Fact or Fiction?
Mental health is more than the absence of a mental illness
TRUE: mental health is defined is a state of well-being in which the individual realises their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to contribute to their community. According to the WHO
Relationships, Work, School, Sleep, Appetite, Energy Levels, Ability to Solve Problems
Name three possible forms of mental health treatment
Individual therapy
Group Therapy
Medications
Exercise
Peer-Support and Self-help Groups
Developing Coping Skills
This disorder is characterized by depression and anxiety as well as flashbacks, nightmares, paranoia, and avoidance. It is common among victims of crimes and people in the military
PTSD
the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience or following injury
The ability of your brain to rewire itself
neuroplasticity
True: people with diagnoses can experience well-being and good mental health just as people who do not have diagnoses can experience periods of poor mental wellbeing during times of stress
Name as many signs of mental illness as you can
changes in eating or sleeping patterns
changes in mood (feeling sad, irritable or extremely high or low)
difficulties coping with stress, daily problems or activities
difficulty concentrating
changes in appearance
excessive fears, worries and anxieties
withdrawn (i.e., spending more time alone, or avoiding others and social activities)
feeling tired or having low energy or motivation
difficulty managing usual responsibilities
excessive weight gain or loss
having strange beliefs not based in reality (delusions)
hearing or seeing things that aren’t there (hallucinations)
How is PTSD most effectively treated?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (reframing negative thoughts about trauma)
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (facing negative feelings and doing things you've avoided since trauma)
Tapping (like acupuncture, tapping on collarbone, etc. to reduce stress and anxiety)
EMDR (using bilateral eye movements to reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer affect you)
What event is this describing?..." sweating, nausea, trembling and numbness in the legs or hands, dizziness, hot or cold flashes, a feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest, hyperventilation, “jelly” legs or blurred vision can develop. Individuals may even feel like they are going to die of a heart attack" What Event does this describe?
Panic Attack or Panic Disorder
What is the study of epigenetics?
Epigenetics looks at how certain genes can be silenced (dormant) or expressed (active) over time and what factors influence this. Research is proving that what you eat, where you live, when you sleep, how you exercise, and even with whom you interact can all modify your genes.
Mental illness is uncommon
FALSE:
“1 in 4 people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives" WHO
Even young children can experience mental illness Half of all mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns 14 years old, and three quarters of mental health disorders begin before age 24.
What can cause a mental health problem?
Trauma
Physical Health and Biology
Social Determinants
Detox
Inpatient/Residential
Outpatient Treatment
MATS
Talk Therapy
Self Help
Acudetox and Massage
Coping Skills
Name 3 symptoms of Depression
feelings of despair and hopelessness feeling detached from life and those around you continued fatigue or loss of energy feelings of sadness – crying for no apparent reason inability to concentrate or make decisions thoughts of suicide changes in eating or sleeping patterns persistent or recurring headaches or frequent gastrointestinal upsets Losing interest in activities that are enjoyed
Name two areas of your brain that are affected by experiencing traumatic stress
Significant stress causes the hippocampus (involved in memory processing) and the amygdala (involved in emotional processing) to be flooded with the stress hormone cortisol. The individual can’t process the traumatic experience as something that’s over (though the threat doesn’t exist that way anymore) and the memory remains active in the brain.
People with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable.
FALSE, mostly: “People with mental illness are much more often the victims of violence rather than the perpetrators.”
Name as many signs of mental WELLNESS as you can
Feeling satisfied with life
able to work and contribute to community
Feeling confident in yourself and abilities
Feeling able to handle stressors of life
Etc.
True or False: medications used to treat mental illness mean that person is weak, crazy, or causes their personality to change
False: medications can be a helpful, and sometimes necessary addition to other forms of treatment, depending on the severity of the issues
This disorder is a combination of a manic phase (a sudden onset of exhilaration and excessive good mood), and a depressive phase (feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and prolonged sadness)
Bipolar Disorder
Trauma causes a stress response concerning the nervous system; what is this stress response called?
The flight/fight/freeze response
Mental health problems are permanent
False:
recovery from mental health problems is possible, even if symptoms do not fully abate or life has not "returned to normal". Many people with chronic mental health problems continue to live full and satisfied lives
What is a Co-Occuring Disorder?
When someone has both a substance use problem and a mental health problem, it is called a co-occurring, or concurrent, disorder. Sometimes substance use can cause a mental health problem. Or, a mental health problem may lead people to use substances to relieve their symptoms.
What are some warning signs that someone may be at risk for attempting suicide?
talking about wanting to die
feeling great shame or a burden to others
Making a plan or researching ways to die Withdrawing from friends, saying good bye, giving away important items, or making a will
Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
Displaying extreme mood swings
Eating or sleeping more or less
Using drugs or alcohol more often
Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live
This is a disorder characterized by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development, and is often underdiagnosed in girls because the symptoms vary widely. The brain is also physically different from that of a neurotypical person.
What is ADHD?
How many neurotransmitters can you name and what are their functions?
Oxytocin
Dopamine
Noreprinephrine
Endorphins
Serotonin