Group Ideas

Part of my quarterly goal is to start to plan and facilitate groups for my clients. (This will become easier if I get the position I just expressed interest in in ONE unit). I already have several ideas.

Nutrition Group

This idea is still in rudimentary form...

I want to make a handout with nutrition information

Carbohydrates - The difference between good and bad carbs. Whole grain foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals. When grains are refined the bran and germ portions are remove, and the endosperm is all that remains. 25-90% of the nutrients are removed!

What are whole grain foods? Brown and wild rice, popcorn, corn, whole wheat, oatmeal etc.

Aim for 3 grains and starches a day!

Proteins - Build, repair, and maintain all of your body tissues. If you don't eat enough carbs, proteins are broken down to use for energy. When this happens, protein is unavailable to maintain muscle, and you lose musce mass. Protein makes a meal feel more satisfying and sits in your stomach longer. It gives us an energy boost, and slightly elevates the metabolic rate.

Sources of proteins include: meat, chicken, fish, eggs, nuts and beans.

Fats - Not all fats are bad! Monounsataurated fats, Polyunsaturated fats, Omega-3's, and Trans fats. Talk about what cholesterol is, and which fats you should chose to maintain cholesterol.

Fruits and Veggies - Still working on this one

Aim for 3 veggies and 3 fruits a day!

Dairy (or dairy substitute)

Calcium and Vitamin D - Vital for bone growth and maintenance .

2-3 Servings a day

The Nutrition/Mood connection - Multiple studies have shown that a balanced died has a direct effect on mood and psychological function. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and lean proteins will provide your body the nutrients it needs to function properly, and ultimately make you a happier person!

I then want to have some sort of activity. Right now my idea is to bring in paper plates (that you can draw on), and markers, and have each of the clients draw out a balanced meal that they would enjoy eating.

Some fun facts about suicide

Yesterday, I had to attend a Depression and Suicide prevention inservice for work... some parts of my job can be so incredibly uplifting. There were several interesting facts I learned that I had previously not known.

• More Americans die by suicide than by homicide.
• 93% of all suicides are completed by persons with an Axis I diagnosis
• Suicide is the leading cause of death for persons with Bipolar Disorder
• 15% of persons with Major Depressive Disorder will take their own lives, at a cost of $8 billion dollars to the U.S. economy per year.
• 15% of persons with Schizophrenia die by suicide
• 5-7% of persons with Borderline Personality Disorder die by suicide
• 50% of completed suicides met with a mental health provider at some time in their life
• 17% will be in treatment with a mental health provider at the time of their suicide
• Limitations on inpatient services, shortened lengths-of-stay and premature discharge have shifted the risk of suicide malpractice to outpatient providers
• Graduate schools preparing practitioners for the mental health field provide little in the way of formal course work in suicide risk assessment and risk management
• Mental health care providers are not immune to the myths, misperceptions, stigma and taboos associated with suicide. They may be reluctant to deal with the subject in an honest and helpful fashion.
• The well intended, but uninformed acts of caring professional communities are no substitute for specific knowledge about suicidal behavior, ignorance can not be an excuse for poor practice.
• Studies have repeatedly shown 85% of suicides are premeditated and approximately 90% of persons who take their own lives communicate their intentions to someone they know, frequently a health care provider.
• Suicide malpractice claims are the leading cause of suits against all mental health practitioners, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and nurses.

It really made me think of the ignorant attitude of EMS providers towards psychiatric patients. It is upsetting that many EMS providers are not even well intended - they willingly buy into the stigma and taboo of psychiatric disorders and suicide, dismissing them as medical concerns. I have even heard providers call these patients "a waste of oxygen". 911 is often the first line of help for patients with suicidal ideation. They are asking for help - a task that can be exceedingly difficult to do when in that state of mind. I wish they would receive the degree of respect that they deserve.

Reminiscing on my days in EMS makes me incredibly thankful that I shifted my career.