Dual diagnosis in the behavioral health realm can refer to a number of co-occurring issues. However, the presentation for the March 7 NAMI Four County meeting will focus on when mental health and developmental or intellectual disabilities co-occur.
Dr. Jessica M. Kajfasz, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist who serves as a behavioral health consultant at Mercy Health Defiance, will present the program, which is free and open to the public.
The program starts at 7 p.m. at the Four County ADAMhs Board, T-761 State Route 66 south of Archbold.
NAMI Four County executive director Wendy Jennings arranged the program noting that mental health issues and developmental disabilities are completely different diagnoses, but a correlation exists between them.
Mental health issues such as depression, bipolar and anxiety disorders occur in about one in five adults and one in six youth.
However, the characteristics of those disorders can be challenging to recognize when someone has a co-occurring intellectual or developmental disability.
In addition to the in-person meeting at the ADAMhs Board, persons can also participate on Zoom. To learn how to participate by Zoom, either contact Jennings by email at wendy@namifourcounty.org or by phone at 419-405-3651.
NAMI Four County is the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest family and peer advocacy organization for mental health.
The local chapter holds monthly meetings on the first Tuesday that focus on different behavioral health topics. All NAMI meetings and programs are free and open to the public.
For more information on local NAMI programming, including support groups, trainings, and the monthly meeting topics, visit: www.namifourcounty.org.