Mental Health Crisis Intervention: Assembling The Right Tools For Your Patients

Increasing numbers of individuals across all segments of society are struggling with mental health issues or suffering from mental illness, yet the availability of personnel and resources to assist these individuals continues to be scarce. There is a shortage of psychiatrists in Illinois and across the country, and patients may be unwilling or unable to get assistance specifically for mental health concerns. While psychiatrists can offer the most appropriate and comprehensive services to patients suffering from mental illness, non-psychiatrist physicians can play an important role in recognizing and supporting patients who present with potential mental health concerns. Yet many of these physicians, including those in primary care and emergency medicine, report feeling unprepared to adequately address psychiatric emergencies or to respond to patients who present with undiagnosed or untreated mental illness.

Join Becky Nikolov, a Board member of the Mental Health America of Illinois, and a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor for a presentation highlighting the importance of knowing how to identify and respond appropriately to signs of mental illness in your patients, and how to assist them in identifying resources and support for addressing their issues.

Who can attend

Registration is limited to ISMS members and their employed staff. All others must pay $150 to attend. To pay, please email hpresearch@isms.org for instructions.

Learning objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to:

1. Describe the potential consequences to individuals and society when mental illness is not appropriately recognized and addressed.
2. Distinguish myths from facts related to mental illness and suicide.
3. Identify specific strategies to identify patients who may be experiencing mental health concerns or exhibiting signs of mental illness.
4. Identify specific tools and resources non-psychiatrist physicians can have available in their practices to assist patients who may be suffering from mental illness or are at risk for poor mental health.

Accreditation

The Illinois State Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit designation

The Illinois State Medical Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure

There are no relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined commercial interests for anyone who was in control of the content of this activity.