To help bring awareness to Alzheimer’s, caring professionals through St. Luke’s Hospital’s Center of Behavioral Medicine will provide free, confidential screenings to detect mental illness on Thursday, May 17, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., at 56 Hospital Drive, Suite 3B, Columbus, located in the St. Luke’s Hospital Medical Park. An appointment is necessary; please call 894-2408.
A mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thought and behavior that results in an inability to cope with life’s ordinary demands and routines. There are more than 200 classified forms of mental illness, all of which can be triggered by a variety of causes: a particular situation or series of events, an illness, genetics, biochemical imbalances or any combination of those factors. Above all, it’s important to remember that there is help and hope for your loved one, St. Luke’s officials said.
“According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on mental health, more than half of all Americans with a severe mental illness fail to seek treatment,” said Dr. Robert Ratcliffe, psychiatrist for St. Luke’s Hospital Center of Behavioral Medicine. “Many people do not receive treatment for mental health problems due to a lack of awareness of the problem, fear of stigma or lack of access to appropriate services. Yet, overall quality of life is greatly improved when a person with a mental health problem gets an early diagnosis and receives appropriate treatment.”
The St. Luke’s Hospital Center of Behavioral Medicine is a 10-bed, inpatient facility serving adults age 55 and over. The unit specializes in the diagnoses and treatment of diseases such as depression, anxiety and panic disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Parkinson’s, psychosis, bipolar and mood disorders and schizophrenia. Referrals are accepted from physicians, social services, family, friends, community providers, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities or self referral. Staff is available for free in-home assessments to determine the appropriate level of care.
“Our program offers a holistic approach to health, giving attention to medical, psychological and social factors. Each patient’s treatment begins with an expert multi-disciplinary assessment performed by a team which then creates a master plan of treatment tailored to the individual patient’s needs,” Brodar said. “Treatments vary based on the severity of problems, but include psychotherapy, medications, home health care and hospitalization providing a structured therapeutic approach in an appropriate environment.”
For more information about the St. Luke’s Hospital Center of Behavioral Medicine, please call 828-894-3525 ext. 3333.
– article submitted by Jennifer Wilson