True or False
No blood test, X-rays, or brain scans can show a person has mental illness.
True. Mental illnesses are diagnosed by a mental health professional who conducts a clinical interview.
What are three theories about what causes mental illness?
Biological vulnerability, Heredity, Stress, Trauma, or complications during pregnancy and delivery are just some.
What are some symptoms of depression?
Sad mood, eating too much or too little, sleeping too much or too little, feeling tired or having low energy, helpless, hopeless, worthless, guilt, suicidal, trouble concentrating.
I am caused during childhood physical or sexual abuse, being physically or sexually assaulted as an adult, witnessing the death or serious injury of another person. What am I?
PTSD
How do drugs and alcohol negatively impact mental illness?
(staff's discretion on answer--ask peer's input)
People with schizoaffective disorder have experienced serious mood symptoms such as mood symptoms, such as depression or mania, for a significant period of time. This is the main difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
True. People with schizophrenia may also experience these mood symptoms, but the symptoms are usually less severe, or have been present for a shorter length of time.
What are some adverse or traumatic childhood experiences?
Childhood traumatic experiences may include poverty, physical or sexual abuse, neglect, exposure to crime and violence, separation from parents, mental abuse to name a few.
What are some symptoms of mania?
Euphoria, extreme happiness, irritable, angered by slightest things, grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, talk a lot, racing thoughts, easily distracted, increased goal-directed behavior, making bad decisions.
I am caused by being threatened or chased by another person or people, a bad accident, natural disaster, such as a hurricane, flood, or earthquake, direct exposure to mass violence such as being present during a terrorist attack, or military combat. What am I?
PTSD
How does medication effectively manage symptoms of mental illness?
Ask peer's vote on answer.
Hypomania is when people with bipolar disorder experience mania that is very heightened.
False. People with bipolar disorder experience symptoms of mania, or a somewhat milder form called hypomania.
Why might people get different diagnoses at different times?
Symptoms change over time, may not be as severe or more severe from time to time, and overlap each other.
What are some symptoms of PTSD?
Intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, avoiding situations, thoughts or feelings, numbness, lack of positive emotions, sleep problems, irritable, anger, hypervigilance, startle, blame, strong negative emotions.
What does NAMI stand for?
National Alliance on Mental Illness
What 5 strategies or coping skills do you use to manage mental illness?
Peers weigh in on answer.
Thought disorder is when you have difficulty staying on topic or talking or writing in a disorganized way that people find difficult to understand.
True. Jumping from one loosely associated topic to another, making up words or expressions, getting derailed, or experiencing thoughts being blocked.
What are hallucinations?
Hearing, seeing, feeling, or smelling things that others do not.
What laws help combat stigma?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA).
What is Catatonic Behavior?
Staff and peers can determine answer correct.
Name 3 strategies important on a relapse prevention plan.
Staff and peers input on quality of answer.
Sometimes people who experience psychiatric symptoms do not know the facts themselves. They may blame themselves. This is self-stigma.
True. The more you know, the more you can fight self-stigma.
False beliefs that are sometimes fixed such as feeling paranoid that people or organizations are against you or mean you harm, that they are trying to hurt or plot against you.
Define Stigma
Stigma refers to negative opinions and attitudes about mental illness.
Name some negative symptoms.
Less facial expression, less expression in one's voice, less use of gestures, not as interested in what used to be in, expecting that things will not be as fun or enjoyable, less pleasure or enjoyment.
Why is a strong support system important to prevent relapse?
Staff and peers input on answer quality.