Patrick Michaels, PhD, psychologist, Nashville clinical director, and Rae Anne Ho Fung, PhD, LP, executive director of clinical integration, contributed to this article.
Living with a mental health condition, especially a serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI), can feel isolating. You may not know what causes the emotions or behaviors your loved one experiences, and you may feel like there’s no one who can understand or help. You’re not alone, and your loved one may feel the same way. Stigma prevents all types of individuals struggling with their mental health from asking for help, including those with an SPMI.
But support is available, and Rogers Behavioral Health can offer the care your loved one needs. For more than 100 years, we’ve supported individuals, families, and communities with proven mental health treatment. Our targeted programs include an intensive outpatient program for SPMIs, which we approach with compassion and expertise. Learn more about the mental health conditions we treat by calling 833.308.5887.
What Is SPMI?
Serious and persistent mental illness is a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in significant functional impairment, which means it substantially interferes with or limits a person’s major life activities. It may result in disability.
Common SPMIs include schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorders, major depressive disorder, and chronic PTSD. It’s important to note that a diagnosis alone does not equate to impairment; rather, the condition’s unmanaged symptoms are a barrier to wellness and community participation.
How Common Is SPMI?
According to SAMHSA 2021 data1:
- Approximately 14.1 million adults ages 18 and older in the US have a SPMI
- The highest rates occur among young adults 18 to 25 years old
Without treatment, SPMIs can be distressing to those living with them, their families, and others.
What Are the Causes of SPMI?
Research suggests that there isn’t a direct cause; however, the development of an SPMI is influenced by an interaction between genetic, biological, environmental, and psychosocial factors.
Genetics and Biology
Mental illness runs in families; therefore, having a family member with a mental illness leaves one more susceptible. Additional biological factors include infection, brain defects or injury, prenatal damage, substance use, poor nutrition, and/or exposure to toxins.
Environment
Environmental factors may include a dysfunctional family life, death or divorce, substance use by the individual’s parents, and social or cultural expectations.
Socioeconomic Factors
Socioeconomic factors may also include unemployment, low income, poverty, debt, unstable living conditions, and/or educational attainment.
Psychology
Psychological factors include psychosis, severe trauma (emotional, physical, or sexual abuse), loss of an attachment figure, neglect, and/or poor ability to relate/connect with other people.
Each person is impacted by these factors differently, and it is often a combination of factors that results in the development of SPMI. Early intervention and social support are key factors in recovery.
What Is the Impact of an Untreated SPMI?
People with SPMI may face unemployment or underemployment, discontinue educational pursuits, and/or have strained relationships with family and friends. At times, people who suffer may face homelessness or be susceptible to ineffective coping strategies, such as alcohol misuse or drug dependence.
In fact, SPMI disproportionately affects unhoused people. The 2021 survey mentioned earlier revealed that 5.5% of Americans live with an SPMI.
Without compassionate, accessible treatment and consistent support, SPMI can result in a cycle that harms individuals. After difficulties with family, friends, or caregivers, individuals may be faced with nowhere to turn. They may find support through group or state-sponsored treatment before making amends with family or friends, where the risk of challenges arises again. But there is hope—remaining compassionate and supportive in a person’s life can help break this cycle.
How Can Rogers Behavioral Health Help?
Rogers offers an SPMI intensive outpatient program in Brown Deer, WI, with dedicated case management and a focus on education, family involvement, social skill development, health and wellness education, and experiential learning.
Research has shown that at least two-thirds of the population diagnosed with an SPMI who receive the proper recovery support can live functional, value-driven lives. For that reason, the goal of this program is community inclusion with an emphasis on establishing meaningful life goals, which may include, but are not limited to, employment, higher education, volunteering, and improved socialization. Our client-centered treatment translates goals into action that allows the patient to begin a recovery journey that is consistent with their values.
Our unique program offers more robust and specialized services to meet the needs of patients in our community who may benefit from more structured support—including case management—before they’re ready for traditional outpatient services. It is best for those patients who need help developing structure and a routine to improve medication adherence, support engagement with the activities of daily living, develop social skills, and create a comprehensive community support plan.
Get Help by Reaching Out to Rogers
If your loved one is struggling with a SPMI, it’s important to provide them with support and understanding. Remember that their condition does not define them, and with proper treatment, they can lead fulfilling lives. At Rogers Behavioral Health, our compassionate team of professionals is dedicated to providing evidence-based treatment for SPMIs and other mental health conditions. Don’t hesitate to reach out and learn more about how we can help you or your loved one on the path to recovery by calling 833.308.5887 or contacting us online.
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