Mental Health Issues are rare
Myth! Approximately 1 in 5 Americans experience mental illness in a given year and 17% of youth (ages 6-17) experience a mental health disorder (according to data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness)
True or False- admitting that something is wrong is giving up on yourself.
FALSE! Admitting you are having problems is very hard to do, and asking for help is a sign of major strength and willingness to work through what you are experiencing.
Are you helping your friend if they come talk to you and you don't have any advice to give them?
Yes! By being open and letting them vent about what's going on, you are helping to alleviate their stress and get things off of their chest. You are not a professional (or maybe you are, who knows), and you can't expect to have all the answers. Sometimes just listening is all they need.
People that struggle with mental illness will not get better
Myth! The key is ASKING FOR HELP!
Most mental illness cannot be "cured", but they can be treated effectively to minimize the symptoms and allow us to function in work, school, and social environments
Name 3 places or people you can go to to talk to if you are having a hard time or are struggling with your mental health.
School Counselor (Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Toto, Mr. Coppolino)
School Adjustment Counselor (Ms. Ciccone, Ms. Lynch, Ms. Tobin)
Teacher, Parent, Friend
True or false- If your friend tells you that they are going to harm themselves and they make you promise to keep it a secret, you should always respect their wishes and keep it a secret.
False. If you are concerned for their safety, tell someone. Talk to someone who can help. It is better to have a friend who is alive and mad at you than to lose a friend. If you think they are serious about hurting themselves, tell any trusted adult.
If you struggle with mental health issues, it's due to bad parenting or personal weakness.
Total myth!
The main risk factors for mental illness are genetics, severe and prolonged stress (trauma), other environmental influences, and brain chemistry.
True or false- Medication is the only treatment method that works for mental health issues
False.
Medication can be helpful, and is sometimes necessary depending on the severity of the issue, but other methods such as therapy/counseling can also be very helpful. Talk to a health care provider about all of your different options.
True/ False- If you find the right words to say and spend enough time with them, you can cause your friend to get better when they are experiencing a mental health issue.
False. Temporarily you can make them feel better, but if there is an underlying cause making them feel bad, you can't fix it on your own. Sometimes helping a friend through something like this is challenging and frustrating because you cannot instantly make everything better. Being patient is key, and realizing that they need to be able to work out their own problem is needed to avoid burning yourself out. You can be a huge support for them, but ultimately you cannot fix everything.
If someone in your family struggles with mental illness, you are more likely to as well.
Fact.
Although it is not guaranteed that you will develop mental illness, if someone in your family struggles with mental health issues, you are at higher risk. If you start to experience symptoms of mental illness, it will be important for you to see a health provider as soon as possible to determine if you have a problem that requires treatment.
True or false- you need to know exactly what you're going to say and how you're going to say it before you talk to a counselor.
False!!! Counselors are there to listen to whatever is troubling you, and you can open up to them at a pace that you are comfortable with.
Name 3 things you can do to help a friend who thinks they may have a mental health problem.
Listen to them, spend time with them, encourage them to seek help, help them to ask for help, don't judge
If it is serious: don't try and handle it all on your own!
Talking about suicide or asking someone if they feel suicidal will encourage suicide attempts
Myth!
Talking about suicide provides the opportunity for communication. Fears shared are more likely to diminish. The first step in encouraging a person with thoughts of suicide to live comes from talking about those feelings. A simple inquiry about whether or not the person is intending to end their life can start the conversation. However, talking about suicide should be carefully managed.
What is the number for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline?
988
Name 3 reasons why people might hesitate to ask for help
We don't want to "burden anyone else with our problems", it is hard to talk about, it makes us feel vulnerable, fear of being judged, stigma, we don't know who to tell, we don't think our problems are "serious enough", asking for help is "giving up", no resources available...
Facts: The people in your life will feel worse if you don't come talk to them if you need help/need to talk. Wouldn't you want them to come to you if they needed help?