Becoming Mental Health patient and overcoming the stigma of mental illness
Unfortunately, stigma is a commonly experienced by people who have a mental health condition. Stigma may be in a form of a negative remark about your mental illness or your treatment. Or it may be subtle, such as someone assuming you could be unstable, violent or dangerous because you have a mental health condition. Harmful effects of stigma can include:
- Lack of understanding by family, friends, colleagues or others you know
- Discrimination at work or school
- Difficulty finding a job
- Difficulty finding housing
- Physical violence or harassment
- Health insurance that doesn’t adequately cover your mental illness
- The belief that you will never be able to succeed at certain challenges or that you can’t improve your situation
Read what you can do if you are dealing with stigma of mental health >>
Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Programs
NOT ABLE TO PAY FOR PRESCRIBED BRAND NAME MEDICATION AND THERE IS NO GENERIC? Check if your medication manufacturer has PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM and if you qualify for it. A patient assistance program provides prescription medicines to patients in need who do not have prescription drug coverage or who are underinsured through either private and/or government health plans. Each pharmaceutical company determines the eligibility criteria for its patient assistance programs. Almost all PAP’s require proof of income; application can be completed by patient or patient advocate. There are nearly 200 patient assistance programs offered by different pharmaceutical companies.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance is a resource which helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need through the program that is right for them. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance will help you find the program that’s right for you, free of charge. Remember, you will never be asked for money by a PPA Call Center representative, or on their web site www.pparx.org
Download Partnership for Prescription Assistance brochure >>
Visiting our offices
Some patients feel a little nervous or anxious when visiting psychiatrist or therapist. It is completely normal, new mental health office is a new environment and it may take couple of visits to feel at ease. To make visit more pleasant we suggest that new patients wear comfortable clothing and come in well rested and prepared, with list of medications and symptoms. Please remember to allow time for travel and traffic conditions. New patients will be asked to complete and sign office forms, for New Patient Evaluation please arrive 20-30 minutes in advance. When you arrive to the office, please check in with administrator at the reception and provide any new information which may have changed since your last visit to the practice or your last telephone call. It is very important to keep contact information and emergency contact information up to date. If you are bringing your child to see one of our psychiatrists of therapists it is a good idea to prepare your child. If he or she is shy or uncomfortable around strangers, the psychiatrist or therapist may seem new and frightening. Depending on your child’s age, you may or may not want to explain what therapy is. Some parents find that presenting the therapist as a new friend, a doctor or even a teacher can help calm the child’s nerves.
If you have any questions or concerns and you do not feel comfortable asking a question in front of others at the reception desk please let administrator know that you would like to ask a question in private. Our administrators are experienced in working in mental health office environment and dealing will sensitive matter and your request will be accommodated.