Myth or Fact
Nobody under 18 can be diagnosed with a mental illness
Myth. You can be diagnosed with a mental illness when you are under 18 years old
List at least 3 symptoms of depression
Loss of motivation, isolation, changes in sleep, changes in appetite, anger or irritability, difficulty concentrating, self loathing, loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, loss of energy, etc
How many minutes of exercise is recommended per day?
30 minutes
List 3 different things that could be stressors
family problems, work, school, financial concerns, health problems, extracurricular activities (sports, clubs, etc), social problems, etc
What has a head and tail, but no body?
A coin
Mental illnesses are always inherited. For example, if your biological parent has anxiety, you will 100% have anxiety
Myth: Some mental illnesses have a biological component, but they are not always inherited
Sleeping and eating
How much sleep does the average person under 18 need?
List 3 different ways of coping with stress
exercise, watching TV, petting an animal (cat/dog/hamster/etc), take a bath, play video games, listen to music, talk to a friend, journal, cook, bake, play sports, garden, etc
What gets wet when drying?
A towel
Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain
Fact. However, depression is not always caused by a chemical imbalance. It can be caused by situational factors like the death of a loved one.
pounding or racing heart, difficulty breathing, sweating, chills, chest pain, stomach pain, nausea, etc
What is the lobe of the brain responsible for decision making?
The frontal lobe. It is not considered fully developed until about the age of 26.
Hint: this diagnosis is often found in veterans and victims of crime
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
What has hands and a face, but can't hold anything or smile?
A clock
A hallucination
Name one neurotransmitter associated with mental health
What are the three common evolutionary reactions to stress?
Fight, flight, or freeze
A man rode into town on Friday. He stays the weekend. Two days later, he leaves town on Friday. How does he do this?
The horse's name is Friday
Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world
Fact. In North America alone, over 80% of adults regularly drink coffee
What is the most common mental health diagnosis in children?
ADHD. 9.8% of children have a diagnosis of ADHD. The other most common diagnoses in children are anxiety (9.4%), behavioral problems (8.8%) and depression (4.4%).
What system in the brain is responsible for the experience and expression of emotion?
The limbic system
What hormone is produced in the stress reaction (fight, flight, or freeze)?
Adrenaline (epinephrine)
What can you hold in your right hand, but not in your left?
Your left hand