Myth or fact
Mental Health Issues are rare
Myth. Mental illnesses are common in the United States. It is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (57.8 million in 2021). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe.
This disorder is a combination of excessive energy, very little sleep, starting many projects and separate periods with low energy, change in sleep patterns, feeling hopeless, sadness.
Bi-Polar Disorder
True or False- admitting that something is wrong is giving up on yourself.
FALSE. Admitting you are having problems is often very hard to do, and asking for help is a sign of 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.
What is the fastest animal on this list? (Giraffe, Greyhound, Ostrich, Elk)
Giraffe = 32 MPH
Greyhound = 39 MPH
Ostrich = 40 MPH
Elk = 45 MPH
People with mental illnesses will be unlikely to maintain competitive employment during their lives.
Myth. Most people with mental illnesses remain active in the workforce. Following an effective aftercare plan will support your stability and improve your chances to maintain employment.
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, frequent gastrointestinal upsets, losing interest in activities that you once enjoyed
Name 3 places/people you can go to, when back at home, if you begin to notice signs of mental illness relapse.
Therapist, MD, County Case Manager, Crisis Center, Drop-in Center, your support network (friends, family), etc...
True of 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 attempting suicide, do not be afraid to call 911.
What is a group of owls is called?
A parliament
If your mental illness necessitates treatment with a medication, you will likely remain on meds for most of your life.
Myth. Treatment with a medication is generally not forever. If you have had several relapses, it will probably increase the length of time you remain on medications.
This disorder is characterized by irritability, mood changes, hyper-awareness of your surroundings, exaggerated startle response, flashbacks, nightmares.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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.
How large is a bird's eye in relation to it's head (give as a percentage)?
A bird's eye takes up about 50% of its head but the human eye takes about only 5% of our head.
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/ Anxiety attack
True of 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. Tip: if you feel like you might get nervous and freeze up, it often helps to write things down before your appointment. This also helps you to organize your thoughts and put things in perspective.
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, go with them to appointments/ help them make appointments, show them that you care, if it is serious tell someone, don't judge, ask someone for advice
How many hearts does an Octopus have?
3
Males attempt suicide more often than females do.
Myth. Females attempt approximately 4 times as often. However, males have a higher rate of death. This is because men tend to use more violent methods.
Name 3 signs that a person could be suicidal
direct suicide threats such as “I want to die,” or indirect threats such as “You would be better off without me”/ personality changes or withdrawn behavior/ hoarding medication/ giving away prized possessions/ lack of interest in future plans/ isolation from friends and colleagues/ depression/
What do I do if my aftercare plan isn't providing the supports I need?
Call your County Case Manager, talk with your therapist, talk to your sponsor, speak with your support network (family, friends), etc...
Name 3 reasons why people hesitate to get help
They don't want to "burden anyone else with their problems", it is hard to talk about, it makes them feel vulnerable, fear of being judged, stigma, don't know who to tell, don't think the problem is "serious enough", asking for help is "giving up", no resources available Facts: Your friends will feel worse if you don't come talk to them if you need help / need to talk. They are your friends for a reason, and they don't want you to feel bad! Don't be afraid to talk about it!
How many kills does a lion make in a year?
A lion in the wild usually makes no more than twenty kills a year