‘We Need To Monitor Social Media Consumption Same Way We Monitor Nutrition,’ Warns Mental Health Expert Dr. Kevin Gilliland
(CBS DFW)- Mental health has become a much larger and more accepted topic of conversation in today’s digitally-connected and interconnected world. As celebrities and athletes have begun to open up about their own battles, it seems that society has begun to do the same. There’s a willingness to have more discussion about mental health and its attending factors. People struggling with addiction, anxiety or depression are no longer ostracized as they once were, but there is still plenty of growth to be had in the way we think about mental wellness in general.
Part of the problem that many people struggling with these conditions have is finding a treatment center that can work within their day-to-day lives. Dr. Kevin Gilliland, executive director of Innovation 360, has looked to build just that. The treatment centers, located in Dallas and Austin, Texas help people that are struggling with various mental health issues by providing a more flexible and individualized treatment program. What stands out is that Innovation 360 isn’t strictly an in-patient treatment facility that requires people to remove themselves from their daily routine. There isn’t one set catch-all plan, rather each case and person is given a specific plan to treat and manage their mental health issues designed for their needs.
“I Stay Curious About Everything In Life, Especially Myself.” With Bianca L. Rodriguez And Kevin Gilliland
As a part of my series about “Mental Health Champions” helping to normalize the focus on mental wellness, I had the pleasure to interview Kevin Gilliland, PsyD is a clinical psycholgist, mental health expert and Executive Director of Innovation360.
Mariah Carey Just Revealed She’s Bipolar: What Is Bipolar II Disorder?
Bipolar I disorder is known for its manic periods that typically last for about a week, and may require hospitalization due to their severity. “In manic episodes, people may change their appearance and be more sexually suggestive, they may quit a successful career to start a new career in a field they are not qualified in or spend a significant amount of money they don’t have,” says Kevin Gilliland, Psy.D., clinical psychologist, author of Struggle Well, Live Well, and executive director of Innovation 360. “They often have very limited insight and judgment into how they are acting and being perceived by others.” This mania is followed by bouts of severe depression, Gilliland says.
Kate Spade’s Tragic Death: Warning Signs to Look for If You Are Concerned Someone is Suicidal
Dr. Kevin Gilliland, Psy.D., tells PEOPLE there are several signs to look for if you believe someone you know may be or become suicidal.
“It is really difficult for most people to watch someone struggling with feelings of depression or hopelessness about life,” Gilliland says. “If you fear that a loved one is struggling with life and they just ‘aren’t themselves’, talk to them. Try to listen more than you talk and just be curious about the change you have seen in them.”
Gilliland says people can sound or look hopeless, talk about insomnia or sleeping all day, seem anxious, or seem very different than how you have experienced them.
Demi Lovato Hospitalized: How Narcan Saved the Singer’s Life
“Narcan is a very simple and very safe drug,” she said. “It is very similar to an EpiPen, it presses pause on the opioid overdose and allows the person to keep breathing.”
Narcan can also be administered through a nasal spray.
The drug can be purchased in just about any pharmacy across the country. Most states permit the drug to be sold over the counter, so no prescription is necessary and you don’t need to be a medical professional to use it.
But Dr. Kevin Gilliland, an addiction specialist, said, “You can only use Narcan in an emergency.”
“If you’re a loved one or a friend of someone who’s struggling with opiates, pain meds, or heroin or if they’ve been clean for a while, you should have it just in case something happens,” he said.
Lovato’s friends reportedly “had Narcan on hand in case something like this happened,” according to a source, adding, “It saved her life.”