Mental Health Notes – Chapters 4-9
Chapter 4 – Dealing with Stress and Loss
 Perception – Act of becoming aware through the senses.
 Stressor – Anything that causes stress
 Psychosomatic Response – physical reaction that results from stress rather than from injury or illness –
headache, weakened immune system, high blood pressure, digestive disorders
Stressors for teens
 Life situations
 Environmental
 Biological
 Cognitive
 Personal behavior
Three stages
 Alarm
 Resistance
 Fatigue
Healthy ways to deal with stress
 Music
 Exercise
 Time with family…
 Practice relaxation techniques
Chronic stress is associated with long term problems that are beyond personal control
Limiting stress
 Use refusal skill
 Plan ahead
 Think positively
 Avoid substance abuse
Handling Stress
 Practice relaxation techniques
 Redirect your energy
 Seek support
 Acknowledge loss
Grieving Process
 Denial
 Emotional release
 Anger
 Bargaining
 Depression
 Remorse
 Acceptance
 Hope
 Mourning (act of showing sorrow or grief). The bold terms are most important.
Chapter 5 – Mental and Emotional Problems
Depression – a prolonged feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and sadness.
Mental Disorder – an illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person, preventing
him or her from leading a happy, healthful and productive life.
Mental disorders include: anxiety disorders, impulse control disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders, conduct
disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders
Suicide - the act of intentionally takings one’s own life. It is the third leading cause of death for teens ages 15 to 19.
Suicide Risk factors – suffer from depression or another mental disorder or have a history of abusing alcohol or other
drugs. Sometimes, both risk factors are present.
Suicide Warning signs:
 Direct statements such as “I wish I were dead”
 Indirect statements such as “I can’t take it anymore”
 Writing poems, song lyrics or diary entries that deal with death
 Direct or indirect suicide threats
 An unusual obsession with death
 Withdrawal from friends
 Dramatic changes in personality, hygiene or appearance
 Impulsive, irrational or unusual behavior
 A sense of guilt, shame or rejection, negative self-evalutation
 Deterioration in schoolwork or recreational performance
 Giving away personal belongings
 Substance abuse
 Complaints about physical symptoms, such as stomachaches, headaches, and fatigue
 Persistent boredom and indifference
 Violent actions, rebellious behavior, or running away
 Intolerance for praise or rewards
Mental Health Professionals:
 Counselor
 School psychologist
 Psychiatrist
 Clinical psychologist
 Neurologist
 Psychiatric Social Worker
Chapter 6 – Healthy Relationships
Relationship – a bond or connection you have with other people.
Friendship – a significant relationship between two people that is based on trust, caring and consideration.
Citizenship – the way you conduct yourself as a member of the community.
Traits of Healthy Relationships:
 Mutual Respect
 Caring
 Honesty
 Commitment
Character and Relationships
 Trustworthiness
 Respect
 Responsibility
 Fairness
 Caring
 Citizenship
Skills for Building Healthy Relationships
 Communication
 Cooperation
 Compromise
Showing Respect for Others
 Listen to other people
 Be considerate of others’ feelings
 Develop mutual respect
 Be realistic in your expectations
Communication Styles
 Aggressive - being overly forceful, pushy, or hostile
 Passive – being unwilling or unable to express thoughts and feelings in a direct or firm manner
 Assertive – expressing your views clearly and respectfully
Prejudice – an unfair opinion or judgment of a particular group of people.
Stereotype – an exaggerated or oversimplified belief about people who belong to a certain group.
Tolerance – the ability to accept others’ differences.
Bullying – deliberately harming or threatening other people who cannot easily defend themselves.
Hazing – making others perform certain tasks in order to join the group.
Active Listening – paying close attention to what someone is saying and communicating.
Active Listening Techniques:
 Don’t interrupt
 Show interest
 Restate what you hear
 Ask questions
 Show empathy
Chapter 7 – Family Relationships
Types of Families
 Nuclear family – two parents and one or more children living in the same place
 Single-parent families – families with one parent caring for one or more children
 Blended families – a married couple and their children from previous marriages
 Extended families – family that includes additional relatives beyond parents and children
 Adoptive families – families that consist of a parent or parents and one or more adopted children
 Foster families – the temporary placement of children in the homes of adults who are not related to them
Families Promoting Physical Health
 Providing medical care
 Setting limits on behavior
 Teaching health skills
Families Promoting Mental and Emotional Health
 Provide a safe environment for you to express and deal with your emotions
 Providing love and support, helping to meet your need to feel that you belong
 Help meet your need to feel valued and recognized by providing affirmation
 They celebrate your achievements and show appreciation for the ways you help
Families Promoting Social Health
 Helping you learn how to communicate and get along with others
 Help you learn social skills such as cooperation with others
 Teach you how to resolve conflict
 Help you become an independent adult
 Instilling values
 Share cultural heritage
Traits of Strong Families
 Good communication
 Caring and support
 Respect
 Commitment
 Trust
Changes in Family Structure
 Birth and Adoption
 Separation and Divorce
 Custody
 Remarriage
 Death of a Family Member
Cycle of Violence – the pattern of repeating violent or abusive behaviors from one generation to the next. Abused
children of grow up to become abusers themselves.
Chapter 8 – Peer Relationships
Traits of Positive Friendships
 Mutual respect
 Caring
 Honesty
 Commitment
 Empathy
 Fairness
 Shared interests
 Acceptance
 Support
 Loyalty
Clique – a small circle of friends, usually with similar backgrounds or tastes, who exclude people viewed as outsiders.
Peer Pressure – the influence that people your age may have on you.
Ways of responding to peer pressure
 Go along
 Resist
 State your position
Resisting Peer Pressure –
 Develop friendships with people who share your values and interests
 Learn refusal skills
Methods of Manipulation
 Making threats – promising violence or some other negative consequence if the person does not do what is
asked.
 Blackmail – threatening to reveal some embarrassing or damaging information if the person does not do what is
asked.
 Mocking or teasing – making fun of another person in mean or hurtful ways.
 “Guild trips” – making a person feel guilty to get desired results.
 Bargaining – offering to make a deal to get what one wants.
 Flattery- using excessive praises to influence another person.
 Bribing – promising money or favors if the person does what is asked.
Refusal Skills –
 State your Position
 Suggest Alternatives
 Stand your Ground
Self-Control – a person’s ability to use responsibility to override emotions.
 Set limits for expressing affection
 Communicate with your partner
 Talk with a trusted adult
 Seek low-pressure dating situations
 Date someone who respects and shares your values
Chapter 9 – Resolving Conflicts
Conflict – any disagreement, struggle, or fight
Interpersonal Conflicts – conflicts between people or groups of people
Causes of Conflict
 Power struggles
 Personal loyalties
 Jealousy and envy
 Property disputes
 Conflicting attitudes and values
 Lack of respect
Negotiation – the use of communication and, in many cases, compromise to settle a disagreement.
The Negotiation Process
 Take time to calm down and think over the situation
 Let each party take turns explaining its side of the conflict without interruption. Apply good communication
skills, such as active listening and using “I” messages.
 If necessary, ask for clarification to make sure that each party understands the other’s position.
 Brainstorm solutions to the conflict.
 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each solution.
 Agree on a solution that is acceptable to both sides. The ideal outcome will be a win-win solution. If this is not
possible the two parties may need to compromise.
 Follow up to see whether the solution has worked for each party.
Mediation – bringing in a neutral third party to help others resolve their conflicts peacefully.
Violence - the threatened or actual use of physical force or power to harm another person or to damage property.
Causes of Violence
 Uncontrolled anger or frustration
 A need to control others
 Hatred or prejudice against a particular group
 Retaliation or revenge for some past harm, whether real or perceived.
Additional influences on Violence
 Alcohol and drug use
 Mental and emotional problems
 Availability of Weapons
 Violence in the Media
 Gang Violence
Types of Violence
 Assult – an unlawful physical attack or threat of attack
 Random Violence – violence committed for no particular reason
 Homicide – the willful killing of one human being by another
 Sexual Violence – any form of unwelcome sexual contact directed at an individual
 Sexual Assault – any intentional sexual attack against another person
 Rape – any form of sexual intercourse that takes place against a person’s will
 Hate Crimes – crime motivated chiefly by hatred of or prejudice against a particular group. People may be
target because of their race, religion, culture, sexual orientation or other difference. Includes: harassment,
vandalism, arson, assault and homicide.
Forms of Abuse
 Physical abuse – pattern of intentionally causing bodily harm or injury to another person.
 Emotional abuse – a pattern of attacking another’s person emotional development and sense of worth
 Verbal abuse – the use of words to mistreat or injure another person
 Sexual abuse – a pattern of sexual contact that is forced upon a person against the person’s will
 Stalking – repeatedly following, harassing, or threatening an individual
Prevention of Violence and Abuse
 Hang out with others who share your values and treat you with respect
 Know your own limits with regard to sexual activity and communicate those limits clearly to anyone you date
 Avoid alcohol and drugs
 Know the warning signs of abuse in relationships
Sources of Help
 Hotline
 Counselor
 Youth Leader
 Coach
 Teacher
 Parent
 Trusted Adult