Week One
Lesson 01 - Anxiety Disorders: An Integrative Approach
Wednesday
Anxiety disorders are the most common, and frequently occurring, mental disorders. Anxiety is manifested by disturbances of mood, as well as of thinking, behavior, and physiological activity. The five major types of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia disorder (or social anxiety disorder), and panic disorder.
Lesson 02 - Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents: An Integrative Approach
Friday
It is sometimes difficult to determine if a child or adolescent is going through a "phase" or showing signs of a more serious psychiatric challenge such as bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder causes unusual shifts in moods and energy. These shifts are different from the normal "ups and downs" that every child or teenager goes through from time to time. Children and adolescents with bipolar disorder can suffer from damaged relationships, substance abuse, poor school performance, and even commit suicide. However, today there are more treatment options available than ever before for children and adolescents with this disorder.
Week Two
Lesson 03 - Sleep Disorders: An Integrative Approach
Wednesday
Sleep disorders are very common complaints and they include difficulty falling asleep, early awakening, and interrupted sleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only one-third of adults say they get enough sleep every night. The primary types of sleep disorders, methods of diagnosing sleep conditions, conventional treatments, and integrative approaches to sleep disorders will be presented.
Lesson 04 - Mental Health and Aging
Friday
The enormous increase in the diverse elderly population has prompted a vital societal challenge: the design and delivery of mental health services to the older adult. Because the elderly population in the United States and globally is projected to grow rapidly, the need for geriatric mental health services will also increase dramatically. Continued intellectual, social, and physical activity throughout the life cycle are important for the maintenance of mental health in later life. This course explores the issues of mental wellness strategies for the aging adult, cultural diversity as it relates to mental health, and traditional as well as integrative therapies to support mental health in the aging population.
Week Three
Lesson 05 - Depression: An Integrative Approach
Wednesday
Depression is one of the most serious and costly health care problems facing the United States today. It is one of the most common types of mental disorders. Depression interferes with an individual's daily life, normal functioning, and may cause emotional pain for the individual with the disorder and family and friends. Although depression is a common but serious mental illness, with treatment depressive symptoms can be alleviated.
Lesson 06 - Chronic Pain: An Integrative Approach to Effective Pain Management
Friday
Pain interferes with the enjoyment of life. It makes it difficult to work, socialize with friends and family, sleep, and accomplish activities of daily living. It may reduce productivity and create financial hardships in terms of lost work and high medical bills. Chronic pain can lead to a loss of appetite, depression, and physical weakness as well as a loss of the joy of life.
Week Four
Lesson 07 - Alzheimer's Disease: Mysteries and Possibilities
Wednesday
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a condition in which the concept of loss is central—the loss of one's memories, independence, the ability to recognize loved ones, and the loss of dignity. Often referred to as "the long goodbye," AD is the most common type of dementia, affecting millions of Americans. It is responsible for billions of dollars annually in health care costs. However, new research is providing hope for those with Alzheimer's disease as well as for their families and caregivers.
Lesson 08 - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Friday
When individuals experience a traumatic, terrifying, life-changing event or series of events, with a real or threatened risk of death, they may experience a variety of symptoms known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although this condition has been described throughout history, veterans groups and health-care providers have been slow to acknowledge its existence or explore the many dimensions of the disorder.
Week Five
Lesson 09 - ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Wednesday
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an increasingly common neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD have trouble paying attention, focusing, controlling impulsive behaviors, or they may be overly active.
Lesson 10 - Substance Abuse—Recognition, Intervention, And Prevention
Friday
Individuals abuse substances for a variety of complicated reasons. Abused substances produce some form of intoxication that alters judgment, perception, attention, and/or physical control. Substance abuse impacts individuals, families, and communities across the globe. Social attitudes and political and legal responses to the abuse of substances make it an especially complicated public health issue. Prevention, early intervention, and the availability of a variety of treatment options contribute significantly to reducing the incidence and impact of substance abuse.
Week Six
Lesson 11 - Suicide Assessment, Treatment, And Prevention
Wednesday
Suicide—taking your own life—is a tragic reaction to stressful life circumstances. Approximately 800,000 to one million people die by suicide in the world each year. This means someone commits suicide every 40 seconds. In the United States, there is one death by suicide every 12 minutes. Understanding the issues surrounding suicide and mental health is a vital step in preventing suicide, helping others in crisis, and changing the way all of us view suicide and mental health issues.