Behavioral Health Blog

Scott Branam, MA, LMHC, MBA

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and promote suicide prevention. 

Aziz Mehrzad, MD, Deaconess Primary Care for Seniors
 
September is World Alzheimer's Month. More than 6 million people in the US suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease. Learn symptoms of the disease.

Brandi Neely, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability.  Many people don’t understand autism and the importance of recognizing signs and symptoms in young children so they can get the early help they need.   

After a difficult 2020, the new year is a good time to refocus your priorities on self-care and your health. Getting healthier is a marathon, not a sprint - and it's important to focus on both your physical and mental health.  Learn ways that you can help yourself feel better in a minute, in an hour, in a week, in a month and in a year.  

Heather Phelps, LCSW, Deaconess Cross Pointe

Maybe you know someone who you think is in an abusive relationship, but you don’t know how to help her (or him). We want to help you know how to help someone you care about….what to do and say, and what NOT to do and say.

Janie Chappell, Deaconess Cross Pointe

Suicide is a leading cause of death in American teenagers, and the rate of suicide in middle aged adults has gone up more than 30% in the past decade. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in mental health issues which could add an estimated additional 70,000 deaths due to despair-suicide and alcohol-related suicides. 

Our “unprecedented” time continues, as we all work to live as best we can in our new and evolving “normal”. Although we are going through this pandemic together, our individual experiences are vastly different. With children, who don’t have a frame of reference, and who sense adult stresses and concerns, feelings may be even more confusing and difficult to manage right now.  

We are experiencing historic and stressful times, as we are faced with a pandemic, deaths, racism, rioting, and an ever widening troublesome rip in the fabric of our community. These events can create uncertainty and a feeling of being overwhelmed and out-of-control.

Let's face it - even in the best of times, life throws many obstacles at us that challenge our attitude and mood. But now, in this unprecedented time of a pandemic, we are facing more than we could have possibly imagined in many facets of our lives - and it can make us grouchy!

No one understands a hard shift like your coworkers who experienced it with you. Here are a few tips to support each other in tense times.

If you love a medical professional serving on the front lines of the global pandemic, here are some ways to support them when they are not at work. 

It’s always good practice to plan ahead for emergencies, but that planning becomes even more important when you have specific dietary needs and restrictions.

Children also experience the five stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, sadness, and acceptance. Here are some ways to help them work through the process.

Here are some practical ways to connect with your child and still meet your own needs.

Mentally and emotionally, it is valid to feel uneasy about COVID-19. Although these emotions are normal and expected in this time of uncertainty, there are ways to cope.

Managing emotions is difficult for both children and parents during times of high stress. The technique of "connect and reflect" can go a long way in making the time at home much more enjoyable for everyone.

During times of crisis, we know children cope better when their parents cope better. Now is the time to make a plan and lay the course for the next couple of months to help your family adapt and overcome.

Janie Chappell, MSN, RN, Manager of Community Services, Deaconess Cross Pointe

If you are one of the millions of Americans who finds themselves “in a funk” through the colder and darker months, you may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

Dr. Mark Graves, Internal Medicine, Deaconess Clinic Downtown
 
Probiotics and prebiotics—these are some health and nutrition “buzz words” right now. But do you know what they mean, and how pre-and-probiotics may affect your health?


 

The holiday season can be very difficult for someone grieving the loss of a loved one.  An expert from Deaconess VNA Hospice shares tips on making the holidays easier for yourself, or for someone you love.
 

Janie Chappell, Deaconess Cross Pointe
 

Holiday-related stress and depression are common, particularly among women who are always feeling that they need to be “everything to everyone.” As a result, we neglect our own emotional and even physical well-being. Here are some tips on how to prevent and deal with stress and depression over the holidays.

Donna Lilly, MS, LCSW, LCAC, Chemical Dependency Treatment Coordinator, Deaconess Cross Pointe

Discussions about the opioid crisis are everywhere. You may have heard stories on the news, read articles posted on social media, or had first-hand experience with a friend or loved one. Learn about a program at Deaconess Cross Pointe that helps people addicted to opioids (heroin, prescription pain pills, etc.) and move into recovery.
 

Amanda Bohleber, MD, Medical Director, Deaconess Clinic

A doctor—and mom—shares her tips for choosing the right care at the right time at the right place.

Ankita Bahuva, MD, Internal Medicine, Deaconess Clinic Downtown

Your doctors’ appointments are an important and valuable time to connect with your doctor, share your perspective and information, and learn from your doctor’s expertise.  The best appointments happen when patients are very prepared.
 

Ankita Bahuva, MD, Internal Medicine, Deaconess Clinic Downtown

Chronic fatigue is a condition that causes someone to be extremely tired—to the point that they can’t function in their daily life.  It is also often misunderstood.
 

Michelle Galen, MD; Family Medicine, Deaconess Clinic

A feeling of sadness that doesn’t seem to go away. Unexplained weight gain or weight loss.  Inability to focus. Fatigued but just can’t sleep.  If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing major depression episodes caused by a disease called Major Depressive Disorder or MDD.  If you have MDD you’re not alone. Depression affects 15.7 million American adults.

Janie Chappell, Manager of Community Services at Deaconess Cross Pointe, and Susan Phelps, Director of Neuroeducation, Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation
 
Some of the most significant predictors of adolescent and adult substance abuse, mental illness, learning difficulties and other serious social problems are ACEs—Adverse Childhood Experiences.  

Dr. Pamela Rogers, MD Pediatrics Deaconess Clinic 

Kids and stress. Growing up can be hard sometimes, and back-to-school is a time of change, growth and yes, stress.  

Michelle Galen, MD Family Medicine, Deaconess Clinic
 
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that affects the brain. It can be characterized by social interaction difficulty, behavioral differences and communication challenges.

Donna Lilly, MS, LCSW, LCAC, Chemical Dependency Coordinator, Deaconess Cross Pointe

Co-occurring disorders are very common and are characterized by a co-existing mental disorder and a chemical dependency/addiction. 

Donna Lilly, LCSW, LCAC, SAP, Chemical Dependency Treatment Coordinator, Deaconess Cross Pointe and Lynn Schnautz, MSN, RN, CCRN, CCNS, NP-C, Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist, The Heart Hospital

There can be a lot of confusion about alcohol and its effects on your health.  How much alcohol—and what kind—is good for you?

Sarah Kluender, LCSW

Holidays are supposed to be a great fun time filled with comfort & joy...holly jolly feel good time.  Those dealing with depression or anxiety may not experience it that way.  The holidays can bring on more difficulty for already stressed out people with the expectation to do more and more things when already feeling bad. 

Dr. Errin Weisman,  Family Medicine

When does drinking become a problem? The aging population is not immune to alcohol abuse.  For men and women 65 years of age or older, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse considers one drink per day to be the maximum amount for “moderate” alcohol use. 

Pam Pepper, MSN, Clinical Nurse Specialist with Deaconess Cross Pointe

ADHD is a common condition, but is often misunderstood. Currently, it’s believed 9% of children ages 3-17 and 2-4% of adults have ADHD. 

Donna Lilly, Chemical Dependency Coordinator at Deaconess Cross Pointe

Heroin use is on the rise in our area and many towns across the United States because heroin is a cheaper alternative for people who are addicted to or are abusing prescription painkillers. These painkillers are becoming harder to get, and are therefore becoming very expensive if obtained illegally

Lauren Veazey, MD, Family Practice Physician

Calling all (frazzled, busy) parents of teenagers! This article is about keeping your teenagers healthy.  You can get so busy keeping up with your teen’s social/academic/extracurricular lives that it’s easy to forget about keeping them healthy!
 

Donna Lilly, LCSW, Chemical Dependency Coordinator with Deaconess Cross Pointe

Did you know that more people abuse prescription drugs than cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and inhalants combined?  In the U.S., one in 20 people have used prescription painkillers for non-medical reasons. 
So how does a prescription drug abuse problem start?

Phil Wuertz, MS, LCSW, LMFT, Deaconess Clinic Behavioral Health​

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a specific kind of depression that affects people seasonally. The vast majority are those who are affected during the colder/darker months. For reasons that aren't fully understood, some people develop depression that is considered to be related to less sunlight.

Jeanne Kirk, Deaconess Cross Pointe

In part one, I discussed some of the warning signs that someone may be considering suicide.  Now that you know warning signs, what should you do if you realize someone you care about is exhibiting them?
Believe it or not, the single best thing you can do is ASK THEM about it; however, there are good and bad ways to do this.

Janie Chappell, RN, MSN, Deaconess Cross Pointe

Affecting nearly one-in-five adults at some level, anxiety disorders are common and can be debilitating. Anxiety disorders can range from mild to severe to full panic.  Some people don’t realize they have an anxiety disorder until they end up in an emergency room thinking they’re having a heart attack, when they’re actually having a panic/anxiety attack.
 

Janie Chappell, RN, MSN, Deaconess Cross Pointe

We all need some stress to keep us going and motivate us in life, or we won't get anything done! Stress is what makes us get up and perform at work, get the motivation and focus to study for a test, to prepare for a presentation, etc.