Mental Disorders and Suicide

What is a mental disorder? A mental disorder is an illness that affects the mind and prevents a person from being productive, adjusting to life situations, or getting along with others. Most mental disorders are characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that make people uncomfortable with themselves or at odds with others. The term abnormal is used to describe behaviors, feelings, or thoughts that are highly unusual and inappropriate in a given situation.

Causes of mental disorders When the cause of a mental disorder is physical, the mental disorder is classified as an organic disorder. ◦ A common type is dementia, an irreversible loss of brain function. Mental disorders that cannot be traced to physical causes are called functional disorders ◦ The exact cause is not understood many factors can be inborn causes, early experiences, current causes, or a combination of all three

Functional Disorders Inborn causes-may be inherited, or passed on to an individual before birth, which may be set off by a life event. Early Experiences-result of unpleasant experiences that occurred early in life Current Causes-recent experiences in a person’s life are more important than early childhood experiences in bringing on a mental disorder.

Kinds of Mental Disorders Symptoms of mental disorders can vary greatly from one individual to the next. This makes it difficult to provide accurate descriptions of mental disorders. Case histories are files kept on patients suffering from mental disorders. Remember only trained, mental-health professionals have the expertise to diagnose mental disorders.

Anxiety Disorders Anxiety is fear that does not have an identifiable source or fear caused by a danger that no longer exists. Severe anxiety can cause people to flee from situations or objects that cannot really harm them. Everyone experiences some anxiety, but once it persists and interferes with normal, everyday functioning it is a sign of a mental illness known as an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety Disorders Phobic disorders-when anxiety is related to a specific situation or object. Common phobias page 77 General Anxiety-A person who feels anxious but cannot specify a cause for the anxiety. Panic Disorder-a person experiences attacks of extreme anxiety that come and go for no apparent reason. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder-An idea or thought that takes over the mind and cannot be forgotten is an obsession. An obsession sometimes leads to a compulsion, an unreasonable need to behave a certain way.

Somatoform Disorders A mental disorder in which a person complains of physical symptoms, such as pain, when no underlying physical cause can be found. Hypochondria is a somatoform disorder characterized by a constant fear of disease and preoccupation with one’s health. Underlying causes could be anxiety or depression, or stress.

Eating Disorders Sometimes emotional problems reveal themselves through abnormal eating behaviors. Two serious eating disorders, Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia, affect a growing number of teenagers. Research suggests possible genetic link for Anorexia Nervosa, but most people feel that the disorder stems from today’s emphasis on being thin.

Anorexia nervosa A serious eating disorder in which a person refuses to eat enough food to maintain a minimum normal body weight. Symptoms include severe weight loss, slowed heart and breathing rates, lowered body temperature, dry skin, growth of fine body hear, and loss of menstrual periods in females. In some cases, a lack of essential minerals causes the heart to stop suddenly, leading to death.

Anorexia nervosa Usually have low self esteem and are overly concerned with pleasing others. Tend to be perfectionists, especially about their physical appearance. Although already underweight, anorexics often view themselves as fat and work even harder at losing weight.

Bulimia Bulimics go on eating binges followed by purging or getting rid of the food they have eaten. Bulimics may use self-induced vomiting or laxatives Most bulimics do not become dangerously under weight, but there are serious health effects. Bulimics suffer from dehydration and kidney damage. The enamel on their teeth may become eroded from the stomach acid introduced into the mouth when vomiting occurs. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as tearing and bleeding of the tongue and gums. Bulimics become depressed and may consider suicide or abuse alcohol and drugs.

Mood Disorders A person whose moods or emotions become extreme and interfere with his or her daily life. ◦ Clinical depression-a person who is overwhelmed by sad feelings for months and stops being able to carry out everyday activities.

Signs of clinical depression A person is probably suffering from clinical depression if the person feels sad and hopeless and has at least four of the following symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks: ◦ Change in appetite: either poor appetite with significant weight loss or increased appetite with significant weight gain ◦ Change in sleep patterns: either increased physical activity or slowed-down levels of activity ◦ Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities ◦ Loss of energy, feeling tired all the time ◦ Feelings of worthlessness; excessive or inappropriate guilty feelings ◦ Difficulty thinking or concentrating ◦ Recurrent thoughts of death and suicide

If a person shows signs of clinical depression they should Seek help from a parent, teacher, guidance counselor, physician, or mental-health professional. With help, clinical depression can be eased and will usually go away. Individuals suffering from clinical depression can learn new strategies for coping with problems. If a depressed person becomes extremely withdrawn, dangerous, or suicidal, it may be necessary for the person to enter a hospital.

Bipolar disorder People who suffer from bipolar, or manic- depressive disorder, shift from one emotional extreme to another for no apparent reason. May talk so rapidly that it is impossible to follow what they are trying to say. Have difficulty concentrating on any one thing. Frequently show poor judgment.

Personality Disorders Is characterized by behavior that is inflexible and interferes with a person’s pursuit of a happy, healthy life. Because personality traits are usually set by young adulthood, these disorders often require long-term treatment.

Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder People with passive-aggressive personality disorders depend on others to direct them At the same time, they resent being told what to do. Unable to be assertive and express their anger openly, they vent it indirectly.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Perform cruel and violent acts without feeling or guilt. Often have criminal records, their crimes are random, impulsive, and often purposeless. Unfortunately, these dangerous people rarely seek professional help.

Dissociative Disorders Dissociative disorder- a mental disorder in which a person becomes disconnected from his or her former identity. Amnesia-sudden memory loss Can be caused by severe trauma, a painful or physical or emotional experience. Multiple personality disorder-switch between two or more separate personalities ◦ Usually the affected are not aware of the different personalities ◦ Unable to control or predict their personality changes

Schizophrenia A disorder characterized by unpredictable disturbances in thinking, mood, awareness, and behavior. Schizophrenia means “split mind,” people with this disorder have minds that are “split off” from reality. Schizos may talk to themselves, exhibit inappropriate emotional responses, dress and act strangely, and withdraw from others. Some Schizos develop irrational fears that someone or something controls their thoughts or wants to harm them.

Suicide Suicide affects all kinds of people: young, old, bright, average, rich, poor, female, male. Suicides often can be prevented if people know how to recognize and help potential victims. People who may be considering suicide often behave in telltale ways.

The warning signs (2 slides) Withdrawal form usual activities, loss of energy, change in sleep patterns, and deviations from normal behavior. Radical changes in personality-an outgoing person who suddenly withdraws or a shy person who become aggressive Severe depression may cause a person to just give up

Warning signs If a person has attempted suicide before, the risk is high that he or she will try again. A person who stops doing things they enjoy or gives away favorite belongings A decline in school performance or an increase in drug use Sudden increase in injuries or risk-taking behaviors

Suicide Info Many suicidal people will talk about taking their life, they may say, “I don’t want to live anymore,” or “They’ll be sorry when I am gone.” Some of the warning signs of suicide can be deceptive. If a person you know has been severely depressed and suddenly becomes happy and carefree, you may conclude that the problem has passed. This is not always right. A sudden change from depressed to happy may mean that the person has resolve to take their life. The person feels happy because the decision is made.

Prevention Helping Yourself ◦ If you have suicidal thoughts, it is vital that you talk about your feelings to a trusted adult or professional. ◦ Together you can find solutions that you may not have thought of on your own. ◦ No matter how isolated you may feel, you do not have to deal with your problems alone. ◦ No matter how hopeless the situations is, there are always positive steps you can take. ◦ Most communities have suicide hotlines for you to call if you need someone anonymous to talk to about your problems.

Prevention (2 slides) Helping Others ◦ What should you do if someone you know seems suicidal? ◦ An important thing to remember is that suicidal behavior is a cry for help in dealing with problems that seem impossible. ◦ Suicidal people often feel that they have looked to others for support and have received no response. ◦ It is vital that you show caring and concern for the person.

Prevention Helping Others ◦ The best way to show you care about a suicidal person is to make sure the person gets professional help immediately. ◦ Sometimes a friend will confide their plans to you and promise you not to tell. Whether they realize it or not, by confiding in you, your friend is asking for help. ◦ To help your friend, you must break the promise and tell an adult that they are in danger.

Treating Mental Disorders About on in five adults in the US suffer from a mental disorder. The first step towards recovery is recognizing the need for help. Do not ignore warning signs of mental disorders.

Mental disorder warning signs A sudden, radical change in personality Self-destructive actions: overeating, undereating, drug abuse, and taking unnecessary risks. Violent, uncontrollable shifts in mood Persistent feelings that interferes with functioning Sleep disturbances Inability to concentrate on anything Trouble getting along with others Paralyzing attacks of fear or anger Frequent illness without physical cause Obsessive thoughts or compulsive actions Delusions or hallucinations

Where to find help Often, a parent, relative, teacher, school counselor, physician, or religious leader can tell you about mental health professionals and services in your community. Local hospitals have mental-health clinics or counseling centers. Some communities have drop-in centers for teens, where counselors provide guidance.

Types of Help There are many types of mental-health professionals. These are people who are specially trained to recognize and treat mental disorders. The type of treatment they offer depends upon their training.

Psychiatrists Specializes in diagnosing and treating mental disorders Psychiatrists are M.D’s (doctors of medicine) with advanced training in the treatment of mental illness. They look for physical, as well as nonphysical, reasons for mental illness. They may talk with patients and sometimes family members to identify symptoms. They also examine patients for physical causes. After diagnosing a disorder, they may prescribe medications to treat the disorder.

Clinical Psychologists A mental health professional who specializes in recognizing and treating abnormal behavior. In addition to a doctoral degree in psychology, clinical psychologists have at least two years of practical training in clinics or hospitals. Because they are not medical doctors clinical psychologists cannot prescribe medications Often work with psychiatrists and may help psychiatrists to diagnose a disorder.

Social Worker A mental health professional who counsels patients and provides a link between the patient and the treatment center. Many schools have social workers available to counsel students. Social workers usually complete four years of college and two years of advanced study in social work. Psychiatric social workers specialize in helping the mentally ill and their families accept and adjust to mental illness. Most psychiatric social workers work in hospitals, mental health clinics, or family agencies.

Other Mental Health Specialists Psychiatric nurses specialize in the care and treatment of the mentally ill Occupational therapists help the mentally ill become productive members of society by teaching them practical skills. Pastoral counselors are members of the religious community who have had practical training in counseling people with mental and social problems. Mental-health counselors work with specific problems or specific groups for example substance abuse counselors, school counselors, and youth counselors. Although it may be difficult, try to share your problems with a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult. Facing up to a problem is the first step to overcoming it.

Kinds of Treatment The particular therapy, or treatment technique, chosen depends upon the individual and the training of the mental- health professional. Treatments can include psychotherapy, drug therapy, and hospitalization.

Psychotherapy A treatment method that involves conversations with a trained professional who helps an individual understand and overcome a mental disorder. ◦ Behavioral therapy helps a person change an abnormal behavior by substituting a new, more appropriate behavior in its place. Phobias and OCD are often treated with behavioral therapy. ◦ Group therapy involves meeting with other people who suffer from similar disorders. A mental-health professional leads the group. Group members support each other and work together to develop coping skills. ◦ Family therapy focuses on family problems, such as a divorce, and how they affect the family as a whole. ◦ Play therapy helps young patients act out problem situations and solutions using dolls and other toys.

Drug therapy Many mental disorders, such as anxiety disorders, affective disorders, manic- depressive disorder, and schizophrenia, can be treated effectively through medication. Although medications may not cure the mental disorder they do relieve the symptoms and allow patients to function normally. Unfortunately, some people experience negative side effects or develop a dependency on the medication.

Hospitalization People with mental disorders who need constant attention or who are in danger of harming themselves or others may be hospitalized. In the hospital patients receive psychotherapy, drug therapy, or both. The staff and works with the patients to prepare them for leaving the hospital. Occupational therapists teach patients practical skills to help them manage on their own. After patients leave the hospital, social workers help them readjust to everyday life.