Mental health conditions (MHC) take many forms, and are more common than you may realize. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), "Approximately one in five adults in the U.S., or approximately 43.8 million people, experience some form of mental illness in a given year, and approximately one in 25 adults in the U.S. experience a serious mental illness in a given year that interferes with, or limits, one or more major life activities."1
If you cross reference that number with the number of families who own pets, approximately 85 million in the United States, you are very likely have at least one client in a year whose ability to function is impacted by a mental health condition.
Given this is a medical term that is not typically associated with veterinary patients, it is essential to understand exactly what defines a mental health condition: "Any condition where there is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning."1 That definition means schizophrenia and psychosis are mental health conditions, but so are depression, dementia, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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| In the next few weeks, look for a video interview with Dr. Hoggan with role-playing exercises, tips for working with clients on the spectrum, and more. If you have questions you would like Dr. Hoggan to address in that video, please click Post a Comment below.
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