Mental Health Services / Behavioral Medicine
In today’s world, mental and emotional problems are very common. There is a growing body of evidence that indicates that virtually every illness known to modern humanity is influenced, for good or bad, by our emotions. When the pressures of life are beginning to overwhelm an individual, it is important for them to understand how their emotional well-being can have an effect on their physical health. Research attests that individuals suffering from depression are more likely to have non-psychiatric medical problems.
Gadsden Regional is committed to treating the mental and emotional aspect of well being in addition to physical health to enable an individual to achieve the highest possible level of functioning in the most supportive environment possible.
GRMC provides continuity of care by offering a wide-range of behavioral health treatment services and options for adults nineteen years of age and over.
Adult Inpatient
The treatment team provides an individualized, comprehensive treatment experience designed to promote rapid resumption of optimal functioning.
Treatment options include crisis stabilization, group therapy, family therapy, psychiatric education, and a variety of therapeutic activities.
Geriatric Inpatient
Pathways, Gadsden Regional’s geriatric program, offers a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of the patient suffering from depression, dementia, the first signs of memory loss, mood instability, or the patient experiencing a worsening of a long standing mental illness.
The multidisciplinary treatment team, headed by the attending psychiatrist, includes registered nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists specifically trained to diagnose and treat older patients. A registered dietitian is available to assist with special dietary needs and concerns. For example, treatment includes family therapy, group therapy, and activity therapy. These treatment modalities are all directed to the goal of helping the patient live life as fully as possible.
Depression
Feeling depressed: Is it normal?
Everyone goes through periods of feeling sad, lonely or unhappy. Everyday events and our reactions to them sometimes interfere with our peace of mind. That’s all part of life. But when such feelings linger for weeks or months, preventing a return to a healthy outlook on life they could signal depression.
It is important to understand that depression is a disorder, like pneumonia, not a sign of weakness or lack of willpower. It is a treatable condition that affects persons of all ages and races, from all around the world, in all walks of life. In the United States there are over 14 million (5% of the population) individuals at any given time that can be diagnosed as having major depression. Research also shows that up to 25% of the population will experience major depression at some point in life.
Following are some questions to consider if you believe you, or someone you know, may be suffering from depression. If at least five of the symptoms list below, including the first two questions (depressed mood and loss of interest in activities) are present for 2 weeks or longer without physical causes, depression may be the diagnosis and you should contact your physician or call 494-4501 for admission information or a free confidential evaluation.
DEPRESSION SCREEN
- Have you been feeling sad . . .down in the dumps?
- Have you lost interest in pleasurable activities?
- Do you often feel tired or that you have no energy?
- Do you have trouble sleeping or do you sleep too much?
- Have you been gaining or losing weight?
- Do you often feel down on yourself, that everything is your fault?
- Do you have trouble making decisions or concentrating on your work?
- Do you often feel fidgety or feel slow like you can barely move?
- Do you often think about death or feel like life isn’t worth living?