Lets talk about mental health.. Elli Long Branch youth officer CWU Greater Mersey and SW Lancs Amal branch

What is a mental health illness? Depression OCD Psychosis Eating disorders Anxiety Personality disorder These can eventually lead to thoughts such as self harm and suicide..

Fact or fiction.. Myth: Mental health problems are very rare. Fact: 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Myth: People with mental illness aren’t able to work. Fact: We probably all work with someone experiencing a mental health problem. Myth: Young people just go through ups and downs as part of puberty, it’s nothing. Fact: 1 in 10 young people will experience a mental health problem. Myth: People with mental health illnesses are usually violent and unpredictable. Fact: People with a mental illness are more likely to be a victim of violence.  Myth: It’s easy for young people to talk to friends about their feelings. Fact: Nearly three in four young people fear the reactions of friends when they talk about their mental health problems.

How common are mental health problems? 1 IN 4… How common are mental health problems? 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. The overall number of people with mental health problems has not changed significantly in recent years, but worries about things like money, jobs and benefits can make it harder for people to cope.  It appears that how people cope with mental health problems is getting worse as the number of people who self-harm or have suicidal thoughts is increasing.

Suicide fact or fiction… Myth: You have to be mentally ill to think about suicide. Fact: Most people have thought of suicide from time to time and not all people who die by suicide have mental health problems at the time of death. However, many people who kill themselves do suffer with their mental health, typically to a serious degree. Sometimes it’s known about before the person’s death and sometimes not.  Myth: Once a person has made a serious suicide attempt, that person is unlikely to make another. Fact: People who have tried to end their lives before are significantly more likely to eventually die by suicide than the rest of the population.  Myth: If a person is serious about killing themselves then there is nothing you can do. Fact: Often, feeling actively suicidal is temporary, even if someone has been feeling low, anxious or struggling to cope for a long period of time. This is why getting the right kind of support at the right time is so important. Myth: Talking about suicide is a bad idea as it may give someone the idea to try it.  Fact: Suicide can be a taboo topic in society. Often, people feeling suicidal don’t want to worry or burden anyone with how they feel and so they don’t discuss it. By asking directly about suicide you give them permission to tell you how they feel. People who have felt suicidal will often say what a huge relief it is to be able to talk about what their experiencing. Once someone starts talking they’ve got a better chance of discovering other options to suicide. Myth: People who threaten suicide are just attention seeking and shouldn’t be taken seriously. Fact: People who threaten suicide should always be taken seriously. It may well be that they want attention in the sense of calling out for help, and giving them this attention may save their life.

THE MIND.. YOUR OWN PERSONAL STRESS CONTAINER Bereavements Overflowing stress container Moving home By using unhelpful strategies this will block the tap and your stress container will overflow.. This will lead to mental health issues such as; Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Acute stress disorder Financial worries Traumatic event Work stresses Loosing your job Divorce Unhelpful coping strategies = they block the tap and the stress stays in the container and will eventually build up Helpful coping strategies = tap working lets the stress out Excess alcohol, drugs, sleeping to much, not enough sleep, not eating Football, shopping, seeing friends, cycling, swimming, gym

Bulimia (eating disorder) Ellen Degeneres Depression Charlie Sheen Bi polar disorder Elton John Bulimia (eating disorder) Emma Stone Panic disorder Leonardo DiCaprio OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder) Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac) Psychosis