Neurology, Mental Health and How Social Workers Can Help Your Family

A neurologic diagnosis can impact the mental health of patients and caregivers. Depending upon the diagnosis, patients can be at higher risk for anxiety, depression and suicide. These mental health issues in combination with memory and cognitive issues impact the overall quality of life of the patient and caregivers. The treatment for neurologic conditions, such as medications, can also contribute to mood concerns. 

The Neurology department has an interdisciplinary team to help patients and families work through the diagnosis. Social workers make up part of this team.

Social workers are available to support patients and families who are navigating mental health needs.  We support you in a crisis and even before a crisis arises. If you meet with a social worker to discuss your mental health, you might expect to share how you have been feeling and thoughts that you may be having. Social workers help support your access to care and services. We help you explore your available individual, environmental and community supports. We also help you explore self-care techniques and support positive internal beliefs.

We Help You Find Individual Counseling and a Supportive Community:

• School Counseling
• Community Counseling
• Employer Sponsored Counseling
• Online and In-person Support Groups
• Moderated Facebook Forums
• One–on-One Peer Support for Caregivers
• Training and Education, which can include diagnosis specific supports.

We Help You Reinforce Supportive Internal Beliefs:

• You are resilient.
• It is not your fault.
• You are enough.
• You have the strength to manage your diagnosis.
• Your diagnosis does not define you.
• Be compassionate to yourself.

We Help You Identify External or Environmental Support:

• Friends and family who accept you for who you are
• Supportive school environment and supportive school staff
• Strategies or people to help you cope while you are at home, school or work
• Supportive apps on your phone

We Encourage Self-Care:

• Using breathing techniques
• Being mindful
• Writing in a gratitude journal
• Doing things that you enjoy and support your wellbeing
• Reading things that are positive and affirming
• Exercising daily
• Eating healthy foods
• Taking care of your personal needs (showering, getting dressed, brushing your teeth)
• Talking to someone you trust about how you feel
• Telling your doctor if symptoms are increasing or difficult to manage
• Following your neurologists’ recommendations for treatment

If you ever feel like you or your child is in a state of crisis, it is important that you speak to someone right away. If you or your child need immediate help due to having suicidal thoughts, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (available in English and Spanish). If there is an immediate safety concern, call 911 or go the nearest emergency room. Ask your social worker if there is a local behavioral health emergency room available to your family, for specialized mental health crisis services.

We know that these things can sometimes be scary to talk about, but having these conversations is crucial to making sure that the person in a crisis state feels heard and supported. The goal of social workers is to meet you in your current state and support safety planning and access to treatment.