Mental Health and Suicide

Anxiety and Depression What are some common mental health problems? When you start to get anxiety how do you feel and what are you feeling? What are some events that could cause a teenage to feel depressed? Depression, Anxiety,

Anxiety Anxiety: condition of feeling uneasy or worried about what may happen. Occasional anxiety is normal, manageable reaction to many short-term, stressful situations. Reasons for anxiety Hormonal changes Relationship issues Grief stress

Anxiety Occasional anxiety is a natural response to life events. Brief feelings of worry, insecurity, fear, self-consciousness and common responses to stress. Usually, once the stressful situation is over the anxiety that created the stress is also gone. Use your stress management techniques to try and reduce your anxiety. Avoid alcohol and other drugs.

Depression Depression: A prolonged feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and sadness. Depression is a prolonged feeling that can interfere with daily life. Feelings of sadness affect everybody, but depression usually lasts longer and produce symptoms that do not go away. What do you think some of the symptoms of depression are?

Types of Depression Major Depression: Is intense and can last for weeks or months. Mild Depression: Less severe symptoms but can last for years. Adjustment Disorder: Reaction to specific life event (death, moving schools, etc.)

Signs of Depression Always sad or irritable mood Loss of interest in activities once loved Change in appetite or body weight Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping Loss of energy Feelings or worthlessness Difficulty concentrating Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide SIGNS OF DEPRESSION

Causes and Effects of Depression Depression can be caused by physical, psychological, or social reasons. Physical may be a medical condition or illness Psychological reasons might be surviving a traumatic life event. Social reason could be living in poverty or in bad home environment.

Getting Help with Depression Depression is a treatable illness If you recognize signs of depression in yourself or a friend, discuss your concerns with a trusted adult. Treating Depression

Mental Disorders Mental Disorders: An illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person, preventing them from leading a happy, healthful, and productive life. Anxiety Disorders: A condition in which real or imagined fears are difficult to control. Can you name any anxiety disorders? Phobia, OCD, Panic Disorder, Post-Tramatic Stress Disorder

Anxiety Disorders Phobia: Strong, irrational fear of something specific (dark, heights, etc.) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: OCD persistent thoughts, fears, or urges leading to uncontrollable repetitive behaviors. Panic Disorder: Attacks of sudden, unexplained feelings or terror. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Condition that may develop after a terrifying event.

Impulse Control Disorders People with impulse control disorders cannot resist the urge to hurt themselves or others. May begin in childhood or teen years and continue throughout life. Can be physical or financial harm. Can you name any Impulse Disorders Kleptomania, Cutting, Pyromania, Excessive Gambling, Compulsive Shopping

Impulse Control Disorders Kleptomania: Unplanned theft of objects Cutting: Repetitive cutting on parts of the body that can be hidden. Pyromania: Setting fires to feel pleasure or release tension. Excessive Gambling: Continuing to gamble despite heavy losses Compulsive Shopping: Spending money on items that you can’t afford and don’t need.

Eating Disorders Commonly occur during teen years. They are more common amongst girls, but can effect boys too. Eating Disorders can lead to unhealthy weight loss and death. What are the 2 main eating disorders? Compare and contrast the difference between the 2.

Eating Disorders Anorexia: When an individual starves themselves. Bulimia: When a person eats and then purges (throws-up). Eating Disorders

Other Disorders Mood Disorders: An illness that involves mood extremes that interfere with everyday life. Bipolar Disorder (on the test) Conduct Disorder: Engaging in patterns of behavior in which the rights of others or basic social rules are violated (stealing, lying, aggression, arson, vandalism). Schizophrenia: Person loses contact with reality (delusions, hallucinations, and thought disorders).

Suicide Prevention Certain risk factors increase thoughts of suicide an suicide attempts. What events or situations might increase the risk of suicide? Severe depression, life changing experience, divorce, abusing drugs.

Suicide Facts Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of teenage deaths. Girls will attempt suicide more Boys are more successful Choice of means Youth Suicide Rates

Definitions Alienation: Feeling isolated and separated from everyone else. Suicide: The act of intentionally taking one’s life. Cluster suicides: A series of suicides occurring within a short period of time and involving several people in the same school or community

Myths vs. Reality Myth: People who talk about suicide won’t really attempt it Fact: People who talk about it are usually considering it and should be taken serious Myth: When people are determined to commit suicide there is not stopping them Fact: Getting help for suicidal people can prevent them from taking their lives. Myth: Talking about suicide may give others the idea to attempt suicide. Fact: Talking about suicide and where to go for help may prevent someone from attempting suicide.

Suicide Risk Factors More than 90% of people are suffering from depression or another mental disorder. Or they have a history of abusing alcohol and other drugs. Some people use alcohol and other drugs to escape their depression, however, alcohol and some drugs have depressants which only make the problem worse. What are some of the warning signs of a person thinking about committing suicide?

Warning Signs Statements like “I wish I were dead” or “I can’t take it anymore” Writing poems or journal entries that deal with death. Direct or indirect suicide threats Withdrawal from friends Dramatic change in personality, hygiene, or appearance Impulsive, irrational, or unusuall behavior

Warning Signs A sense of guilt, shame, rejection, and negative self-evaluation. Poor school work Giving away prized possessions Substance abuse Persistent boredom Intolerance for praise or rewards Teen Suicide Signs

How Can You Help Initiate a meaningful conversation; show interest, compassion, patience, and understanding Show support and ask questions; Remind them that all problems have solutions and suicide is not one. Try to persuade the person to seek help; Encourage the person to talk with a parent, counselor, or other trusted adult. Offer to go with him to get help

Where to go for Help Talking with a trusted adult, such as parent, guardian, teacher, school nurse, or counselor Other options for community health include clergy or crisis hotlines. Crisis hotlines allow people to talk anonymously Help is available from a variety of professionals who work in your community’s schools, clinics, hospitals, and family agencies.