Unit 4: Mental Health and Confidentiality Issues - Seminar Any questions about last week’s unit/information?

Key Concepts for Unit 4

Confidentiality: Privacy protection guaranteed to all who seek or receive treatment for a mental health disorder. Any personal identification information is removed from patient folders and public records and signed consent is required before any information is released to anyone.

Mental disorder: Any biological, behavioral, emotional, or psychological dysfunction that interferes with daily life functions and meets the diagnosis requirements listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition-Text Revision (DSM IV- TR).

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA): This is the first privacy act that was designed to protect all health consumers’ personal information. Mental health and substance abuse providers must have all clients complete HIPAA forms to protect their identity and their records.

Why is it necessary for mental health and substance abuse agencies to protect client information so carefully?

Do we think that families sometimes attempt to hide the fact that a family member has been diagnosed with a psychological disorder?  Why would they do this?

Does the person and/or family expect rejection from or to be looked down upon by others?  Does the person and/or family expect rejection from or to be looked down upon by others? Why or why not?

 Does the stigma of mental illness extend to family members?

 What “types” of families would be most likely to hide a member’s disorder?

 In a study by Jo C. Phelan at Columbia University, it was found that family members with at least some college education and white collar jobs were more likely to try to hide the fact than members with no college experience and blue collar jobs. Why do you think this is the case?

What is the purpose of confidentiality and HIPAA? Why is HIPAA used to protect clients with mental health disorders? What is the purpose of confidentiality and HIPAA? Why is HIPAA used to protect clients with mental health disorders?

Let’s brainstorm possible ways that mental health professionals can help to ease the misunderstanding that many people have about mental illness.

The majority of studies about mental illness concentrate on people’s symptoms and the limitations they have, but a 1999 study at Boston College decided to focus on the successes these individuals have had career wise. 500 professionals and managers who have all had or who do have a serious mental illness (such as bipolar disorder, major depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder) were interviewed.

What percentage do you think: achieved full-time employment ?

Answer: 73%

What percentage do you think: - held their current position for more than 2 years?

Answer: 62%

What percentage do you think: earned more than $50,000 a year?

Answer: Over 20%

What percentage do you think: - had previously been hospitalized 3 or more times?

Answer: 64%

What percentage do we think: - had received Social Security benefits for their disability sometime in their life?

Answer: 34% (This information came from a press release from Boston University in 1999.)

(National Institute of Mental Health website)

Any questions on the information we went over today? Any questions on any topic at all?