://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/topics

AltruismConnecting with

OthersCreativity and FlowHappiness

Tools

Exercise + NutritionBuilding social

supportsReframingTherapySimplifyingGratitudeMedication

What helps you?

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samhsa/

Mental Health Literacy

Knowledge, beliefs and abilities that lead to the recognition,

management and prevention of mental health problems.

Benefits:Prevention, early recognition &

intervention, reducing stigma

Source: Canadian Alliance on Mental Health and Illness,

http://camimh.ca/key-reports/mental-health-literacy/

Why is health literacy important?

Essential life skill

It is the bridge between knowledge and behavior.

Health information seeking¾ of internet users have looked online for

information about any one of 15 health topics such as a specific disease or treatment.

34% of internet users have read someone else’s commentary or experience about health or medical issues on an online news group, website or blog

14% of internet users signed up to receive email updates on health information

Source – Pew Internet, The Social Life of Health Information, 2011

Only ¼ of searchers look at the source or date of online health information. (Pew Report, 2006)

In the last year…

Over half of US adults have looked online for health information in the past year.

35% of US adults have used the Internet to self-diagnosis, but only half of them talked to a clinician about what they found online.

54% of those 65+ are online—and over half of them have looked up health information online in the past year.

Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2013http://www.pewinternet.org/

Social life of health information

“On a practical level, the vast majority of people living with chronic conditions never attend traditional, in-person support group meetings, although studies show they could benefit from such groups. Instead, people often mobilize their “social convoy” of family members, friends, colleagues, fellow patients, and fellow caregivers – many of whom are connected online via email, social network sites, or by other means.”

Pew Internet, 2011

Reference

Best practicesRespecting Confidentiality

Active ListeningBe empathetic and patient

*Use same approach as with anyother reference interview*

Emotional patrons

Four step approach

1) STOP2)BREATHE3)REFLECT4)CHOOSE

Source: Spatz, M. Answering Consumer Health Questions. 2008

Open ended questions

“What kind of information on …are you looking for?

Would you tell me more about …?When you say…, what do you mean?What do you already know about …?

RESOURCES YOUCAN TRUST

Resources

Places to StartDrug InformationComplementary and Alternative

TherapiesSupport/Advocacy

PLACES TO START

MedlinePlushttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/

MedlinePlus In a Nutshell

• Over 900 health topics in English and Spanish

• Drug and herbal supplement information

• Videos and animations• Health Check tools• Easy-to-read Materials• Multiple Languages• Medical Dictionary &

Encyclopedia• Health News

Mental Health Topics

Learning Disorders

Prescription Drug Abuse

Living with Cancer

Coping with Disasters

DepressionStress

Self-HarmCoping with

Chronic IllnessSeasonal

Affective Disorder

Substance Abuse Problems

Personality Disorders

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Health Topic: PTSD

Mental Health Information on MedlinePlus.gov

Start with the health topics For basic information, you can use the medical

encyclopedia Find providers and hospitals/facilities in the

directories Find support groups in organizations section Learn more about drug information Learn about supplements

http://helping.apa.org

American Psychological Association

National Institute of Mental Healthhttp://nimh.nih.gov

Information on NIMH

Health information by age, and gender Information on treatment including

medication, psychotherapies and brain stimulation

Spanish informationClinical TrialsYou can order free copies of print patient

handoutsVideos show stories of persons coping with

mental illness as well as scientist and doctors presenting on the latest research

SAMHSA http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPY

NCCAM http://nccam.nih.gov/

Information on NCCAM

Research-based information on complementary and alternative therapies

Uses and side effects of herbs and botanicals

How to find a practitionerSafety information

DRUG INFORMATION

Drug Information Portal

http://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/

Drug Information Portal: Haldol

Pillbox

Pillbox enables rapid identification of unknown solid-dosage medications (tablets/capsules) based on physical characteristics and high-resolution images.

Once a medication is identified, Pillbox provides links to drug information and drug labels.

http://pillbox.nlm.nih.gov/

SUPPORT/ADVOCACY Organizations

National Alliance on Mental Illness http://nami.org

Mental Health America http://nmha.org

Pennsylvania Behavioral Health and Aging Coalition http://olderpa.org/

Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association (PMHCA) http://www.pmhca.org/

Directory of Health Organizations http://dirline.nlm.nih.gov

Community Resources

Developing social supports Support groups Alternative therapy Counseling and Psychiatry Career counselors Faith based organizations Mental Health Libraries & Public Libraries Local public health dept mental health div. Health Hotlines (dirline.nlm.nih.gov) Mental health libraries, public libraries Hospital (day treatments, in-patient) Local Health Department’s Mental Health Division Others?

Search tips

Start out with a general site like MedlinePlus to get an overview of your topic

Keep in mind there may be more than one term for the same condition

Conditions may manifest in completely different ways

Though inaccurate, many resource use terms like disease, disorder, spectrum and syndrome interchangeable

Source: Anderson PF, Allee N. The Medical Encyclopedic Guide to Searching and Finding Health Info on the Web, 2004

Collection Development

UCONN HealthNet Mental Health Guidehttp://uchc.libguides.com/content.php?

pid=78575

ReachOut Reads http://us.reachout.com/reachoutreads

Take home points

Fight stigmaBe proactive about your mental healthCultivate your knowledge of mental

health resources

Thank you!

Kate FlewellingNational Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic [email protected]

Funded by the National Library of Medicine under a contract #HHS-N-276-2011-00003-C with University of Pittsburgh