Many people attribute care management services to individuals who are aging or who have chronic medical conditions. Although, care management can be very helpful for those issues, we also see a huge need for intense care management for individuals who have a chronic mental illness and cannot get access to any services. Just as a refresher, the duties of care managers include:
– Acting as a connector between the individual and the community resources
– Advocating on behalf of the individual so that he or she gain access to needed quality services
– Overseeing the care of an individual including med management, doctors’ appointments, therapy, psychiatric services, and anything else related to their care
– Being an advocate if there is need for hospitalization to ensure the safety of the client and their family members
– Facilitating access to needed benefits
– Assisting the individual with navigating all the different services so that it does not become overwhelming for them
– Alleviating family members of some stress regarding the care and wellbeing of their loved one
– Coordinating for advanced planning for the individual
– Connect individual with social services and programs
– Any service that the person may need the care manager will make that connection.
It is important to remember that living with a mental illness or having a family member with a mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. In addition, the diagnosis of a mental illness does not mean that the person’s life is over. We have worked with many individuals and their families as they cope with diagnoses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, and many others. Many of our clients with these diagnoses live normal lives but are able to do so because they gained access to the resources in the community. If you are overwhelmed by your mental health issue consider the help of a professional, it can make all the difference!
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