Unit 2: Mental/Emotional Health

Ch. 5/Lesson 1
with
2 most common mental health problems
Anxiety -the condition of feeling uneasy or worried about what may happen
Occasional anxiety is natural response to life events; once the stressful situation is over, so is the anxiety it created
• How to Cope? … use the stress management techniques from ch. 4
• Why not use substances such as alcohol or drugs to cope?
Produce a temporary false sense of relaxation & cause other physical, mental, social, and legal problems

Depression – a prolonged feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and sadness
( sadness affects everyone, but depression usually last longer and may produce symptoms that do not go away over time)
• 15% of all Teens will display some signs of depression
• Most common mental health concerns
Types of Depression
~ Major > intense feelings; lasting weeks or months at a time
~ Mild > less severe symptoms, but can last for years
~ Adjustment Disorder > reaction to a specific life event (loss and having trouble with closure)

5 or more of these symptoms must persist
 Persistent sad or irritable mood
 Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
 Significant change in appetite or weight
 Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
 Physical Signs of nervousness for two or more weeks before diagnosis
 Loss of energy
 Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
 Difficulty concentrating
 Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide http://www.webmd.com/depression/ss/slid eshow-depression-overview

Causes:
• physical… heredity; illness; medical condition
• psychological…surviving a traumatic life event
• social or environmental… living in poverty; abusive environment
• Emotional… harmful family situation; relationship
Effects or other (symptoms):
• changes in thinking…concentrating; decision making
• changes in feelings… apathy -lack of strong feeling, interest or concern
• changes in behavior…moody, lack of; eating more or less; sleeping; fatigued; withdrawn; and neglect basic hygiene; use of harmful substances

Depression is treatable
• Medications
• Changes in school or environment
• Counseling
 Focus on the positive things in your life
 Talk to a trusted friend, family member or counselor
 Get some exercise

Ch. 5 /Lesson 2
Each year 57.7 million people in the US are affected by some form of mental disorderillness of the mind that can affect thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, preventing him or her from leading a happy, healthful, and productive life.
(approx. 1 in every 6)
Stigma - a mark of shame or disapproval that results in an individual being shunned or rejected by others

Mental Disorders are medical conditions that require diagnosis and treatment and can begin as early as childhood
Disorder
Anxiety disorder
*most common among children and teens
13-15% between ages 9 and 17
Impulse control disorder
Eating disorder
*more common among teen girls
Effects/Types
Real or imagined fears are difficult to control
Phobia
-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
-Panic Disorder
-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
-General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Can’t resist the urge to cause harm to themselves or others
-kleptomania -excessive gambling
-cutting -compulsive shopping
-pyromania
Discomfort with body image; controlling and perfectionistic characteristics; people pleasers

*Conduct disorder
Disorder Effects/Types
*Engage in patterns of behavior in which the rights of others or basic social rules are violated
-Stealing -Cruelty -Arson
-Lying -Violence -Vandalism
-Aggression -Truancy
*Schizophrenia
*Affects 1% of population
*Mood disorder
*Personality Disorder
*Dissociative
Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder)
*Person loses contact with reality…
Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, and thought disorders
*Illness that involves mood extremes that interfere with everyday living (more extreme than the normal highs and lows)
-Depression
-Bipolar disorder (Manic Depression)
*Unable to regulate their emotions. Cause is unknown
*common effect of severe trauma during early childhood, usually extreme, repetitive physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse. Produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity

Ch. 5/Lesson 3
40
35
30
25
20
*Graph displays % of 15
Teens with Mild to Severe
10
Depression
5
(CDC Study-2009)
0
Boys Girls Average
Felt Sad or
Hopeless
Thought
About
Suicide
Often Felt
Lonely

Most people learn to deal with stress, but for some it can cause
Alienation – feeling isolated and separated from everyone else
• Lack of a support group
• Unable to access community help
Seeking to escape the pain, they make consider suicide
*3 rd Leading cause of death for Teens 15-19

1. Depression or other mental problems
2. History of alcohol or drug abuse
Other Risk Factors:
• Stressful situation or loss
• Previous attempts
• Family History of mental disorders
• Easy access to guns
*
Among those that do commit suicide, 90% suffer from these risk factors

Recognizing the Warning Signs
Signs should be taken seriously. The more signs exhibited, the more likely it is that the person is thinking about suicide
Recognizing these signs may help prevent `````````````````````a SUICIDE```````````````````````
 Direct statements “I wish I were dead”  Deterioration of schoolwork
 Indirect statements “I can’t take it…”  Substance abuse
 Unusual obsession with death  Guilt, shame, rejection, (-)self evaluation
 Giving away personal belongings  Writing songs, lyrics, poems, diary entries about death
 Dramatic changes in personality, hygiene, or appearance
 Impulsive/Unusual behaviors
 Intolerance for praise or rewards
 Withdrawal from friends
 Violent, rebellious behavior, running away
 Complaints about physical ailments

• Initiate a Meaningful Conversation
(Show interest, compassion, patience, and understanding and just listen)
• Show Support and Ask Questions
(“All problems have solutions…suicide is not the answer) *Share the fact that most suicide survivors are grateful the did not die
• Try to Persuade the Person to Seek Help
(parent, counselor, trusted adult…go with them)

Ch. 5/Lesson 4
• Feeling trapped or worried all the time
• Feelings that affect sleep, eating, schoolwork, performance, relationships
• Becoming involved with alcohol/drugs
• Being aggressive, violent, or reckless
Mental Health influences every aspect of a person’s life….get help!

Facts to keep in mind when you or someone is hesitant to seek help…
• Show signs of inner strength
• Serious disorder, compulsions, additions do require professional intervention
• Sharing thoughts and feeling with an objective person can be of great relief
• Financial help may be available

Health Care
Professionals
`````````````````````````
Counselor Neurologist
School
Psychologist
Clinical
Psychologist
Psychiatrist Psychiatric
Social
Worker
• Counselor -handles personal/school matters
• School Psychologist assessment of learning, emotional, and behavior problems
• Psychiatrist -physician that can diagnose/treat mental disorders (prescribe meds)
• Neurologist -physician of physical disorders of brain/nervous system
• Clinical Psychologist diagnose/treat emotional and behavior disorders
• Psychiatric Social Workerprovides counseling/guidance in community (hospitals, health clinics, etc)

Treatment Methods
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Psychotherapy – on going dialogue with patient to find the cause of the problem and devise a solution
Family Therapy – helping families function more positively promote better communication and education
Behavior Therapy – focuses on changing the unwanted behavior through rewards and reinforcements
Group Therapy – treating a group of people who have similar problems
Cognitive Therapy – identify and correct distorted thinking patterns that lead to selfdestructive behaviors and feelings
Drug Therapy – the use of certain medications to treat or reduce the symptoms of the disorder