Allied Health Study Day 6 - Pharmacology and Physical Health

Description

Medications used in Mental Health (09.30 am – 12.30 pm)

People experiencing mental illness are often prescribed medications to help with their symptoms. This session will provide an overview of medication used in the mental health setting and what can be done to help patients to be compliant with their medication treatment.

This workshop will include:

Categories of psychotropic drugs, their primary actions and their indications

Common side effects of medications

How allied health staff can assist in the management of side effects of medications

How to read a bottle or packet label

Where to find information on a drug when a client tells you what they are taking?

MHPOD module to be completed prior: Pharmacological Interventions

Biopsychosocial Factors

Physical health care of mental health consumers (1.30 pm – 4.30 pm)

People experiencing serious mental illness tend to have poorer physical health than the general population; they often die at an earlier age and have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases (including HIV and AIDS), diabetes, breathing and respiratory disease, and cancer.

Evidence suggests that people with mental illness have reduced access to healthcare and may receive insufficient medical assessment and treatment (Medicalco-morbidity risk factors and barriers to care for people with schizophrenia, Mure cochrane 2006)

All members of the multi-disciplinary health care team have a role to play in addressing the physical health care needs of consumers. This workshop for staff working in allied health roles will provide an overview of the connection between physical and mental wellbeing and the impact of medical conditions on consumers.

Learning outcomes:

1. Recognize common physical co morbidity’s affecting consumers with mental health conditions

2. Understand the role of allied health in recognizing and responding to the physical health needs of consumers.

3. Identify strategies to support consumers to access appropriate physical health care

MHPOD module to be completed prior: Impact of Medical Conditions

Skills for promoting physical health

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