Patient Resources
Anxiety Disorders
Persistent worry, fear, or nervousness that interferes with daily life. This includes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and phobias.
Depression
A mood disorder marked by ongoing feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness, often affecting sleep, appetite, energy, and concentration.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
A condition characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) aimed at reducing distress.
Psychosis / Schizophrenia
Conditions involving distorted thinking, perceptions, and a disconnection from reality. Symptoms may include hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized behavior.
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​Grief & Loss
Emotional responses to significant loss, such as the death of a loved one, life transitions, or other major life events, which may become prolonged or complicated.
Personality Disorders
Long-standing patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion that deviate from cultural expectations and cause distress or functional impairment.
Eating Disorders
Mental health conditions such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder that involve disordered eating behaviors and body image concerns.
​​Bipolar Disorder
A mood disorder characterized by episodes of depression alternating with periods of mania or hypomania, affecting energy, mood, and functioning.
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PTSD & Trauma
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and trauma-related symptoms resulting from exposure to a traumatic event. May include flashbacks, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.
Non-Stimulant Treatment of ADHD
Support for individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder using non-stimulant medication options to improve focus, attention, and impulse control.
Adjustment Disorders
Emotional or behavioral responses to significant life stressors or transitions, resulting in distress that exceeds typical reactions.
And many other non-acute mental health disorders
A non-acute mental illness refers to a mental health condition that is chronic or stable rather than sudden, severe, or life-threatening. These illnesses typically involve ongoing symptoms that affect daily functioning but do not require immediate crisis intervention or hospitalization.
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Key Characteristics:
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Gradual onset or persistent symptoms
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Managed in outpatient or telehealth settings
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May require long-term care or medication
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Does not pose immediate risk to self or others
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Can often be treated with therapy, lifestyle changes, and medication
Examples of Non-Acute Mental Illnesses:
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
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Depression (when not severe or suicidal)
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ADHD
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
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Mild to moderate PTSD
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Adjustment Disorders
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Personality Disorders (in stable phases)
In contrast, acute mental illness involves:
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Sudden and severe symptoms
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Crisis-level distress or danger (e.g., suicidal ideation, psychosis, mania)
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Often requires emergency care or inpatient stabilization
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Non-acute conditions are the primary focus of Fern & Fathom’s telehealth model—allowing for safe, consistent, and personalized mental health care in a non-emergency setting.
Controlled Substance Schedules
Controlled substances are categorized by the DEA into five schedules based on their potential for abuse, medical use, and risk of dependency. This classification impacts how substances are regulated and prescribed:
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Schedule I (C-I): These substances have no accepted medical use and a high risk for abuse.
Examples: Marijuana (cannabis), heroin, LSD, ecstasy, peyote. -
Schedule II (C-II): High potential for abuse with possible severe psychological or physical dependence.
Examples: Methadone, oxycodone, fentanyl, Adderall, Ritalin. -
Schedule IIN (C-IIN): Non-narcotic substances within Schedule II.
Examples: Amphetamines like Dexedrine, methamphetamine, methylphenidate. -
Schedule III (C-III): Moderate to low potential for dependence. Abuse risk is lower than Schedules I & II.
Examples: Codeine combinations, ketamine, anabolic steroids. -
Schedule IIIN (C-IIIN): Non-narcotic drugs within Schedule III.
Examples: Benzphetamine, phendimetrazine, ketamine, some euthanasia solutions. -
Schedule IV (C-IV): Low risk for abuse and dependence.
Examples: Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Ambien, Tramadol. -
Schedule V (C-V): Lowest abuse potential; often includes limited amounts of certain narcotics used for antidiarrheal, analgesic, or cough suppression.
Examples: Robitussin AC, Lomotil, Lyrica.
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U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Drug scheduling. https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling
Psychotropic genetic testing—also known as pharmacogenomic testing—is a type of DNA analysis that examines how your genes may affect your body’s response to psychiatric medications. This testing looks at how you metabolize certain medications and how your body might react to them, with the goal of helping guide more personalized and effective treatment decisions.
While this testing is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it may offer potential benefits, especially for individuals who have:
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Experienced limited success with multiple medications
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Struggled with side effects or poor tolerability
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Want to potentially reduce the trial-and-error process of medication selection
It’s important to understand that this is not a guaranteed solution or a recipe book for treatment, but rather one more tool we can use to support your mental health journey. The results may help inform your provider’s recommendations, but they are always considered alongside clinical history, current symptoms, and your personal preferences.
Multiple companies offer this kind of testing.
This testing is entirely optional and can be discussed with your provider as part of your broader mental and physical health journey.
We offer hormone and neurotransmitter testing through a CLIA-certified diagnostic laboratory recognized as a leader in hormone and wellness testing. This type of testing provides insight into potential imbalances that may be contributing to mental and physical health concerns.
While these tests are not FDA-approved, they may serve as a valuable tool for those interested in taking a more integrative approach to their overall wellness. Results are used in conjunction with your clinical history and current symptoms to help guide personalized treatment planning.
This testing is entirely optional and can be discussed with your provider as part of your broader mental and physical health journey.
988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline
24/7 free, confidential mental health hotline that connects individuals in need of support with counselors across the United States and its territories. People do not have to be suicidal to call. Reasons to call include: substance use disorder, economic worries, relationships, culture and identity, illness, intimate partner violence, depression, mental and physical illness, and loneliness.
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Call: 988
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Text: 988
https://988lifeline.org/get-help/
Dial: 9-1-1
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When to Seek Emergency Help for a Mental Health Crisis
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of self-harm or harm to others, go to the nearest emergency room (ER) without delay. If you're unable to get there safely, call 911 so emergency services can respond and provide assistance.
Your safety is the top priority—please DO NOT wait to get help when urgent support is needed.
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