Mental Health...Mental Illness - An Overview

8. Have you tried to resolve your situation yourself and failed?

Who Can Help?

Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a licensed medical doctor with extra training in psychiatry. A psychiatrist can make medical decisions and prescribe medication.

Psychologist: A psychologist has completed a graduate program in human psychology. He has not studied medicine and can not prescribe medication.

For an excellent comparison between psychiatrists and psychologists go to: A Guide to Psychology and its Practice

Licensed Clinical Social Workers: have completed a two year graduate program and have Certified Social Workers: specialized training in helping people with mental disorders

Psychiatric Nurses: registered nurses with specialized training and experience in psychiatry

Marriage and Family Therapists: usually have a graduate degree and at least two years of supervised clinical training in relationship and family problems.

Self Help: Once a diagnoses has been made, support, information and friendships may be accessed through the many support groups springing up across America and on the internet. Self help support groups are available for nearly every mental disorder imaginable.

Upcoming Articles

Future articles will deal with many different aspects of mental health and mental illness from the minor to the major, the phobias and anxieties, to severe depression, bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia. Up-to-date factual information will be provided in an effort to educate and "destigmatize" the subject of mental health. If you have a mental health issue that you would like to see addressed please contact me and I will do my best to accomoste you in a future article.

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