Position Paper on Medication Optimization

CSPNJ believes that mental health services should be designed from the perspective of the lived experiences of people in recovery.  CSPNJ has issued position papers that represent the consensus views of the Governing Board and administration of the agency, concerning issues impacting recovery.  A paper released in February on “Medication Optimization” discusses the pros and cons of psychotropic medications and offers suggestions related to their use. In a powerful passage, the paper states:

“We believe the following:

• People should have the opportunity to engage in shared decision-making regarding medication selection and use. Opportunities for exploring alternatives or tapering to lower dosages should be a standard practice within mental health and integrated care settings.

• Psychotropic medications, as are many medications, are innately toxic, thus people should be fully informed of the short and long term benefits and side effects as well as all treatment options and alternatives.

• Psychotropic medications can be helpful tools to assist people in pursuing valued social roles, but they are not the only such tools. Other wellness strategies should be provided to support and assist users in tapering their medication use if they choose to do so.”

Please click on the link below for the entire paper

Attachments:

Medication position paper FINAL edition 1-25-2012.pdf

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There is little doubt that sleep is important to everyone in order to maintain health and wellness. Any person deprived of sleep for more than one or two days is likely to not only function less effectively, but also develop a variety of neurological symptoms, ranging from stumbling and slurring speech to hearing or seeing things that are not real. This special edition of WOW focuses on the importance of sleep in our overall wellness. It includes sleep resources and ideas for creating the ideal sleep environment.

Attachments:

Sleep.pdf

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A recent review article in the British Journal of Psychiatry confirmed something many of us in the mental health community have known or suspected for some time; “People with severe mental illness had 3.4 times the odds of having lost all their teeth than the general community...They also had significantly higher scores for decayed, missing and filled teeth....” This special edition of WOW focuses on dental hygiene and wellness, and discusses resources and personal experience with the role of dental hygiene in overall wellness.

Attachments:

Dental Care.pdf

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