Brain Health
physical activity that keeps the brain healthy
exercise
What is stigma?
Negative attitudes or discrimination against someone
What can you catch but not throw?
A cold
People with mental illness are often violent or dangerous.
MYTH-Within the last few years, the U.S. has had an increase in mass violence. Whenever these tragedies take place, the media is quick to judge the suspects and label them as “mentally disturbed” or “mentally ill.” In reality, hate is not a mental illness. Only 5% of violent crimes in the U.S. are committed by people with serious mental illness.
Age brain is fully developed
25
Name 2 things that can keep your brain healthy
exercise, eat healthy, sleep, brain puzzles...
How can we reduce stigma?
Education, be conscious of your language, encourage equality between mental health and physical health, be honest about treatment...)
What goes around the world but stays in a corner?
A stamp
Talking about your mental health challenges is a waste of time. It’s better to just take medicine.
If you have a broken leg, it will not get better with just aspirin. It also takes time and exercise and hard work. In a way, having a mental illness is the same. You have to be patient, get help, and talk about it- and you’ll start to feel better, too.
What is the last part of the brain to develop?
Frontal lobe
Name something that is not good for your brain.
Drugs and alcohol
What is one type of stigma?
Social stigma and self stigma
A man who was outside in the rain without an umbrella or hat didn’t get a single hair on his head wet. Why?
He was bald
Having a mental illness means you’re a wimp who can’t handle life.
Myth- Your personality or ability to handle your feelings does not cause mental illness. Mental illness is not just “in your head” or something that goes away if you try hard. The right combination of what helps is different for each person. Once they find something that helps them, most people with mental illness live healthy, full lives.
How much does the adult brain weigh?
3 pounds
What is a neurologist?
A brain doctor
Has stigma gotten better over the years?
Yes, but we still need to work on it. From 2017-2019, the people who reported that they were comfortable talking about mental health went from 66% to 71%.
What goes up but never comes down?
Your age
Kids only get mental illness because they have bad parents.
Myth- Mental illness is not caused by doing something wrong. Also, you can’t cause someone to have a mental illness. Doctors think that mental illness is caused by a mix of what’s going on in your body and what’s happening around you.
What part of the brain controls basic functions? (breathing, digestion, heart rate...)
Brain stem