The most common emotional disabilities are:

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is a neurobiological condition with the three symptoms of problems paying attention, begin very active (called hyperactivity), and acting without thinking (called impulsivity). 3 out of 100 children are AD/HD and three times as many boys as girls.

There are three types of this disorder:

• Inattentive where the person can’t seem to get focused or stay focused on a task or activity
• Hyperactive-implusive where the person is very active and often acts without thinking
• Combined- where the person is inattentive, impulsive and too active

Mental Illness, as defined by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, is a group of disorders causing severe disturbances in thinking, feeling and relating which diminish one’s ability to cope with normal demands. Common mental illness are: anxiety disorder, substance abuse, Alzheimer’s disease and phobias.

Welcomed and Valued: Building Faith Communities of Support and Hope with People with Mental Illness and Their Families - is a new resource manual published by the National Catholic Partnership on Disability.  

Schizophrenia is a group of disorders marked by delusions, hallucinations and disorganized thinking. Connections with what is going on within a persons and what is happening in the outside world seem to split apart. Usually this disorder appears in teens and 20-30 year olds. Visit www.schizophrenia.com for more information.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by manic depression, a strong genetic disease, which moves one from hyperactivity and euphoric to intensely irritable.

Major clinical depression symptoms include: persistent sad or empty feeling; feeling helpless, worthless, pessimistic or guilty; abuse of substances; fatigue or loss of interest in common activities; disturbances in eating and sleeping; irritability, crying, anxiety and panic attacks; difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions; thoughts, plans or attempts of suicide; persistent physical symptoms or pains that won’t respond to treatment.

Alzheimer’s is a brain disorder that more that 5 million Americans now have The first symptom people notice is a forgetfulness severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Symptoms progress to confusion, trouble with organizing and expressing thought, misplacing things, getting lost in familiar places, and changes in personality and behavior. Visit www.alz.org for more information.

Baker Victory Services Outpatient Counseling Center has family, and group counseling available for children and adolescents (ages 5 to 19). The clinic, which is certified by the New York State Office of Mental Health, is designed to offer active treatment to seriously emotionally disturbed children/adolescents. These services are geared for families faced with communication difficulties, adolescent conflicts, conduct/behavior issues, school-related difficulties, attention deficit disorder, abuse, psychiatric disorders, anxiety disorders, and grief issues. Psychiatric consultation, and medication evaluation/monitoring are provided, as is assistance with school-related issues and referral/linkage to the appropriate community services. For more information, visit www.BakerVictoryServices.org or call (716) 828-9500.

Monsignor Carr Institute is a Catholic Charities outreach service that provides clinical services, long term counseling, and traditional services for persons experiencing a wide range of emotional and mental challenges. For more information, call (716) 895-7715.

Catholic Charities Community Outreach Treatment Team(COTT) provides mental health services to homebound individuals. COTT also provides clinic services to primary care centers and designated Catholic Charities offices, Services to other locations in Erie County may be assigned as appropriate.

Catholic Charities Creative Edge Studio is an expressive arts therapy program serving adults 18 and above who are recovering from mental illness and/or addictions. In a two hour weekly group session, participants are invited to explore a variety of expressive arts (i.e. visual, written and vocal arts, movement and meditative experiences) that focus on self expression and the creative process. Benefits of participation include improvement in social skills, increased self-knowledge and self-esteem, and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. For more information, call (716) 862-0367.

Catholic Charities Children’s Mental Health Clinics are three clinics located in Niagara County which serve children ages 3 to 18 who present with a psychiatric disorder and who are appropriate for outpatient care. Services include mental health assessment and evaluation, individual, family and group psychotherapy, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, behavior management and parenting skills. Specialized services are provided for children and youth who are suffering from the effects of physical and/or sexual abuse by a clinician qualified to provide treatment. School based services are available to the Niagara Falls School District . For more information, call(716) 285-0825.

Catholic Charities Salamanca Clubhouse provides informal leisure and nutritional services for adults with mental health needs in a home-like setting . Numerous center and community based recreational opportunities, outings and trips are offered to assist individuals in meeting their socialization needs and support continued living. For more information, call (716) 945-0619.

Catholic Therapists is a website which provides referrals to qualified psychotherapists and mental health professionals who are faithful to the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church and who integrate the truths of the faith in therapeutic process. Visit www.Catholictherapists.com for more information.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill has the mission of sharing information and support. It offers a place to access information, share personal stories through discussion groups and find resources about mental illness. Visit www.nami.org for more information.

Pathways to Promise (Ministry and Mental Illness)- formed to enable faith communities to become leaders in reaching out to people with mental illness and their families. Offers liturgical and educational materials, program models and networking information. Call (314) 644-8400 or visit www.pathways2promise.org for more information.

Action for Mental Health, Inc. provides services for persons with mental health issues in Erie County. Visit www.actionformentalhealth.org for more information.

Recovery Int.vhas for over 70 years, provides adults with a proven program for good mental health! Those who are interested inlearning more can attend any of the 14 WNY meetings. Recovery Int. provides structured meetings with leaders where tools and methods are discussed.. Call (716) 694-0104 or go to www.recovery-inc.org or email:135@recovery-inc.org

Emotions Anonymous is a program where members apply the Twelve Steps in working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. Visit www.emotionsanonymous.org for more information.