"People with serious mental illness get sick and die 10-20 years younger, compared to others in their same age cohort. The reasons, and possible interventions, are many, but further research is necessary for the continued development and evaluation of strategies to combat the health challenges faced by these patients. In thoroughly describing community-based participatory research (CBPR)-an approach that includes people in a community as partners in all facets of research, rather than just the subjects of that research-Health and Wellness in People Living With Serious Mental Illness provides a template for continued study. It is through this lens that this volume examines the health and concerns of people with mental illness, as well as possible solutions to these health problems. Through multiple case vignettes, the book delves into the challenges of health and wellness for people with mental illness, summarizing the research on mortality and morbidity in this group, as well as information about the status quo on wellness, and offers a grounded, real-world illustration of CBPR in practice"--

The integration of a broad array of interventions is described in this comprehensive, practical guide for those working with seriously mentally ill adults. It draws on the experience of clients who struggle with severe and disabling problems in a challenging urban environment. The contributors argue that psychological and practical issues are intertwined and therefore such interventions must be delivered concurrently. They also emphasize that understanding and using the resources of a client's culture is critical to the successful implementation of care, and that families and natural support systems are essential components of the care system.

Practical and evidence-based, this unique book is the first comprehensive text focused on person-centered approaches to people with serious mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It reflects a range of views and findings regarding assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, self-help, policy-making, education and research. It is highly recommended for all healthcare professionals, students, researchers and educators involved in general practice, psychiatry, nursing, social work, clinical psychology and therapy. Healthcare service providers, and policy makers and shapers, will find the book's wide-ranging, multi-professional approach enlightening. 'Serious Mental Illness reflects a continued distancing from the outmoded and unsubstantiated belief that people with severe mental illnesses could not recover, and that they would respond positively only to goals and treatment plans chosen, designed and implemented by providers in order to prevent their further deterioration. Anyone with an interest in the concept of person-centered approaches will discover new ideas in this book. Indeed, anyone with an interest in person-centered approaches has to read this book. Not only is it the first such book on person-centered approaches, but it will serve as the gold standard in this topic area for years to come.' William A Anthony, in the Foreword

Women with serious mental illness (SMI) include those with schizophrenia, severe depression, bipolar disorder, and/or complex posttraumatic stress disorder whose illnesses significantly impair daily functioning. While these women commonly present in psychotherapy and research samples, their needs are rarely addressed in academic literature and mental health training programs. Women with Serious Mental Illness focuses on these women's experiences, including the history of mistreatment, marginalization, and oppression they have encountered within their everyday lives and within the mental health system. With decades of combined clinical experience, Drs. Lauren Mizock and Erika Carr offer evidence-based strategies for mental health professionals working with this overlooked population. Built on a framework of feminist theory, concepts on the intersectionality of oppression, and a more holistic view of recovery, the book examines the impact of racism, sexual objectification, trauma, relationships, work, and class on the development and presentation of symptoms of mental illness in these women. These discussions are then synthesized into an effective treatment intervention, Gender-Sensitive and Recovery-Oriented Care (G-ROC), which values an equal therapeutic relationship and validates the client as an expert on their own mental health. Chapters include worksheets, discussion questions, and case narratives for easy practical application in research or training programs. Women with Serious Mental Illness underscores the need for improved care for women, men, and gender nonbinary people with serious mental illness. Using these tools, clients can begin the process of seeking hope, empowerment, and self-determination beyond the effects of mental illness.

The transition to adulthood can be difficult for young adults who suffer from a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. When these individuals are unsuccessful, the result can be economic hardship, social isolation, and in some cases suicide, all of which can pose substantial costs to society. This report provides information on: (1) the number of these young adults and their demographic characteristics; (2) the challenges they face,; (3) how selected states assist them; and (4) how the fed. gov¿t. supports states in serving these young adults and coordinates programs that can assist them. To do this work, the author conducted site visits in Conn, Maryland, Mass., and Miss. -- 4 states that focus on this population. Illustrations.

Research shows that many adults with serious mental illness live with or maintain contact with their families. But families are rarely given information about their relative's illness and their own needs for support are ignored. To be optimally beneficial, family members and other caregivers need education about the disorder, some knowledge of illness management techniques, and personal support. Family psychoeducation (FPE) is a powerful evidence-based psychosocial intervention that serves consumers and their families. FPE has proven efficacious in reducing relapse and hospitalization, reducing symptoms, increasing employability of persons with severe and persistent mental illness, and, in many cases, enhancing their families' well-being. Its success rests with a state-of-the-art education model for improving caregivers' understanding of their loved one's illness through learning what is known and not known about it and how to assess and cope with its manifestations. Here, in the first book of its kind, Harriet P. Lefley traces the history of FPE -- including the developments in mental health services and systems and theoretical approaches that inform it -- and the robust empirical evidence it now claims after a quarter-century of development and evaluation at major research centers around the world. Presenting first the approach's generic components, training models, and required competencies, Lefley then discusses the available variations, such as Family Education (FE), a brief manualized form of FPE offered by professionally trained family members that has some empirical support for knowledge gains and easing family distress. The result is a comprehensive, practical introduction to family psychoeducation that critically appraises the evidence and examines the model's place in contemporary mental health systems. This groundbreaking volume is an ideal training tool for graduate students of social work, psychology, and psychiatry and a valuable addition to the clinician's armamentarium of evidence-based practices for clients with serious mental illness.

An exploration of the newfound connections between mental illness and trauma For decades, the idea that serious mental illnesses (SMIs) are almost exclusively biologically-based and must be treated pharmacologically has been commonplace in psychology literature. As a result, many mental health professionals have stopped listening to their clients, categorizing their symptoms as manifestations of neurologically-based disturbed thinking. Trauma and Serious Mental Illness is the groundbreaking series of works that challenge this standard view and provides a comprehensive introduction to the emerging perspective of SMIs as trauma-based. This unique collection illustrates how different psychotherapy approaches can lead to reduced symptomatology, decreased psychological distress, and improved functioning in individuals living with SMIs. Each extensively-referenced chapter in Trauma and Serious Mental Illness offers mental health workers a forward-looking theoretical inquiry, empirical study, or critical treatise providing compelling counter evidence to challenge the widespread belief that SMIs are not reactions to the extreme and extremely disturbing circumstances embodied by psychological trauma. In addition to the etiological application, this revealing text proposes ways to incorporate this cutting-edge approach toward treatment options as well. Contributors to Trauma and Serious Mental Illness suggest that: childhood trauma is related to psychotic disorders dissociation can be confounded with psychotic symptoms auditory hallucinations can be diagnostic of dissociation rather than psychosis psychosis is related to the quality of family of origin environment and to age of onset of childhood abuse bipolar and trauma-related disorders sometimes overlap individuals with SMIs suffer related trauma even in treatment facilities and much more! Trauma and Serious Mental Illness is an eye-opening resource for mental health professionals, psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists, social workers, trauma workers, and educators and students in these disciplines.

Housing, Citizenship, and Communities for People with Serious Mental Illness provides the first comprehensive overview of the field. The book covers theory, research, practice, and policy issues related to the provision of housing and the supports that people rely on to get and keep their housing.

This book describes the signs and symptoms of a variety of psychiatric illnesses, substance abuse disorders and developmental disabilities that may be encountered by first responders, public safety officials, and criminal justice professionals. Individual chapters describe specific categories of mental illnesses, and provide basic skills to enhance interactions with people who have these disorders, and who may be facing stressful situations.

Patients with severe mental disorders (SMD), including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and related spectrum disorders, have a reduced life expectancy of 10-25 year compared with the general population. This life expectancy gap is mainly due to the co-occurrence of many physical diseases, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, hepatitis and HIV. Factors contributing to the reduced life expectancy can be grouped into three main categories: a) factors related to the patient; b) factors related to clinicians; and c) factors related to the health system. As regards the first group, patients with SMD often adopt unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, including heavy smoking, reduced physical activity, sedentary behaviors, poor diet and alcohol or drug abuse, and are reluctant to seek for physical care with GPs and other medical specialists. Increasing the levels of physical activity, improving the dietary patterns, and reducing the smoking habits of people with severe mental disorders represent a global health challenge and a public health priority. Until now, attempts made to reduce this mortality gap have acted at three different levels: health system level, physician level, and patient level. The third-level interventions include electronic alerts through smartphones and web-based platforms, intensive case management, promotion of healthy habits, complex psychosocial interventions. Several population-based studies have showed that lifestyle behaviors are amenable to change through the adoption of specific psychosocial interventions. However, most clinical guidelines, although emphasizing the importance of health monitoring and regular check-ups for patients with severe mental illnesses, do not make specific recommendations on the provision of lifestyle interventions. These lifestyle-oriented interventions, consisting of behavioral, educational, and psychological components, have been conducted mainly in research settings, and have shown a good impact on patients’ physical health. Despite this, their feasibility in routine settings has not been tested yet. It seems to be clinically and ethically relevant to develop, validate and carry out interventions to improve the lifestyle’s behaviors of patients with severe mental disorders, to reduce the presence of comorbidities and to improve their life expectancy. In this Research Topic we will summarize the available knowledge of the efficacy and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions aimed at improving healthy lifestyle behaviors and promoting the physical health of patients with severe mental disorders. Total number of articles: 19