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Despite increased awareness, there remains a stigma about mental health and a lack of understanding of what the term “mental disorder” really means in either a broad or a narrow sense.
This interactive course provides general introductory information on mental health disorders and the services available to affected individuals. It is primarily intended for staff at Information & Referral (I&R) organizations that need the ability to handle a wide range of clients and disorders, including those involving mental health concerns. However, as a basic course, it has relevance to anyone within the human services sector who is not a specialist in mental health and related issues.
This course is primarily for Community Resource Specialists.
When you have successfully completed this course, you will be able to:
- Describe the nature and types of major mental disorders (e.g., depressive disorders, bipolar and related disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, etc.).
- Communicate more effectively with persons who have a mental disorder/disorders.
- Explain the basic structure of services available to persons with mental disorders.
Free Content:
- AIRS Webinar Series - Mental Health Awareness Month
- Video - What You're Feeling is Normal, How to Minimize Stress By Connecting To Yourself Better (scroll down a little)
- Video - Borrowed Breath, Helping Others Find a Calm in the Storm (scroll down a little)
- Video - Just a moment (scroll down a little)
Key:
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Part 1: Nature and Types of Mental Health Disorders
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
A mental health disorder is a mental health condition that is “abnormal” or “maladaptive” and creates distress or disability that has an adverse effect on the individual and the people coming into contact with the individual.
Part 1: Review Exercise
10 Questions | Unlimited attempts | 10/10 points to pass
10 Questions | Unlimited attempts | 10/10 points to pass
Determine whether the following statements are true or false.
Part 2: Services for Persons With Mental Health Disorders
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Part 2: Review Exercise
1 Question | Unlimited attempts | 8/8 points to pass
1 Question | Unlimited attempts | 8/8 points to pass
Part 3: Communicating with Persons with Mental Health Disorders
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Sometimes you might need to ask whether a client is receiving treatment or has previously received treatment. Their presenting situation may have been caused by a failure to take their medication or a negative reaction to the medication itself.
Sometimes, there may also be an opportunity to help the client reconnect with ways they have dealt with similar situations in the past.
Discussion
Make 1 discussion post to continue.
Make 1 discussion post to continue.
What are some of the difficulties in asking clients who you
think may have a mental health disorder, whether they are
currently receiving treatment or medication? What are some
of the ways this can be explored?
Final Course Exam
10 Questions | 3 attempts | 8/10 points to pass
10 Questions | 3 attempts | 8/10 points to pass
Certificate of Completion
1.50 Hour(s) of Professional Development credits | Certificate available
1.50 Hour(s) of Professional Development credits | Certificate available
Role Play Exercise
6 Questions | Unlimited attempts | 14/14 points to pass
6 Questions | Unlimited attempts | 14/14 points to pass
Read through this scenario of a call. In the appropriate places (where indicated), choose the best response to the caller's statements.
Practice Scenario
4 Questions
4 Questions
A woman calls and tells the Community Resource Specialist she
needs help because her landlord is going to evict her today.
The Specialist asks if the caller has received an eviction notice,
and the caller says no, she hasn’t received any notice; she just
knows he’s going to throw her out today.
The Specialist asks why the woman believes she will be evicted,
and the woman says the landlord hates her and has been
trying to get rid of her for years. The Specialist asks if the
woman is behind in her rent and the woman says she’s never
behind. She’s got a friend who pays her bills for her and she
knows everything is current.
The Specialist asks if something happened recently that is
causing the landlord to want to evict her now. The woman
says she hasn’t done anything wrong. The Specialist asks what
happened that caused the woman to call today. She says she
went out to dump her garbage and saw the landlord walking
across the parking lot, and he looked right at her and didn’t
wave or say Hi or anything. She said he almost ran back into
his office, so she knows he’s getting ready to evict her.
The Specialist re-confirms that there haven’t been any
incidents or complaints or damages that the landlord might be
concerned about. He asks if the landlord said anything to her
directly about needing to move, and the caller says he asked
her recently if she was happy living there. She knows it was his
way of signaling he wanted her out.
The Specialist asks about the caller’s friend who pays the bills,
and asks if she has spoken with this friend today. The caller
says she has not. The Specialist asks if the friend is a family
member or neighbor, or someone she knows who works in an
office. The caller names a local mental health agency and says
the person works there. The Specialist asks how long it’s been
since the caller talked with this friend, and the caller says she
can’t remember—maybe a month or two.
The Specialist asks if the caller has the friend’s phone number
handy. The caller says she keeps it on her bulletin board. The
Specialist asks her to read the number to her (to verify she has
it in front of her) and asks if she could call her friend now to
ask about this, since the friend also knows the landlord. The
Specialist asks if the caller would like him to call the friend
directly on her behalf, or if the caller is comfortable making
that call.
The caller says she’ll call; since she hasn’t talked with the friend
in a while maybe she can help. The Specialist encourages
the caller to hang up and make the call right away, and the
caller agrees. The Specialist thanks the woman for calling and
encourages her to call again any time she may need help.
Bonus Content: Suggested Ways to Speak With Clients
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.