1. Chapter 5 Mental and Emotional Problems

2. Lesson 1 Anxiety and depression are treatable mental health problems. Occasional anxiety is a normal reaction to short-term stressors. Anxiety – feeling uneasy or worried about what may happen. Once the stressor is over so is the anxiety. Depression is a serious condition that is treatable and it can disrupt daily activities.

3. Lesson 1 Continued Depression is one of the most common mental health concerns among teens. Depression – prolonged feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and sadness. Types of depression: – Major – intense and can last for weeks or months – Mild – less severe but can last for years – Adjustment – reaction to a specific life event

4. Lesson 1 Continued Warning signs of depression: – Sad or irritable mood – Loss of interests – Change in appetite and body weight – Difficulty sleeping – Physical signs of nervousness – Loss of energy – Inappropriate guilt and feelings of worthlessness – Difficulty concentrating – Thoughts of death or suicide

5. Lesson 1 Continued Depression can be caused by: – Physical reasons – Psychological reasons – Social reasons People who are depressed may experience apathy – lack of strong feeling, interest, or concern. A depression treatment plan may include: – Medication – Making changes to environment – counseling

6. Lesson 2 Mental disorders are medical conditions that require diagnosis and treatment. Mental disorder – illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person. Many do not seek treatment because of the stigma that is associated with mental disorders. Stigma – mark of shame or disapproval

7. Lesson 2 Continued Mental disorders can be identified by their symptoms. Anxiety disorder is one of the most common among children and teens. Anxiety disorder – real or imagined fears are difficult to control.

8. Lesson 2 Continued Anxiety disorders: – Phobia – strong, irrational fear of something specific – OCD – persistent thoughts, fears, or urges leading to uncontrollable repetitive behaviors – Panic disorder – attacks of sudden unexplained terror – Post Traumatic Stress – a condition that may develop after exposure to a terrifying event – Generalized Anxiety disorder – exaggerated worry and tension for no reason

9. Lesson 2 Continued People with impulse control disorders cannot resist the urge to hurt themselves or others. Impulse Control Disorders: – Kleptomania – theft of objects – Cutting – cutting on parts of the body – Pyromania – setting fires – Excessive gambling – despite heavy losses – Compulsive shopping – buying things not needed

10. Lesson 2 Continued Eating disorders: (mental disorders) – Anorexia nervosa – don’t eat – Bulimia nervosa – eat but purge themselves Mood disorder – involves mood extremes that interfere with everyday living. – Bipolar disorder – extreme mood changes, energy levels, and behavior (aka manic-depressive) Conduct disorder – patterns of behavior in which the rights of others or basic social rules are violated

11. Lesson 2 Continued Schizophrenia – mental disorder in which a person loses contact with reality. Personality disorders – these people are unable to regulate their emotions.

12. Lesson 3 Professional intervention and support from friends and family can often help prevent suicide. Alienation – feeling isolated and separated from everyone else. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for teens ages 15 to 19.

13. Lesson 3 Continued Suicide risk factors: – Depression or another mental disorder – Alcohol and other drugs – Stressful situation or loss – Previous suicide attempts – Access to guns Cluster suicides – series of suicides occurring within a short period of time and involving several people in the same community

14. Lesson 3 Continued Any discussion about suicide requires immediate attention. The warning signs of suicide should be taken seriously. Warning signs of suicide: – Talking about suicide or death – Withdrawing – Changes in personality – Giving away personal belongings – Substance abuse – Violent actions

15. Lesson 3 Continued How can you help someone contemplating suicide: – Initiate a meaningful conversation – Show support and ask questions – Try to persuade the person to seek help

16. Lesson 4 The first step in getting help for mental illness is realizing that help is needed. Seek help if: – Feeling trapped or worried all of the time – Feelings affect all parts of your life negatively – Become involved with alcohol and other drugs – Become increasingly aggressive, violent, or reckless

17. Lesson 4 Continued Where to go for help: – Parent – Guardian – Teacher – Counselor – Nurse – Clergy – Crisis hotlines

18. Lesson 4 Continued Mental health professionals: – Counselor - handles personal and educational matters – School psychologist – specializes in assessment of learning, emotional, and behavioral problems of school children – Psychiatrist – diagnoses and treats mental disorders – Neurologist – specializes in physical disorders of the brain – Clinical psychologist – diagnoses and treats emotional and behavioral disorders with counseling – Psychiatric social worker – provides guidance and treatment for emotional problems in a hospital, mental health clinic, or family service agency

19. Lesson 4 Continued Several methods are used to treat mental problems: – Psychotherapy – dialogue between patient and mental health professional – Behavior therapy – focuses on changing unwanted behaviors through rewards and reinforcements – Cognitive therapy – treatment method designed to identify and correct distorted thinking patterns – Family therapy – focuses on helping the family function in more positive and constructive ways – Group therapy – treating a group of people who have similar problems – Drug therapy – use of certain medications to treat or reduce the symptoms