What is SMI?
SMI, also known as Serious Mental Illness, includes all mental health conditions, however it encompasses emotional or behavioral functioning that is so impaired that it interfere's substantially with a person's capacity to remain in the community without supportive treatment or services of a long-term or indefinite duration. In these persons mental disability is severe and persistent, resulting in a long-term limitation of their functional capacities for primary activities of daily living such as interpersonal relationships, homemaking, self-care, employment and recreation. SMI is a designation, not a diagnosis.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental health disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and perceives reality. It is characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and abnormal motor behavior.
Severe Eating Disorders
The complexities and potential medical risks associated with treating severe eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, often require a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach that includes medical monitoring, nutritional support, and intensive psychological care, which are not fully achievable through telemedicine alone. Monitoring vital signs, weight, and potential complications, like electrolyte imbalances can be life-threatening.
Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective disorder is a complex mental health condition that combines symptoms of schizophrenia with mood disorder symptoms, either depression or bipolar disorder. Individuals may experience intense mood swings alongside disorganized thinking, paranoia, or altered perceptions of reality.
Treatment Resistant Depression
Treatment-resistant Depression (TRD) is a form of depression that does not respond adequately to standard treatments, such as antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. TRD often requires alternative approaches, like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulantion (TMS), or ketamine infusions.
Severe Personality Disorders
Personality disorders range in severity and the level of impairment associated. The chronic nature of personality disorders, along with their resistance to change without intensive, long-term therapy, makes them complex and challenging to treat, sometimes necessitating a higher level of care and support. Please note: We do treat Borderline Personality Disorder, however severe forms of this condition may warrant SMI designation.
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Other Mental Health Conditions
Delusional Disorder
Schizophreniform Disorder
Paraphrenia
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Any mental health condition has the potential to be designated as SMI if it is severe enough.