We know facing a mental illness can be frightening. Many myths and inaccuracies prevail. It involves the brain and is complex. Therefore, having the right information is essential to understanding the diagnosis you or a loved one may have been given. And while reading a book or article is not a substitute for medical care, we do believe that a better grasp of the illness will help you work with your clinician to develop an effective treatment plan.
This is why Silver Hill Hospital has begun the Ask Anne feature on our website – to assist you in sorting through the barrage of conflicting and confusing information that is out there.
If you need to know about a mental illness – be it depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, personality disorders, addiction, chronic pain and prescription addiction, dual disorders, or any other condition – you can submit a query to Ask Anne and she will respond within 24 hours if it is a business day. There is no charge for this service. We are making it available to help dispel some of the myths and to improve patient outcomes.
A native of Connecticut, Anne Romano holds a Masters of Library Science from the University of Alabama. She has been our librarian for twelve years, managing the 3,500 books and periodical subscriptions of our Charles P. Neumann Medical Library. Anne also has a comprehensive knowledge of online information to help you in your search for credible, current and legitimate material about mental illness. Our doctors and patients regularly turn to her for reading advice. Now, you will be able to as well.
If you lose the hotlink, Ask Anne is easy to find. Simply go to the Family Support tab on Silver Hill Hospital website, www.silverhillhospital.org. It is the fourth item.
Ask Anne is completely confidential. We ask for your name and email only so Anne can send you a response. If we believe your question is relevant for many people, we will publish it on our website but will withhold your personal information. One quarter of the U.S. population faces a mental illness in a given year. You may well ask a question that will help someone else.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that with adequate treatment, 70-90% of seriously mentally ill individuals will have a significant reduction in symptoms and a greatly improved quality of life. With good information, it need not be so overwhelming. Being a resource for the local community and good neighbor is very important to us here at Silver Hill. We are happy to make Ask Anne available to you.
Janet Isdaner, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Director of Social Work & Transitional Living Programs
Silver Hill Hospital
