Chief executive and board member of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Keris Myrick knows first-hand what it’s like to live with the challenging mental illness known as schizophrenia; she herself suffers from the condition. “I feel my brain is damaged; I don’t know any other way to say it,” Ms. Myrick says. “I don’t know [...]

Mental illness doesn’t just appear; it has its roots deep in genetics and the societal influences that surround children and adolescents and carry them into adulthood. A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found nearly two million adolescents experienced a major bout of depression in the past year. Other findings [...]

Relapse is a common and important concern of the patient with bipolar disorder. A relapse is the return of depression or a manic or hypomanic episode after a period of wellness. A study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that 73 percent of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder experienced at least one relapse during [...]

When a loved one is feeling down and hurting, it’s natural to want to say something to make him or her feel better. Have you had the experience of offering what you thought were loving and supportive words, only to be met with anger or frustration? What Helps What Hurts Talk to me. I’m listening… [...]

For patients with a dual diagnosis (mental illness plus addiction), the adult residential mental health program at Pasadena Villa may be ideal. A significant challenge for those fighting addiction while learning to live with and care for their mental illness is the emerging reality of “found time.” When one’s life is consumed by procuring and [...]

As we near the end of 2010, all of us here would like to extend a sincere thank you for your continued support of our programs.  Being in the business of helping others can sometimes have its challenges, but knowing you helped a fellow human being is its own reward.  As we move into the [...]

Pasadena Villa® is committed to providing the highest quality residential mental health services via its Orlando, Florida, and Tennessee mental health treatment centers. A cornerstone of treatment is our Social Integration Model. The Social Integration Program is filled with a variety of physical, social, and life skill therapies. This active schedule is beneficial to clients [...]

For someone who suffers with a mental disability, the transition from living at home to living independently poses a number of challenges. The everyday chores and duties that the average person takes for granted may not be so easily accomplished by someone with a mental disability such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, especially if he’s [...]

Living on your own is hard enough without the added difficulty of dealing with Asperger’s Syndrome[1] . According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, Asperger Syndrome is “an Autism Spectrum Disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to function in society”. Estimates suggest that two out of every 10,000 children suffer from Asperger Syndrome, with the distribution being three boys for every girl.

If you believe you suffer from bipolar disorder, or know someone that does, you know first hand the kind of havoc that it can cause. It not only affects the individual, but also friends, family, teachers and coworkers. Left untreated, it’s a devastating disorder with devastating consequences. But being diagnosed with bipolar disorder does not have to mean [...]