What is Mental Health?
Which of the following can be affected by mental health?
A. Stress management
B. Relationships
C. Decision-making
D. All of the Above
D. ALL OF THE ABOVE
Your mental health can affect all of these! When you are not mentally well, you may struggle to manage your stress, connect with others, and make healthy decisions. Improving your mental health can lead to improvement in these areas.
True or False: Connecting with others can help you maintain mental wellness.
TRUE!
Connecting with others can help you maintain mental wellness. It can be therapeutic to talk to someone you trust about concerns and how you are feeling. You may also find connections through community- or faith-based organizations.
True or False: "Stigma" refers to someone views you in a negative way because you have a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait.
TRUE
Unfortunately, negative attitudes and beliefs toward people who have a mental health condition are common.
True or False: Resources for mental health are only available in-person.
FALSE
There are a number of online tools and resources for mental health, as well as hotlines and text lines via phone.
True or False: There is one single cause for all mental illness.
FALSE!
There is no single cause of mental illness. There are a number of causes, such as trauma/abuse, prolonged stress, or biological/chemical imbalances.
True or False: Many people suffer from more than one mental illness at a time.
TRUE
People often suffer from more than one mental illness at a time. Addiction, depression, and anxiety are very commonly diagnosed at the same time.
How can you take care of your body to maintain mental wellness?
A. Eat foods high in added sugar
B. Limit sleep
C. Get regular exercise
C. GET REGULAR EXERCISE
Getting regular exercise can improve both your physical and mental health. You can also follow a healthy diet (low in added sugars), and get 7-8 hours of sleep each night to take care of your body.
Does mental health stigma make someone more or less likely to seek help when they are struggling?
People may believe that they will be labelled by a mental illness or seen as "weak," if they reach out for help. By not getting help, their mental health may decline even more!
FindTreatment.org can help you do which of the following:
A Get mental health medication
B Find a mental health treatment facility
C Join a support group for mental health issues
B FIND A MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FACILITY
FindTreatment.org is a great resource for finding mental health treatment facilities. Medication is only prescribed by a care provider, usually after a diagnosis has been made. Another website, FindSupport.org can help with finding support groups for mental health issues.
True or False: Your mental health stays the same throughout your whole life.
FALSE
Your mental health can change dramatically throughout your life. Life events can play a role in your mental and emotional state, especially as you get older. That's why it's so important to learn about managing your mental health and knowing when to ask for help.
Name an example of something that could affect your mental health negatively.
TRAUMA/ABUSE, BULLYING/VIOLENCE, MEDICAL CONDITIONS, ETC.
Name an example of how you can unwind.
MEDITATE, JOURNAL, DRAW, GO FOR A WALK, TAKE A NAP, ETC.
What effect does mental health stigma have on a person's self-esteem?
NEGATIVE (LOW SELF-ESTEEM)
Mental health stigma may be internalized by those who are struggling to where they also think negatively about themselves. This leads to a low self-esteem.
Who can you talk to about getting connected to mental health services?
SCHOOL COUNSELOR, PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER, TRUSTED ADULT, ETC.
Is mental health more, less, or equally important than physical health?
EQUALLY IMPORTANT
Mental and physical health are equally important to overall health. They are also closely related and affect each other.
Name an example of something that could affect your mental health positively.
SUPPORT SYSTEM, GOOD PHYSICAL HEALTH, STRESS MANAGEMENT, ETC.
One way to maintain mental wellness is to take breaks from media. Give an example of how you can do this.
How can you make someone more comfortable talking about their mental health struggles?
USE EMPOWERING WORDS, AVOID HURTFUL STEREOTYPES, THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION, ETC.
What is the suicide and mental health crisis hotline number?
988
By definition, mental health is made up of what 3 components?
PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING
or
THINK/FEEL/ACT
1 in how many people suffer from a mental illness each year?
1:4
What recent substance has been linked to high rates of anxiety and depression in teens?
VAPING
Studies have shown that teens who vape are more likely to report feelings of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts than teens who do not vape. Nicotine, THC, and other substances likely contribute to these mental health concerns.
Give 2 examples of empowering words you could use when someone you know is going through a hard time.
RESILIENT, THOUGHTFUL, FRIEND, LOVE, HEALING, ETC.
What are some signs that you or someone you know may need to seek mental health services?
CHANGES IN FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, OR BEHAVIORS
True or False: Mental illnesses are most often due to chemical imbalances and genetics.
UNKNOWN
Some research suggests that mental health problems may be linked to certain brain chemicals. But no one really understands how or why. Arguments that someone's brain chemistry is the cause of mental health problems are very weak.
Although the development of some mental health problems may be influenced by our genes, researchers haven't found any specific genes that definitely cause mental health problems. Many people who experience a mental health problem don't have any relatives with the same condition.