What is Mental Illness? A disturbance in thoughts and emotions that decrease a person's capacity to cope with the challenges of everyday life.

What is Stigma? A mark or token of infamy, disgrace, or reproach How does stigma affect us?

Mood Disorders Persistent changes in mood caused by chemical imbalances in the brain.

Mood Disorders Major depressive disorder Depressed mood accompanied by symptoms such as  loss of interest or pleasure in life  irritability and sadness  sleep or appetite problems  lack of concentration  sense of worthlessness, guilt  in some cases thoughts of suicide.

Mood Disorders cont’d Bipolar disorder A cycle of depressed mood, “normal” mood and mania. Mania is an elevated mood accompanied by symptoms like  inflated self-esteem and confidence  increased energy and sexual drive  poor judgment  increased involvement in pleasurable and possibly dangerous activities.

Psychosis Active state of experiencing hallucinations or delusions and can be organic or drug- induced

Psychosis Schizophrenia A disturbance involving  Delusions (false beliefs or misinterpretations of situations and experiences)  Hallucinations (can be auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, or tactile)  Disorganized speech and or catatonic behaviour.

Anxiety Disorders Feelings of anxiousness, combined with physiological symptoms that interfere with everyday activities

Anxiety Disorders Obsessive-compulsive disorder marked by repeated obsessions and/or compulsions that are so severe they interfere with daily life

Anxiety Disorders cont’d Post-traumatic stress disorder re-experiencing a traumatic event  E.g battle situation or car crash accompanied by feelings of extreme anxiety.

Anxiety Disorders cont’d Phobias Significant and persistent fears of objects or situations Exposure causes extreme anxiety that inteferes with daily life May be specific or social.

Personality Disorders A pattern of inner experience and behaviour that is significantly different from the person's culture and leads to distress or impairment. Dissociative identity disorder Formerly known as “multiple personality disorder” The presence of 2 or more distinct identities that alternately control a person's behaviour Most individuals have a history of childhood abuse.

Eating Disorders Involve an obsession with food, weight and appearance that negatively affects a person's health, relationships, and daily life. Anorexia nervosa an intense and irrational fear of body fat and weight gain the strong determination to become thinner the refusal to maintain a normal a distorted body image

Eating Disorders cont’d Bulimia nervosa Self-defeating cycles of binge eating and purging Body Dysmorphic Disorder Feeling that your body is distorted and monstrous when it is normal Can lead to self-injury

Fact or Fiction? One person in 100 develops schizophrenia. Fact: 1% of the general population develops schizophrenia.

Fact or Fiction? A person who has one or more parent with mental illness is more likely to develop mental illness. Fact: Mental illness may be hereditary. If one parents has schizophrenia, 8% chance. Both parents, 37-46%. Depression, 1/10 chance, but ¼ chance if parents have experienced depression.

Fact or Fiction? Mental illness is contagious. Fiction: It is not contagious. Heredity can play a factor in the development of mental illness.

Fact or Fiction? Mental illness tends to begin in adolescence. Fact: First episode of a mental illness often occurs between 15 and 30 years. Early intervention is one of the most important factors for recovery, however, embarassment, fear and stigma often prevent young people from seeking help.

Fact or Fiction? Poor parenting causes schizophrenia. Fiction: Childhood abuse or neglect does not cause mental illness. However, stressful or abusive environments may seriously impair a person's ability to cope with and later manage the illness.

Fact or Fiction? Drug use causes mental illness. Fact and Fiction: Alcohol and other drugs sometimes play a role in the development of some symptoms and disorders, but do not usually cause the illness. However, long-term use can lead to the development of drug-induced psychosis. Drugs are also often used to cope, but can serve to make symptoms worse.

Fact or Fiction? Mental illness can be cured with willpower. Fiction: Mental illness is associated with chemical imbalances in the brain and requires a comprehensive treatment plan.

Fact or Fiction? People with mental illness never get better. Fiction: With the right kind of help, many people with a mental illness do recover and can lead healthy, productive lives. The illness may not go away, the symptoms can be controlled.

Fact or Fiction? People with mental illness tend to be violent. Fiction: People who experience a mental illness acutely sometimes behave very differently. While behaviour may seem bizarre, people with mental illness are not more violent than the rest of the population.

Fact or Fiction? People who are poor are more likely to have a mental illness than people who are not. Fiction: Income is not a factor in overall rates of mental health problems. However, people with lower incomes experiences slightly higher rates of depression. People who live with major mental illnesses often end up in lower social classes because the illness may interfere with their ability to hold a job.

Mental Health Trends 22% of people in Ontario have experienced at least one mental health problem in their lifetime. Women are more likely than men to experience a mental health problem, specifically anxiety or depression.

Mental Health Trends Men are more likely to experience antisocial personality disorder. Older people experience depression more often than younger people.

Mental Health Trends 31% of year olds have experienced a mental health problem 27% have anxiety problems 7.5% have affective problems

Mental Health Trends year olds are more likely to have social phobias and bipolar disorder. 52% of people in Ontario whose parents have experienced a mental health problem also experience a mental disorder.

Contributing factors Chemical imbalance in the brain Substance use – not a causal relationship, but may be used to treat/relieve symptoms, however, drugs usually make things worse. Traumatic life events – may make someone more vulnerable to developing a mental illness.

Contributing Factors cont’d Heredity – many are thought to have a genetic component, usually triggered by life events Other Illnesses – Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, damage from strokes cause memory loss and confusion. Debilitating illness may also lead to chronic depression.

Treatment Options Biological Medication Electroconvulsive therapy Psychosocial Psychotherapy Self-help groups Family support Community support

Source Talking About Mental Illness: A guide for developing an awareness program for youth. Teacher’s Resource Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2001