Readers Preference Review
 Finalist in Readers Preference 2002
Editor's Choice Award
First
Aid to Mental Illness: A Practical Guide for Patients and
Caregivers
Author: Michael G. Rayel, MD
Publisher: Soar Dime Limited
Copyright: 2002
ISBN: 0968781659
Pages: 166 plus appendices
To those experiencing minor problems or who have to deal with
someone with a mental illness, "First Aid to Mental Illness"
can be a Godsend. The whole concept of first aid for the
mentally ill seems to have eluded the medical establishment
until now. Written for the lay person to help them understand
the signs, symptoms and early intervention techniques, it is an
invaluable resource.
Initially the book covers three basic frameworks within which
first aid is possible. These frameworks are represented by the
acronyms CARE, HELP and HEAL. CARE is the initial response and
stands for Checking for the presence of the mental illness,
Anticipating possible complications, Remedy with early
intervention, and Educating yourself about the illness. EAL
framework depending on whether you are the caregiver or the
patient. The HELP paradigm is for caregivers. It stands for
Help patients through the basics of first aid, Empathize
generously, Listen actively and Prevent yourself from getting
sick. HEAL provides the framework for a patient. It stands for
Help youself through the basics of first aid, Encourage
yourself, Address the issues and Learn to cope.
After discussing these basic frameworks the book goes into the
basics of mental first aid followed with developing coping
skills to deal with the illness. Then the rest of the book
deals with applying the techniques to specific conditions
including depression, mood swings, panick attacks, phobias,
obsessive and compulsive problems, trauma, anxiety, psychosis,
dementia and others.
Filled with various scenarios to help you learn how to
recognize and deal with the ilnesses and concluding with an
extensive section on Resources and References it is a valuable
guide for everyone.
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