1. Advanced Considerations in Mental Illness: Youth and Young Adults
Presented by:
National Catholic Partnership on Disability &
The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry

2. NCPD Council on Mental Illness
In Partnership with the:
NCPD Council on Mental Illness
and the
National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL)
In collaboration with:
the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association (NCYAMA)

3. With major funding through the:
Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order
Our Sunday Visitor Institute
Warren P. Powers Charitable Foundation

4. Presenters:
Robert McCarty, D.Min., Executive Director, National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM),
Washington, DC
Paul Myers, Ph.D., Director, University Health Center,
University of Portland and Staff Psychologist, Northwest
Catholic Counseling Center,
Portland, OR

5. Linea Johnson is a self-advocate,
motivational speaker, author, and
blogger. She is a recent college graduate with
a degree in creative writing and English from
Seattle University, in Washington.
Linea says of herself, “As a young woman
diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I hope to use
my experiences to speak for those unable to
speak for themselves.” 

6. Prayer
God, bless and strengthen young people and those you have called to serve, teach and heal them. May those who are gathered this day for this webinar draw from your Son’s example as we work each day to build your Kingdom here on Earth. Amen.

7. Webinar Objectives Patterns of crisis and mental illnesses
Levels of response
Faith and ministry perspectives

8. Crisis is DANGER and Opportunity

9. And therefore, they are highly vulnerable to risk behaviors.
A Proposed Definition
“Youth at risk” are those who by circumstances, choices, or mental health conditions are in situations that expose them to failure or harm in their personal, academic, social, familial, or spiritual lives.
Unable to meet their basic needs
Have poor coping skills
Have insufficient support systems
And therefore, they are highly vulnerable to risk behaviors.

10. What causes mental illnesses?
Diathesis-Stress Hypothesis
Genetic predispositions to brain chemical imbalance, triggered by experiential factors (e.g., trauma episode or chronic distress)
Social Construction Hypothesis
Adaptive behaviors for dysfunctional family or social environments

11. What are the most common disorders?
Adjustment Disorders with anxiety, depression or disturbed conduct
Substance Abuse Disorders
Eating Disorders
Mood Disorders (e.g., major depression)
Anxiety Disorders (GAD, Panic, PTSD)