Definitions

Who We Serve

MHC provides behavioral health services for children, youth and adults. Primary care services are also available for youth and adults enrolled in MHC services.

Children & Youth

We primarily serve children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances. This term refers to challenging emotional/behavioral concerns. This might include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Depression and Anxiety in addition to others. *Children do not have to be currently or previously diagnosed to receive services at MHC.

ADHD

Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity).
Three subsets: hyperactive-impulsive, inattentive, combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive.

ODD

Ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that seriously interferes with the child or youth’s day to day functioning.
Can include frequent episodes of temper tantrums, excessive arguing with adults, active defiance and refusal to comply with rules, frequently and easily angered, and blaming others.

Depression

Pattern of irritable or depressed mood marked by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, tearfulness, etc. Can include difficulty sleeping, focusing or finding joy in daily activities and mood swings.

Anxiety

Inappropriate and excessive fear or worry that is interfering with daily activity. Anxiety can result in school avoidance, fear of separation from loved ones, fear being around others, etc.

Adults

For adults, we focus on persons with severe mental illnesses. These diagnoses include Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder and Major Depression.

Over 60% of those we serve have a co-occurring illness of substance use and a behavioral health diagnosis. MHC providers are trained to treat the whole person, therefore we address mental health and substance abuse issues at the same time. Sobriety is always preferred yet some individuals continue to use substances while served at MHC. MHC believes in a “no wrong door” philosophy which means we will continue to serve those who are not completely sober yet. We will offer motivation and treatment options to help you reduce or eliminate your usage.

Bipolar Disorder

Causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
Manic symptoms can include: agitation or irritation, inflated self-esteem (delusions), noticeably elevated mood, poor temper control, and reckless behavior
Depressed symptoms can include: daily low mood; difficulty concentrating or making decisions; fatigue or listlessness; feelings of hopelessness; loss of self esteem; and persistent sadness.

Schizophrenia

Makes it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, to think logically, to have normal emotional responses, and to behave normally in social situations.
Symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions, apathy, poor and nonexistent social functioning, disorganized thoughts, difficulty concentrating and/or following directions, poor memory and difficulty expressing thoughts.

Schizoaffective

Symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thoughts, depressed mood, and manic behavior.
Episodes of depression or mania are present the majority of the time.
Social impairment that inhibits functioning on a regular basis.

Major Depression

A mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period of time
Symptoms can include consistently low or irritable mood, a loss of pleasure in usual activities, trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping, fatigue and lack of energy, feelings of worthlessness, extreme difficulty concentrating, and recurring thoughts of death or suicide.

MHC: Where We Face the Challenges Together