Mental Illness
Byron understand the struggles individuals may have with mental illness and how those struggles affect day-to-day living.
Currently, a majority of our residents have multiple diagnoses, with the majority having some sort of mental illness diagnosis. These diagnosis include bi-polar disorder, mania, generalized anxiety disorder, major depression disorder, schizophrenia and multiple-personality disorder, just to name a few. With the onset of Mental Illness normally occurring during a person’s early to mid-twenties, many residents had started families, college or a professional career and then brain chemicals started to drastically change. This loss of what could have been can be difficult for the resident, their family and friends to come to terms with.
In addition, there is a stigma around mental illness throughout our country that often times leads to limited access to resources for many who are experiencing an acute episode or prolonged condition with their mental illness. It is vitally important to our work to break down this stigma and recognize and celebrate that those with mental illness can live a purposeful and fulfilling life.
Through various partnerships, including Park Center, who provides Out Patient Talk Therapy Services, we provide resources above and beyond the normal regiment of care. Some of our team members are certified in crisis prevention and intervention. Regular visits to Carriage House are also available to our residents. Their “Club House Model” encourages recovery and reintegration through meaningful daily living activities.
Our dedicated team works closely with our Certified Family Nurse Practitioner who specializes in psychiatry related to the use of antipsychotic medications. We meet as an interdisciplinary team, which includes a Resident Engagement Specialist, our Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, our Director of Nursing, our Pharmacist, and administration staff, to discuss the medication plan for each resident. Federal regulations require an ongoing Gradual Dose Reduction of these medications.
You wouldn’t take insulin away from a diabetic, would you?
As an organization, we are working diligently with LeadingAge and our government representatives to fundamentally change these regulations. “If an individual’s medication levels are working for them, why would you purposefully try to change those?” asks Deb Lambert, our CEO of Byron Wellness Systems.
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National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Fort Wayne: focused on improving the lives of individuals and families living with mental illness through education, support groups, and advocacy.
Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana: dedicated to providing essential information, resources, advocacy and education to help individuals and families better gain access to the prevention, treatment and recovery programs they need to be successful.
Look Up Indiana: a compassionate initiative designed to provide mental health information and reduce the stigma associated with these serious health issues. By connecting those in need with life-saving resources, The Lutheran Foundation desires to deliver community-wide hope and healing.
The Carriage House: Working Together to Overcome Mental Illness. Accredited by Clubhouse International — Proudly Serving Fort Wayne.
Park Center: comprehensive behavioral health provider offering services in Allen, Adams and Wells counties, providing quality care and support to promote wellness and healing for clients of all ages and at every stage of recovery. At Park Center, a comprehensive selection of services is offered in a professional setting, tailoring treatments to achieve personal care.
Parkview Behavioral Health: promotes well-being, providing comprehensive mental health care and clinically-proven treatments for a wide range of mental health conditions.

