Midwest Psychiatric Center, Inc. is a private psychiatric practice owned by my colleague, Dr. Rakesh Kaneria. I provide therapy to adults and a small number of children/adolescents at this location. We can accept most commercial insurances, as well as Caresource (of Ohio Medicaid) and Medicare. Adult clients who work with me at MPC also have the option to see Dr. Kaneria for evaluation and medication management if desired or needed. Child psychiatric evaluation and medication management are not available with MPC. We are located in West Chester, OH near the UC West Chester Hospital, just off I-75, between Liberty Way. and Tylersville Rd.
Before Congress adjourned for summer recess, two important Mental Health bills were introduced, one in the Senate and one in the House. These two bills have been claimed to “comprehensively overhaul and strengthen America’s mental health care system.”
The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers more education about the bills and ways to get involved. You can read more about theses bills HERE and consider reaching out to your Senators/Representative if you wish to express your opinions.
9 years ago
·Leah Fogt·Comments Off on Take the Pledge to Reduce Stigma!
Did you know that approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.7 million, or 18.6%—experiences mental illness in a given year? (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2012) That’s a pretty high percentage! When I hear my clients describe feeling “alone” or “bizarre”, I wish society could help them feel less isolated – because the truth is, if you’re struggling with a mental illness you really AREN’T alone!
As a community, we can work to reduce the stigma of mental illness. We can educate ourselves, engage in dialogue, and ask questions. We can make an effort to see the person, not the illness. We can share our stories.
As a part of the Stigma Free Campaign, NAMI is inviting individuals, companies, and organizations to take a pledge to work to reduce that stigma of mental illness.
When we think about cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, we don’t wait years to treat them. We start before Stage 4—we begin with prevention. When people are in the first stage of those diseases, and are beginning to show signs of symptoms like a persistent cough, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar, we try immediately to reverse these symptoms. We don’t ignore them. In fact, we develop a plan of action to reverse and sometimes stop the progression of the disease.
So why aren’t we doing the same for individuals who are dealing with potentially serious mental illness?
When you or someone close to you starts to experience the early warning signs of mental illness, knowing what the risk factors and symptoms are will help to catch them early. Often times, family and friends are the first to step in to support a person through these early stages. Experiencing symptoms such as loss of sleep, feeling tired for no reason, feeling low, feeling anxious, or hearing voices, shouldn’t be ignored or brushed aside in the hopes that they go away. Like other diseases, we need to address these symptoms early, identify the underlying disease, and plan an appropriate course of action on a path towards overall health. Mental health conditions should be addressed long before they reach the most critical points in the disease process—before Stage 4.
Many people do not seek treatment in the early stages of mental illnesses because they don’t recognize the symptoms. Up to 84% of the time between the first signs of mental illness and first treatment is spent not recognizing the symptoms.
Mental Health America’s screening tools can help. Consider taking an online screening at www.mhascreening.org. A screening is an anonymous, free and private way to learn about your mental health and see if you are showing warning signs of a mental illness. It only takes a few minutes, and after you are finished you will be given information about the next steps you should take based on the results. A screening is not a diagnosis, but it can be a helpful tool for starting a conversation with your doctor or a loved one about your mental health.
This May is Mental Health Month; it’s important that we all work to raise awareness of the important role mental health plays in our lives and encouraging members of the community to learn more about their own mental health and to take action immediately if they are experiencing symptoms of a mental illness.
Mental illnesses are not only common, they are treatable. There is a wide variety of treatment options for mental illnesses ranging from talk therapy to medication to peer support, and it may take some time for a person to find the right treatment or combination of treatments that works best for them. But when they do, the results can be truly amazing and life changing. Let’s help people learn what they can do both to protect their mental health and know the signs of mental illness #B4Stage4.
It’s up to all of us to know the signs and take action so that mental illnesses can be caught early and treated, and we can live up to our full potential. We know that intervening effectively during early stages of mental illness can save lives and change the trajectories of people living with mental illnesses. Be aware of your mental health and get screened #B4Stage4 today!
10 years ago
·Leah Fogt·Comments Off on Attention Butler County Residents!
You can read about how the levy has affected your part of the county, number of citizens served by the levy in past years, as well as what services have been made available to Butler County residents as a result of the levy.
Inform yourself so you can make your vote count in November!
10 years ago
·Leah Fogt·Comments Off on Mind your health! It’s Mental Health Month!
We all know about the importance about taking care of our health—eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising. Healthy habits positively influence how a person feels and how their body functions.
But good health involves not only caring for our body, but also our mind.
The fact is our mental health is integral to our overall health. Far too many Americans fail to incorporate a principal component into their health choices. Yet overall health and wellness are not possible without it.
What is mental health? If you were to ask your office mate, spouse or neighbor, they may respond that it is a “state of mind,” “being content with life” or “feeling good about yourself.” Simply put, mental health is the ability to cope with daily life and the challenges it brings.
When a person has “good” mental health, they deal better with what comes their way. By contrast, “poor” mental health—such as feeling overwhelmed by stress —can make even day-to-day life difficult.
Poor mental health can also significantly harm a person’s physical health. For instance, research shows that stress is closely linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity. It also shows that people who feel depressed or chronically stressed may have a greater risk of physical illnesses.
The good news is there are many healthy choices and steps that individuals can adopt to promote and strengthen mental health—and overall health and well-being.
A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions, as well as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic health problems. It can also help people recover from these conditions.
This May is Mental Health Month, a time raising awareness of the role mental health plays in our lives and providing tips and resources so anyone can take steps to promote good mental health. We can do this by building social support, eating with your mental health in mind, recognizing the signs of stress, knowing when to reach out for help, and advocating for increased access to good care.
Just as we have learned there are things they can do to reduce their risk of heart disease and other illnesses, it is important that we learn what we can do both to protect our mental health in tough times and also to improve their mental well-being throughout their lives.
We need to care for ourselves, body, mind, and spirit!
Being the best parent you can be involves taking steps to strengthen your family and finding support when you need it. Parenting isn’t something you have to do alone. When you have the knowledge, skills, and resources you need, you can raise a happy, healthy child.
By working together as a community, we all can play a part in promoting children’s emotional well-being and strengthening families.
April 2, 2014 is World Autism Awareness Day and the whole month of April is National Autism Awareness month. In honor of the occasion, many people are wearing blue today. Many communities and companies worldwide will be illuminating their buildings in blue to show support and awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders. How much do YOU know about Autism?
The Autism Society defines Autism as:
“…A complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.”
Autism Spectrum Disorders are treatable, but they do not “go away.” With early diagnosis and intervention, children with Autism can learn adaptive skills and self-regulatory strategies, increase social skills, and experience overall improved quality of life. Their families can receive crucial resources, supports, and education
These are just some of the indicators of Autism Spectrum Disorders:
Lack of, limited, or delayed development of spoken language skills
Repetitive mannerisms like hand-flapping, twirling objects, or body rocking
Echolalia – the repeated use of a word or phrase over and over again
Limited or no eye contact
Lack of interest in peer relationships, trouble making friends
Lack of make-believe play
Trouble having empathy for others, understanding another’s perspective
Fixation on parts of objects
Need for routine and predictability, trouble adapting to change
To offer a more personal perspective, I asked my good friend Irene, the mother of a boy with Autism to tell me a little about her son and what it’s like to parent him. Here’s what she told me:
What is the most important thing you would like people to know about Autism?
I would love for people to know that if you have met one autistic person, you have met ONE autistic person! All autistic people are different and they each have their own talents and their own symptoms.
What do you enjoy the most about your child?
I enjoy the fact that I have a 12 year old child who still loves to snuggle with his mommy and play peek a boo with me! And each time he learns a new word or does something for the first time it makes me very happy.
What could society do to be more inclusive of your child and more welcoming to your family?
I would love for when people meet my son and realize that he is non verbal to still talk to him. He may not respond to you but he is still a 12 year old boy and he can still hear you. So when you meet someone like Malik please say hi to him like you would any other child and talk to him. Even if it’s me answering you for him or maybe a parent is working on his/her social skills and wants him/her to make the attempt to say hello to you. And don’t be afraid to ask questions! Most parents that I talk to would rather you ask questions than just stare when our children are having a meltdown or making noises that you are not used to.
Any other comments you would like to share?
Just remember that autism mommas can sometimes be annoying, it’s from our lack of sleep! We have had to fight for most things for our kids so we can be protective. And yes we may seem to only talk about autism sometimes because it rules our lives but one of the best things you can do for any autism parent is to just listen to them or offer to help out in some way. Believe me, any parent will love any help they can get!
What a positive perspective! Irene is an amazing and courageous woman!
You can learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorders, get involved in activism, or make a donation for research and supportive services with the Autism Society at http://www.autism-society.org/.
10 years ago
·Leah Fogt·Comments Off on New phone number for Butler Co. Crisis Consultation & Intervention!
Attention clients who live in Butler County! There is a new SINGLE phone number for Butler Co. Crisis Consultation & Intervention – commonly referred to as “the crisis line.” Rather than having to decide which local number to call, there is now one single hotline number that you can feel confident will always reach the program, no matter where in the county you are or what time of day it is.
I will be updating my Emergency Instructions sheet. If you already have one, you may want to change the number on it, just in case!
Remember, the crisis line is a valuable resource if you need assistance and I am not available. You can call the number to talk with a crisis worker or they can even send a friendly crisis worker to you to come help make a plan to keep everyone safe!
10 years ago
·Leah Fogt·Comments Off on All People Matter.
Every March, the National Association of Social Workers celebrates Social Work month as a special time to draw attention to the causes the social work profession seeks to address.
This year, the theme is “All People Matter.”
NASW states on its website that this year’s theme was chosen:
“to help raise awareness about the American social work profession’s 116-year commitment to improving social conditions and quality of life opportunities for everyone. Social workers across the globe believe that all people have dignity and deserve respect. NASW’s goal for Social Work Month 2014 is to educate the public about how these values are essential to improving relationships within families, making social support systems more effective, and building stronger communities.”
Reflecting on this theme on an individual level might lead to some powerful self-observations.Here are some thoughts that might be worth pondering:
·Do I believe that all people matter?
·Are my actions a reflection of this belief?
·Do I believe that I am included in the statement “all people matter” and do I make choices that demonstrate my belief in my own intrinsic value?
·If actions speak louder than words, what is something I can do today to affirm the dignity of others?To honor myself?
As spring approaches (hopefully soon…), let’s use the month of March to renew a commitment to loving others and loving ourselves, because all people do indeed matter!
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