MENTAL ILLNESS
Life
long disease
Panic
attacks- waves of emotion
and anxiety
Stigma
BI-POLAR/MANIC DEPRESSION
 Things
to watch for:
 Lengthy
crying,
 unnecessary
 making
 erratic
plans and not showing up,
decision making
 Overextend
 Pursuit
risks,
themselves
of perfection
SUICIDE ATTEMPTS
Intense
and unreal fears of
something
PHOBIAS

The not so pleasant looks of spiders have captured human
imagination. They have been depicted as huge man eating
monsters in some movies. However, their influence over the
human psyche is not limited to only motion pictures. There are
people who run into a frenzy every time they see a spider. This
fear of the spiders is known as arachnophobia. Interestingly
more women are known to be affected by this than men. It
also been found that incidence of this phobia in people of
South America, where the largest spiders in the world are
found is much lesser than it is in other countries. Does this
indicate that phobias have a sociocultural origin? Well, this
possibility is being weighed by experts.
ARACHNOPHOBIA
 Do
you feel dizzy and nauseated every time you think of
going to the Empire State building? Well this could be
because you suffer from vertigo whereas for some of the
thought itself would be enough to trigger a morbid fear.
Such people who suffer from acrophobia may be
terrified of even peeking down the window of their third
floor apartment! Acrophobia refers to the fear of heights
that can affect one's daily activities to a great extent.
ACROPHOBIA
 Refers
to the fear of being unable to escape from a
place. Such people avoid crowded places, sporting
events, shops, or even standing in a line at stores. This
fear can be so intense, that many affected individuals
refuse to leave their homes or may do so only when
accompanied by a friend or family member. Although
earlier it was perceived more as fear of public or open
spaces, today it is more widely considered as a result
of complication of panic attacks.
AGORAPHOBIA
 This
is another strange fear that has made it to the list
of common phobias in the world. Can you think of a
world where you did not have aircraft to travel in? If
yes then probably you can empathize with the plight
of people suffering from fear of flying which is also
known as aerophobia. Actor Billy Bob Thornton and
actress/singer Cher are two celebrities who suffer from
this.
AEROPHOBIA

What is the relationship between stress and stressors?

What is the difference between distress and eustress?

How does the body respond to stress?

What are the physical signs of stress and depression?

What are the steps of the decision making process?

Where do you seek help when a person is in danger of suicide?

What are the warning signs of depression and suicide?

What are sources of help for people with depression, suicidal thoughts, etc.?

Why is good self esteem and self concept important?

What are ways to handle anger, conflict, and peer pressure?

How can you model ways of handling peer pressure situations?

What are the steps of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

Mental health- the way people think about and respond to
events in their daily lives

Emotional health- the way a person experiences and deals with
feelings
QUALITIES OF PEOPLE WITH GOOD MENTAL
HEALTH

The person is comfortable with themselves: he/she does not question how they
feel about something, their values and beliefs, or their own thoughts and
actions.

The person is comfortable with others: he/she does not associate with people
that make them feel uncomfortable, gets them in trouble, or asks them to do
things that they do not agree with and don't feel right participating in. Part of
this is also good hygiene and grooming habits - these two qualities are linked to
better success with potential employment opportunities and in building
relationships.

The person is comfortable with their environment: he/she is able to leave
surroundings that make him/her feel uneasy.

The person is able to meet life's everyday demands: he/she does not put off
things until the last minute but rather accomplishes what each day presents
and possibly plans ahead for tomorrow's potential demands. As you transition
from adolescence to adulthood, you will experience increased responsibility.
Are you prepared to handle these?

Self esteem refers to how an individual feels about him/herself.

How would you characterize a person who has high self-esteem?

Can they interact with others comfortably and feel optimistic about self-worth
and position in life, etc.

How would you characterize a person who has low self-esteem?

Social isolation, pessimistic outlook about life and self worth, feelings of
worthlessness as a member of society, etc.

Where Does a Person's Self-Esteem Come From?

A person's self-esteem is constantly changing depending on many things: what
others say to this person, how others feel about this person, the person's
accomplishments, where the person is in their life educationally, financially,
socially, vocationally, etc., how is the person doing in achieving his/her goals?
SELF ESTEEM

Self-concept refers to what an individual knows about him/herself.

Where Does a Person's Self Concept Come From?

A person's self concept begins developing from birth and continually
develops throughout his/her life. Self concept is what makes a
person who they are based on past experiences and experiences
they have yet to endure. For example, a child loses his/her mother to
cancer at age 5. How do you think this child's self concept is going
to change? Possibly he/she will be hesitant about getting close to
other mother-like figures, maybe he/she will constantly fear cancer,
and what about if the father gets remarried…?

So, which experiences in your life have made you who you are
today? And what experiences in your future do you feel may
change your self-concept?
SELF CONCEPT

Watch the Dove Self Esteem Gallery on you tube

Stress, Eustress, Distress, Stress Management and Defense
Mechanisms

It's safe to say that we all have experienced stress- some more
than others. Stress is the body's response to change. Stressors are
the things that actually cause the stress: family problems
(divorce), relationships, injury, drugs, moving to a new
home/community, failing a class (grades), being suspended from
school, getting glasses, discrimination, trying out for a sports
team, money (lack of most likely), fatigue, etc. Stress - and
stressors - can be physical, mental, emotional, or social.
STRESSED OUT?

Eustress: This is good or positive stress and you react to it in a
positive manner

Example: You are getting married, but there's so much involved in
planning a wedding that it is a very tiresome, but you will finally
get to marry the man/woman that you want to spend the rest of
your life with!

Distress: This is bad or negative stress and you react to it in a
negative manner

Example: The death of a loved one or pet

Excessive stress can affect your physical, mental/emotional, and
social health. Think back to the last time that you were under a
lot of stress. Did you mentally function at your best? Did you easily
become angry, confused, pessimistic, etc.? We will discuss the
physical effects of stress on the body in the next topic.
TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF STRESS:

Stress Management: The Ability to Handle Stress in a Healthy Way
Since there's little we can do to completely avoid stress, the best thing we can
do is to manage it in a healthy way. What do you do when you are under a lot
of stress? Here are a few ways to deal productively with stress:

Don't sweat the small stuff!

Improve your level of fitness…take a walk to clear your mind

Eat right

Participate in physical activity

Manage your time wisely (get a planner/calendar)

Maintain a positive outlook

Laugh

Develop positive coping strategies

Listen to your favorite relaxing music

Write down your thoughts about the stressor

Talk to someone
STRESS MANAGEMENT

Write down on a piece of paper 5 things that cause you stress.
They can be both good or bad stress.

We will discuss them in 5 minutes in class so be willing to share.
(Use one of the stressors to help with the decision making process
on the next slide)
WHAT CAUSES YOU STRESS?

Think back to a decision that you made recently. Were you pleased with
your final decision and its outcome? What steps did you take when making
this decision?

Doesn't some of the stress we experience come from decisions that we
make? For example, if a person decides to be sexually active and becomes
pregnant, she may have to drop out of high school in order to care for her
child. What can we do to make better decisions in our lives? The five-step
process listed below is a great strategy to use when making decisions,
whether they are big or small.

State the problem

List the possible choices

Consider the consequences and your values

Make a decision and act on it

Evaluate your decision
THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS:
ASSERTIVENESS

Stage One: ALARM

The body enters the alarm stage when it is first introduced to the stressor. The sympathetic nervous
system is activated during this stage to help the body meet the demands of the stressor. Refer to the
linked worksheet to see the many physiological changes that occur during this stage.

Stage Two: RESISTANCE

A person enters the resistance stage when he/she manages their stress in a healthy, productive way. The
parasympathetic nervous system is activated to help bring the body back to homeostasis (normal
functioning levels). When you look at the linked worksheet, you should notice that all of the physiological
effects that occur during the resistance stage.

Stage Three: EXHAUSTION

A person enters the exhaustion stage when he/she does not manage their stress very well and/or is
under a lot of stress for an extended amount of time. During this stage, the body physiologically stays
somewhat in the alarm stage…and therefore can eventually cause major health problems. Such health
problems can range anywhere from decreasing your immunity so you catch a cold to having a massive
heart attack! Think back …have you ever gotten sick when you were under a lot of stress?
GENERAL ADAPTATION SKILLS

Sometimes peers try to influence your decisions. Peer pressure is
defined as pressure people of similar age or status place on a
person to behave in certain ways. This pressure can be positive
(study for a test, practice for an upcoming concert, wear your
helmet/seat belts, etc.) or negative (to try tobacco, alcohol, or
other drugs; have premarital sex; steal; vandalize; etc.). There are
many strategies (a plan of action) you can use in a negative
peer pressure situation.

Complete Peer Pressure worksheet
PEER PRESSURE STRATEGIES
As with stress, I'm sure we can all honestly say that we've experienced depression at some
point during our lives. It is estimated that approximately 3-5% of teenagers suffer from teenage
depression. Some people experience depression on a daily basis, whereas others get the
"blues" only occasionally.
What Happens in the Brain When Someone Is Depressed?
Depression involves the brain's delicate chemistry — specifically, it involves chemicals called
neurotransmitters. These chemicals help send messages between nerve cells in the brain.
Certain neurotransmitters regulate mood, and if they run low, people can become
depressed, anxious, and stressed. Stress also can affect the balance of neurotransmitters and
lead to depression.
Sometimes, a person may experience depression without being able to point to any
particular sad or stressful event. People who have a genetic predisposition to depression may
be more prone to the imbalance of neurotransmitter activity that is part of depression.
Medications that doctors use to treat depression work by helping to restore the proper
balance of neurotransmitters.
DEPRESSION


A woman by the name of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross was interested in finding out how people react when
grieving. If you have ever lost a loved one, what emotions did you go through when you heard the
news? Kubler-Ross came up with a process that she felt described what a lot of people go through
when grieving:

Stage One: Denial and Isolation: The grieving person refuses to accept the reality of the death.

Stage Two: Anger: The person is continuing to resist reality and to ask, "Why me? Why not that old
person down the street?"

Stage Three: Bargaining: The person tries to reverse reality, in various irrational ways, as in "bargaining
with God," promising to do certain good works, etc.

Stage Four: Depression: Reflects the person's recognition of reality.

Stage Five: Acceptance: The person no longer denies reality, no longer feels angry about it, no
longer tries to bargain it away, no longer feels depressed about it, but contemplates his/her death
with quiet expectation.

It is important to remember that this is just one person's theory; however, I do feel that she isn't too far
off with her stages. Some people may experience all five of these stages, whereas others may only
experience a few if any at all.
HUMAN REACTIONS TO DEPRESSION

Major depression

Dysthymia

Adjustment disorder with depressed mood

Bipolar disorder
For some people, depression can be intense and occur in bouts that last for weeks at a time. For others,
depression can be less severe but can linger at a low level for years.
Doctors who treat depression distinguish between these two types of depression. They call the more
severe, short-lasting type major depression, and the longer-lasting but less severe form dysthymia
(pronounced: diss-thy-me-uh).
A third form of depression that doctors may diagnose is called adjustment disorder with depressed mood.
This diagnosis refers to a depressive reaction to a specific life event (such as a death, divorce, or other
loss), when adjusting to the loss takes longer than the normally expected timeframe or is more severe than
expected and interferes with the person's daily activities.
Bipolar disorder (also sometimes called manic depressive illness) is another depressive condition that
involves periods of major depression mixed with periods of mania. Mania is the term for abnormally high
mood and extreme bursts of unusual activity or energy.
TYPES OF DEPRESSION

depressed mood or sadness most of the time (for what may seem like no reason)

lack of energy and feeling tired all the time

inability to enjoy things that used to bring pleasure

withdrawal from friends and family

irritability, anger, or anxiety

inability to concentrate

significant weight loss or gain

significant change in sleep patterns (inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or get up in the morning)

feelings of guilt or worthlessness

aches and pains (with no known medical cause)

pessimism and indifference (not caring about anything in the present or future)

thoughts of death or suicide
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF
DEPRESSION

Suicide is defined as the intentional taking of one's life. It is
important to recognize the warning signs of suicide and seek help
if you or someone you know is suffering from severe depression.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem!
SUICIDE
Ethan felt like there was no point going on with life. Things had been tough since his
mom died. His dad was working two jobs and seemed frazzled and angry most of the
time. Whenever he and Ethan talked, it usually ended in yelling.
Ethan had just found out he'd failed a math test, and he was afraid of how mad and
disappointed his dad would be. In the past, he always talked things over with his
girlfriend — the only person who seemed to understand. But they'd broken up the week
before, and now Ethan felt he had nowhere to turn.
Ethan knew where his dad kept his guns. But as he was unlocking the cabinet, he heard
his kid sister arriving home from school. He didn't want Grace to be the person to find
him, so he put the gun back and went to watch TV with her instead. Later, when he
realized how close he'd come to ending his life, Ethan was terrified. He summoned the
courage to talk to his dad. After a long conversation, he realized how much his dad
cared. All he could think of was how he'd almost thrown it all away.
CASE STUDY: ETHAN

Most teens interviewed after making a suicide attempt say that they did it because they were
trying to escape from a situation that seemed impossible to deal with or to get relief from
really bad thoughts or feelings. Like Ethan, they didn't want to die as much as they wanted to
escape from what was going on and at that particular moment dying seemed like the only
way out.

Some people who end their lives or attempt suicide might be trying to escape feelings of
rejection, hurt, or loss. Others might be angry, ashamed, or guilty about something. Some
people may be worried about disappointing friends or family members, and some may feel
unwanted, unloved, victimized, or like they're a burden to others.

We all feel overwhelmed by difficult emotions or situations sometimes. But most people get
through it or can put their problems in perspective and find a way to carry on with
determination and hope. So why does one person try suicide when another person in the
same tough situation does not? What makes some people more than others? What makes a
person unable to see another way out of a bad situation besides ending his or her life?

The answer to those questions lies in the fact that most people who commit suicide have
depression.
WHY DO TEENS TRY TO KILL
THEMSELVES?

Sometimes a depressed person plans a suicide in advance. Many times,
though, suicide attempts happen impulsively, in a moment of feeling
desperately upset. A situation like a breakup, a big fight with a parent, an
unintended pregnancy, or being victimized in any way can cause someone
to feel desperately upset. Often, a situation like this on top of an existing
depression, acts like the final straw.

Some people who attempt suicide mean to die and some aren't completely
sure they want to die. For some, a suicide attempt is a way to express deep
emotional pain. They can't say how they feel, so for them, attempting suicide
feels like the only way to get their message across. Sadly, many people who
really didn't mean to kill themselves end up dead or critically ill.
SUICIDE IS NOT ALWAYS PLANNED
There are often signs that someone may be thinking about or planning a suicide
attempt. Here are some of them:

talking about suicide or death in general

talking about "going away"

referring to things they "won't be needing," and giving away possessions

talking about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty

pulling away from friends or family and losing the desire to go out

having no desire to take part in favorite things or activities

having trouble concentrating or thinking clearly

experiencing changes in eating or sleeping habits

engaging in self-destructive behavior (drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or cutting,
for example)
WARNING SIGNS
Participate in a class discussion.

Your friend says, "I wonder who would come to my funeral" one
night while you are chatting on the phone. A few days later
he/she drops out of the marching band and starts giving away
their prized positions. What would you do? How could you help?
What organizations could you turn to in order to help your friend or refer your friend to for help.
CLASS DISCUSSION

Self Actualization: Self fulfilled, independent & creative

Aesthetic Needs: The needs to know, explore & understand

Achievement Needs: The needs to achieve, be recognized

Safety Needs: The needs to belong, love, be loved, be safe, secure
& out of danger

Physiological Needs: The needs to satisfy hunger, thirst, sleep, & to
have shelter
HIERARCHY OF NEEDS