True/False
T/F: Mental illnesses are diagnosed based on a clinical interview conducted by a specially trained professional.
True
Who is John Nash and what type of disorder did he live with?
An American mathematician. He won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1994. His story is told in A Beautiful Mind, a book that has also been made into a movie. (lived with schizophrenia)
- Educate yourself about mental illnesses
- Correct misinformation without disclosing your own experience
- Selectively disclose your experience to fight stigma
- Become aware of your legal rights
Mental illnesses are "episodic". What does this mean?
Symptoms vary in intensity over time
Aerophobia
Fear of flying
T/F: Schizophrenia affects about 2% of the population.
False; about 1 in every 100 people, or 1% of the population, develop the disorder at some time.
Who is Vincent Van Gogh and what type of disorder did he live with?
One of the most famous painters who ever lived. (lived with a mood disorder)
Name 3 psychotic symptoms
- Hearing, seeing, feeling, or smelling something that is not actually present (hallucinations)
- having very unusual or unrealistic beliefs that are not shared by others in your culture or religion (delusions)
- having confused thinking (thought disorder)
What is "stigma" in mental illness?
Negative opinions and attitudes towards people who have experienced symptoms of mental illness.
Arachnophobia
Fear of spiders
T/F: A blood or similar lab test is sometimes performed to diagnose a mental illness.
False; sometimes a physical exam and lab or blood tests may be preformed to rule out causes such as brain injury or other physical illness
Who is Patty Duke and what kind of disorder did she live with?
Oscar award-winning, American actress who had her own television series and has stared in movies such as The Miracle Worker. (lived with a mood disorder)
Name 3 symptoms of depression:
- being in a sad mood
- eating too little or too much
- sleeping too little or too much
- feeling tired and having low energy
- feeling helpless, hopeless, or worthless
- feeling guilty for things that aren't your fault
- having suicidal thoughts or actions
- having trouble concentrating and making decisions
Chemicals that send messages to the brain.
Somniphobia
Fear of sleep
T/F: Biological vulnerability does not play a role in the onset of mental illness or worsening of symptoms.
False; Biological vulnerability, stress, alcohol and drug use, and trauma are all factors that contribute to the onset or worsening of a mental illness.
Who is Winston Churchill and what disorder did he live with?
Prime Minister of England during World War II. (lived with schizophrenia).
Name 3 symptoms of mania:
- feeling extremely happy or excited
- feeling irritable
- feeling unrealistically self-confident
- sleeping less
- talking a lot
- having racing thoughts
- being easily distracted
- being extremely active
- having faulty judgment
What does biological vulnerability mean?
Cynophobia
Fear of dogs
T/F: Most people develop mental illnesses as teenagers or as young adults, usually between the ages of 16 and 30
Who is William Chester Minor and what disorder did he live with?
An American Army surgeon who lived from 1834-1920, who made major contributions to the Oxford English Dictionary. (lived with schizophrenia)
Name 3 major symptoms and associated features of schizophrenia:
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Thought Disorders
- Disorganized or catatonic behavior
- Negative symptoms (lack of energy, motivation, pleasure, or expression)
- Cognitive difficulties
- Decline in social or occupational functioning
- lack of energy
- lack of motivation
- lack of pleasure
- lack of expressiveness
Trypanophobia
Fear of needles/injections