Mental Health Overview
What is Mental Health?
Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being
What is Stress?
A normal reaction to life's challenges, pressures, and changes
What is Sadness?
A natural human emotion that involves feelings of unhappiness, grief, or sorrow
What are coping skills?
The strategies you can use to manage difficult emotions, stressful situations, and challenges in their lives
TRUE OR FALSE: Mental Health Disorders should be used to describe someone
False, mental disorders should not be used as adjectives (ex. My mom is acting so bipolar today!)
What is Anxiety?
A mental health disorder accompanied by excessive feelings of fear, worry, and uneasiness that interfere with a person's ability to function
What is Depression?
A mental health disorder accompanied by persistent sadness, low energy and motivation, loss of interest in daily activities activities, and other depressive symptoms that significantly interferes with one's daily life
What are some examples of general coping skills used for mental health?
Seeking support from friends and family, exercising, sleeping well, art or music, eating healthily, disconnecting from your phone, taking a walk outside, mindfulness, journaling, positive self talk, and deep breathing
What are examples of common mental health conditions?
Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Panic attacks
What are some common stressors or anxiety triggers among teenagers?
School, relationships with friends and family, life changes, self-view, excessive social media use, genetics, and traumatic experiences
What are some common triggers for depression among teenagers?
Low self-esteem, a lack of sleep, excessive social media use, social isolation, bullying, stress from school, relationships with family and friends
Why are coping skills important?
They provide healthy strategies to manage stress, emotions, and challenges, ultimately promoting well-being and resilience
TRUE OR FALSE: Mental Illness is not treatable
True, there are many ways that mental illness or mental health struggles can be treated and coped with
What are symptoms of anxiety or stress?
Feeling sweaty, fast heartbeat, rapid breathing, feeling tired, avoidance, irritability, difficulty concentrating, feeling preoccupied
What are some symptoms of depression?
Lack of motivation to function, loss of interest in daily activities, inconsistent sleep, feeling fatigued, social isolation, unable to concentrate, irritability, overwhelming sadness, feeling guilt/shame
What are outside mental health resources teenagers can use?
Counselors at school, local mental health clinics or therapists outside of school, The 988 Crisis Hotline, The Crisis Text Line, and the NAMI website (national alliance on mental illness).
What is an example of Mental Health Stigma?
Believing that someone who struggles with mental health is weak, lazy, or dangerous
What are some coping skills for anxiety or stress?
Going to counseling/therapy, deep breathing, exercise, journaling, meditation, reading, socializing with friends, reframing your thoughts
What are some coping skills for depression?
Therapy/counseling, deep breathing, exercise, journaling, meditation, reading, socializing, reframing thoughts, allowing room for and accepting your feelings.
Why is it important for teenagers to reach out for mental health support if they are struggling?
It is crucial for teenagers struggling with their mental health to reach out for support because it helps teenagers develop healthy coping skills, build resilience, and prevent mental health conditions from worsening over time