Chapter 5 Unit 2: Mental/Emotional Health Problems en

Ch. 5/Lesson 1 Dealing with Anxiety & Depression 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?

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 life event (loss and having trouble with closure)

Warning Signs of Depression 5 or more of these symptoms must persist for two or more weeks before diagnosis Persistent sad or irritable mood Loss of energy Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt Significant change in appetite or weight Difficulty concentrating Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide Physical Signs of nervousness

Causes and Effects of Depression physical… heredity psychological…surviving a traumatic life event social or environmental… living in poverty Emotional… harmful family situation Effects (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of strong feeling, interest or concern changes in behavior…moody, lack of; eating; sleeping; fatigued; withdrawn; and neglect basic hygiene

Getting Help 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 Mental Disorders Each year 57.7 million people in the US are affected by some form of mental disorder- illness 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 4) 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 Effects/Types Anxiety disorder *most common among children and teens 13-15% between ages 9 and 17 Real or imagined fears are difficult to control -Phobia -Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) -Panic Disorder -Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) -General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Impulse control disorder Can’t resist the urge to cause harm to themselves or others -kleptomania -excessive gambling -cutting -compulsive shopping -pyromania Eating disorder *more common among teen girls Discomfort with body image; controlling and perfectionistic characteristics; people pleasers

Disorder Effects/Types Conduct disorder 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 Person loses contact with reality… Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, and thought disorders Mood disorder Personality Disorder 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

Ch. 5/Lesson 3 Suicide Prevention Suicide-The act of intentionally taking ones own life *Graph displays % of Teens with Mild to Severe Depression (CDC Study-2009)

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 *3rd Leading cause of death for Teens 15-19

Suicide Risk Factors Depression or other mental problems 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

Strategies to Prevent Suicide 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 Writing songs, lyrics, poems, diary entries about death Giving away personal belongings Dramatic changes in personality, hygiene, or appearance Intolerance for praise or rewards Impulsive/Unusual behaviors Violent, rebellious behavior, running away Withdrawal from friends Complaints about physical ailments

How You Can Help 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 Getting Help (Mental Health Professionals) When is help needed? 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!

Seeking help can be a hard step and you can’t do it alone! 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

Mental Health Professionals 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 Worker-provides counseling/guidance in community (hospitals, health clinics, etc)

Methods of Treatment 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 self-destructive behaviors and feelings Drug Therapy – the use of certain medications to treat or reduce the symptoms of the disorder