A Supervisor’s Guide

When working with employees who have emotional, chemical dependency

or behavioral problems

As a supervisor you will learn how to informally identify DOC employees that could

possibly have problems with: • Mental Health

• Chemical Dependency

• Suicide

You will also be given contacts to help you deal with potentially dangerous

people and situations.

Staff with mental health, and chemical dependency problems pose a

danger to offenders, themselves, as well as other staff.

Course Topics:Mental HealthChemical DependencySuicide

Please click a topic to continue

Mental Health

About 1 in 5 families includes a member that lives with a mental illness.

About 1 in 4 adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.

Definition of Mental DisorderA condition characterized by impairment

of an individual’s normal cognitive, emotional, or behavior functioning, and caused by social, psychological, biochemical, and/or genetic factors.

Common Mental Health Disorders:

Anxiety Disorders• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)• Post Traumatic Disorder (PTSD)• Panic Disorder

Mood Disorders• Major Depressive Disorder• Bipolar Disorder

Eating Disorders• Anorexia Nervosa• Bulimia Nervosa

Schizophrenia

Warning Signs of a Potential Mental Health Problem

• Confused thinking• Inability to cope with daily problems and

activities• Social withdrawal• Delusions or hallucinations• Extreme highs and lows in mood• Excessive fear, worry, and anxiety• Denial of obvious problems

Mental Health Question

1. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are both:

A. Anxiety Disorders

B. Mood Disorders

C. Phobic Disorders

Mental Health Question

2. About 1 in every 2 adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.

True

False

Check out more info at:

• www.nmha.org

• www.nami.org/content/NavigationMenu/inform_Yourself/About_Mental_Illness/About_Mental_Illness.htm

• http://www.dmoz.org/Health/Mental_Health/Disorders/

• http://www.rethink.org/

• http://www.doer.state.mn.us/eap/eap.htm

Chemical Dependency

• Alcohol is a factor in 50% of motor vehicle fatalities

• It is estimated that 1 out of every 12 Americans abuse alcohol

• Drug use is a factor in more than 50% of violent crimes

Chemical Dependency

• A harmful dependence on mood-changing chemicals.

• A physical and psychological habituation to a mood or mind altering drug, such as alcohol or cocaine.

Common Chemicals of Abuse:

Alcohol• Beer, Liquor, Wine

Marijuana• Hashish, Sinsemilla, Marinol

Stimulants• Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Caffeine, Nicotine

Depressants• Rohypnol, GHB, Barbiturates

Narcotics• Vicodin, Heroin, Codeine, Morphine

Hallucinogens• LSD, Exstacy, PCP, Psylocybin (Shrooms)

Inhalants• Paint Thinners, Hair Spray, Gasoline, Whipped Creme

Possible Signs of Intoxication:

• Alcohol

• Marijuana

• Stimulants

• Depressants

• Narcotics

• Hallucinogens

• Inhalants

Warning Signs of Potential Drug Abuse

• Delusions • Paranoia • Abandoning or spending less time on activities such

as hobbies, sports, and socializing • Deterioration of physical appearance and grooming • Wearing sunglasses and/or long-sleeved shirts

frequently or at inappropriate times • Frequent absences from work and drop-off in quality

of work • Neglect of family responsibilities • Evidence of money problems: frequent borrowing,

selling possessions, or stealing items from employer or home

Chemical Dependency Question

1. Inhalants can include many household items such as paint thinners, hair spray, gasoline, and glue.

True

False

Chemical Dependency Question

2. It is estimated that _________ Americans abuse alcohol:

A. 1 out of every 2

B. 1 out of every 4

C. 1 out of every 8

D. 1 out of every 12

Check out more info at:

• www.drugfree.org• www.acde.org/parent/signs.htm• www.addictions.org• http://slang-terms.addictions.org• www.warningsigns.us• www.nida.nih.gov• http://www.helpguide.org/mental/

drug_substance_abuse_addiction_signs_effects_treatment.htm

• http://www.doer.state.mn.us/eap/eap.htm

Suicide

• Each year 31,000 people commit suicide

• Every 17 minutes someone commits suicide.

• Women will attempt suicide 3 times more often than men. Yet men will complete a suicide 4 times as often as women.

Definition of Suicide

• The intentional taking of ones own life.

• The act or an instance of intentionally killing oneself.

Possible Warning Signs of Suicide

• A recent loss of a loved one

• Preoccupation with death

• Dramatic change in personality and/or behavior

• Changes in eating and/or sleeping patterns

• Hopelessness

• Past suicide attempts

Suicide Question

1. Women attempt and complete suicide more than men do.

True

False

Check out more info at:• http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/

suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention.shtml

• http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/• http://www.teenlineonline.org• http://www.nami.org/Content/

ContentGroups/Helpline1/Suicide_-_Learn_more,_learn_to_help.htm

• http://www.sfsuicide.org/index2.html• http://www.doer.state.mn.us/eap/eap.htm

Possible Resources for Employees

• EAP-http://www.doer.state.mn.us/eap/eap.htm or call 651-259-3840 or 1-800-657-3719 to speak to an EAP Counselor

• Local Hospitals• Crises Hotlines

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK• USA National Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE

• Clergy• Community Agencies

Before taking any informal or formal actions please contact your human resources representative

regarding procedural

issues.

Human Resources Info• Central Office contact……….[contacts to be

added]• Faribault• Lino Lakes• Oak Park Heights• Red Wing• Rush City• Shakopee• St. Cloud• Stillwater• Togo• Willow River/Moose Lake