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International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations

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      • Amylyx – AMX0035
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Mental Health Support

A person living with ALS/MND may be challenged emotionally at all stages of the disease. Therefore, a multidisciplinary healthcare team includes support for mental health for people living with ALS/MND and their families. Mental health support throughout the progression of the disease can help a person cope with emotions that can be difficult to manage. Multiple healthcare professionals are available for mental health support for people living with ALS/MND and their families. The multidisciplinary healthcare team that can provide mental health support include:

  • General Practitioner
  • Counsellor
  • Psychologist
  • Psychiatrist
  • Social worker
  • Neuropsychologist
  • Occupational therapist
  • Spiritual or faith leader/counsellor
  • Complementary therapists

This multidisciplinary healthcare team can help a person living with ALS/MND cope with emotions regarding various aspects of their lives. Coping and coming to terms with a diagnosis, relationships, both familial and intimate, religious or spiritual faith, and managing symptoms of ALS/MND as they progress all impact a person living with ALS/MND.

Individuals with ALS/MND can also access their multidisciplinary healthcare team for treatment and management for anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. Medications are available for mental health in people living with ALS/MND.

In addition, the multidisciplinary healthcare team is available to help treat and manage potential symptoms of ALS/MND that affect cognition and behaviour, such as frontal temporal dementia symptoms.

Living with ALS/MND does not mean a person is alone. Support is always available.

For more information on mental health support, refer to the resources provided below.

Click on the icon below to visit our playlist of videos related to Mental Health Support.

The following are resources from Members of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations on the topic of Mental Health Support.

Psychological Treatment Program

Psychological support services are provided by a group of ALS trained, dedicated Psychologists and Registered Clinical Counsellors who volunteer their time to provide much-needed therapy and counselling to people affected by ALS. For people without extended health benefits, this service can be provided Pro Bono.

https://www.alsbc.ca/programs-services/psychological-treatment-program/

Language: English
Subject Areas: Mental Health Support, For People with ALS/MND, For Caregivers

What Can the Social Worker Do For You?

This resource discusses the social worker’s role as part of the multidisciplinary healthcare team for families affected by ALS/MND and for people living with ALS/MND. In addition, the type of support that a social worker can provide is discussed.

https://www.als-centrum.nl/kennisplatform/wat-doet-de-maatschappelijk-werker/

Language: Dutch, English
Subject Areas: Social Work, Mental Health Support, Multidisciplinary Healthcare Team, For People with ALS/MND, For Caregivers

What Does the Psychologist Do?

The ALS Centrum Nederlands discusses the role of a psychologist as part of the multidisciplinary healthcare team in this resource. In addition, information on the support a psychologist can provide to the patient, the caregiver and family of the person living with ALS/MND, and their healthcare team is discussed.

https://www.als-centrum.nl/kennisplatform/wat-doet-de-psycholoog/

Language: Dutch
Subject Areas: Mental Health Support, Psychologist, Multidisciplinary Healthcare Team, For People with ALS/MND, For Caregivers

Emotional Support for People With or Affected by ALS/MND

Information on supporting and managing emotions for people living with ALS/MND is provided in this guide. The guide, created by the MND Association (MNDA), outlines the multidisciplinary healthcare team that can help support mental health for a person living with ALS/MND. Tips and strategies for managing difficult emotions and emotional lability are also provided.

https://www.mndassociation.org/app/uploads/2020/07/Emotional-and-psychological-support.pdf

Language: English
Subject Areas: Mental Health Support, Multidisciplinary Healthcare Team, For People with ALS/MND

Coping with ALS/MND

This is a brief resource for people living with ALS/MND to help identify signs that they may need mental health support. The ALS Association (ALSA) discusses these signs and the treatment and support options available.

https://www.als.org/navigating-als/coping-with-als

Language: English
Subject Areas: Mental Health Support, For People with ALS/MND

Spiritual Guidance with ALS

The ALS Centrum Nederlands provides information about the spiritual counsellor’s role in supporting mental health and treatment for people living with ALS/MND. The impacts of spiritual guidance are also discussed and outlined in this resource.

https://www.als-centrum.nl/kennisplatform/geestelijke-begeleiding-voor-mensen-met-als/

Language: Dutch
Subject Areas: Mental Health Support, Multidisciplinary Healthcare Team, For People with ALS/MND

FYI: ALS, Cognitive Impairment, & Dementia

This resource provides detailed information for the multidisciplinary healthcare team about the effects of ALS/MND on cognition and frontal temporal dementia. In addition, information for care and management for people living with ALS/MND with these symptoms are discussed. The ALS Association (ALSA) also provides input on communicating these symptoms to people living with ALS/MND.

https://www.als.org/navigating-als/resources/fyi-als-cognitive-impairment-dementia

Language: English
Subject Areas: Mental Health, Dementia, Multidisciplinary Healthcare Team, For Healthcare Professionals

Changes in Thinking and Emotional Lability

The ALS Association provides this resource with information on symptoms of ALS/MND related to cognition, dementia, and depression. This information is intended for people living with ALS/MND and caregivers. People with ALS/MND and caregivers can find out more about these symptoms and how to manage and cope with them.

https://www.als.org/navigating-als/coping-with-als/changes-thinking-emotional-lability

Language: English
Subject Areas: Mental Health, Dementia, For People with ALS/MND, For Caregivers

Primary Sidebar

Care services

  • Genetic Counselling & Testing
  • Mental Health Support
  • Nursing and Symptom Management
  • Nutrition and Swallowing
  • Occupational Therapy and Activities of Daily Living
  • Physiotherapy and Mobility
  • Respiratory Care
  • Speech Therapy and Communication
  • Support for Family & Caregivers
  • Technology

  • Ian Gale, MND Australia

    Ian Gale, MND Australia

  • Mark Miller

    Mark Miller

  • Rolf Mauch, Association ALS Switzerland, Diagnosed 2015

    Rolf Mauch, Association ALS Switzerland, Diagnosed 2015

  • Carlos Alberto Arango, Colombia

    Carlos Alberto Arango, Colombia

  • Aida Trzmiel de Guterman, Asociacion ELA Argentina, Diagnosed 2007, Argentina

    Aida Trzmiel de Guterman, Asociacion ELA Argentina, Diagnosed 2007, Argentina

  • Hanne Stenmose, Muskelsvindfonden, Denmark

    Hanne Stenmose, Muskelsvindfonden, Denmark

  • Elkin Ramiro Gaviria Muñoz, Diagnosed December 2018

    Elkin Ramiro Gaviria Muñoz, Diagnosed December 2018

  • Eddy LeFrançois, Diagnosed 1992,  ALS Canada

    Eddy LeFrançois, Diagnosed 1992, ALS Canada

  • Daniel Hare

    Daniel Hare

  • Graham Johnson, MND Australia

    Graham Johnson, MND Australia

  • Jason Goodman, Les Turner ALS Foundation, USA

    Jason Goodman, Les Turner ALS Foundation, USA

  • Gudjon Sigurdsson, Diagnosed 2004 , MND Association of Iceland

    Gudjon Sigurdsson, Diagnosed 2004 , MND Association of Iceland

  • Shay Rishoni, Diagnosed 2011 , Prize4Life, Israel

    Shay Rishoni, Diagnosed 2011 , Prize4Life, Israel

  • Karl Hughes, Diagnosed 2010 , IMNDA,  Ireland

    Karl Hughes, Diagnosed 2010 , IMNDA, Ireland

  • Marcelo Farinelli, Diagnosed 2006, ABrELA, Brazil

    Marcelo Farinelli, Diagnosed 2006, ABrELA, Brazil

  • Jean Waters, Diagnosed 2004, MND Association of England, Wales and N Ireland

    Jean Waters, Diagnosed 2004, MND Association of England, Wales and N Ireland

  • Francisco Perez Palop, Diagnosed 2013 , FUNDELA, Spain

    Francisco Perez Palop, Diagnosed 2013 , FUNDELA, Spain

  • IMG_1211

    IMG_1211

  • Roxana Canova, Diagnosed 2012 ,  Asociación ELA Argentina

    Roxana Canova, Diagnosed 2012 , Asociación ELA Argentina

  • Mauril Belanger

    Mauril Belanger

  • Chun Ju Xiao, China

    Chun Ju Xiao, China

  • Richard Clark, MND New Zealand,  Diagnosed 2011

    Richard Clark, MND New Zealand, Diagnosed 2011

  • John Dinon, MND Australia

    John Dinon, MND Australia

  • Alejandro Aquino, Diagnosed 2011 , Asociación ELA Argentina

    Alejandro Aquino, Diagnosed 2011 , Asociación ELA Argentina

  • Ana Lilia RodriguezApoyo Integral Gila A.C., Diagnosed 2018, Mexico

    Ana Lilia RodriguezApoyo Integral Gila A.C., Diagnosed 2018, Mexico

  • Chih Ching Darren Wong, MND Malaysia

    Chih Ching Darren Wong, MND Malaysia

  • Olga Cosentino, Diagnosed 2013,  Asociación ELA Argentina

    Olga Cosentino, Diagnosed 2013, Asociación ELA Argentina

  • Margreth Burger-Saile, Diagnosed 2011,  ALS Schweiz,  Switzerland

    Margreth Burger-Saile, Diagnosed 2011, ALS Schweiz, Switzerland

  • Timmy, ALS Liga

    Timmy, ALS Liga

  • Ada Garrido Benavidez, Diagnosed 2016,  FYADENMAC, Mexico

    Ada Garrido Benavidez, Diagnosed 2016, FYADENMAC, Mexico

  • Margarita Pizarro, Asociacion ELA Argentina, Diagnosed 2017, Argentina

    Margarita Pizarro, Asociacion ELA Argentina, Diagnosed 2017, Argentina

  • Michael Lee, Australia

    Michael Lee, Australia

  • Jon Newsome, Les Turner ALS Foundation, USA

    Jon Newsome, Les Turner ALS Foundation, USA

  • Steven Spencer, Diagnosed 2014 , MND New Zealand

    Steven Spencer, Diagnosed 2014 , MND New Zealand

  • Phil Rossall, MND-Association, UK

    Phil Rossall, MND-Association, UK

  • Jose Espinosa, Argentina

    Jose Espinosa, Argentina

  • Liam Dwyer, England

    Liam Dwyer, England

  • Fabio Correia

    Fabio Correia

  • Dick Dayton, USA

    Dick Dayton, USA

  • Elisabeth Zahnd, Switzerland

    Elisabeth Zahnd, Switzerland

  • Catherine Pearce, Australia

    Catherine Pearce, Australia

  • Jeff Sutherland

    Jeff Sutherland
    jspic

  • Laurie Petit-Jean, Diagnosed 2012 , ARSLA, France

    Laurie Petit-Jean, Diagnosed 2012 , ARSLA, France

  • Fabio Carvalho

    Fabio Carvalho

  • Zabun Nassar, MND Association, Diagnosed 2016, England

    Zabun Nassar, MND Association, Diagnosed 2016, England

  • Stephanie Christiansen Hall, Canada

    Stephanie Christiansen Hall, Canada

  • Jo Knowlton and her dog, Scotland

    Jo Knowlton and her dog, Scotland

  • Erwin Coppejans, Diagnosed 2007 , ALS Liga België, Belgium

    Erwin Coppejans, Diagnosed 2007 , ALS Liga België, Belgium

  • Calum Ferguson, Diagnosed 2010 , MND Scotland, UK

    Calum Ferguson, Diagnosed 2010 , MND Scotland, UK

  • Shay Rishoni

    Shay Rishoni

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