1. Getting Help for Mental and Emotional Disorders

2. MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DISORDERS ARE TREATBALE ILLNESSES.
So why doesn’t someone suffering from a mental and emotional health disorder get help?
They do not realize they have a mental illness
Blame the illness on a personal weakness
Feel ashamed, embarrassed, afraid of being labeled “crazy”

3. When To Seek Help
Feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety or fear that don’t go away
Loss of interest of favorite activities
Changes in eating or sleeping pattern
Doing worse in school of a sudden
Wanting to be alone all the time
Hearing voices
A feeling of being out of control
Thoughts of suicide

4. Where To Get Help Start Talking to a trusted adult
Parent, Guardian, school nurse, a counselor, a teacher
This is only the first step, the adult will steer you to a professional you may need.

5. Therapy
Professional counseling: the goal is to help people recognize their problems and find ways to heal
All conversations are private
INDIVIDUAL: one to one
GROUP: similar problems. Aka support group BENEFITS: not alone, support and learn
Family: seeks to improve troubled family relationships through communication and solve problems

6. Therapy Cont.
DRUG: treats symptoms so people can function, mostly used along with talk therapy

7. Professionals All are trained to treat mental and emotional illnesses
Psychologists: degrees in mental health, but not a doctor
Psychiatrist: can provide medication- Medical Doctor
Clinical Social Worker: licensed, master’s degree in social work