Lesson 8

Mental Health and Well Being in

Middle and Late Adolescence

Activity 1: MY VULNERABILITIES’
Objectives:

This activity allows you to identify your own vulnerabilities, especially as regards mental
health problems and engaging in risk activities.

Procedures:

Write a 4 paragraph essay with the title: “My Vulnerabilities” Discuss in the essay your
tendency to have some illnesses (e.g. depression or your susceptibility to engage in risky
behaviors (e.g. drinking and smoking). Also discuss the steps you will take to avoid them.

My Vulnerabilities

Adolescents, even as described by them, do not always act in ways that are in their best
interests. Their perceptions of their own dangers, including survival to adulthood, are
sometimes higher than reality; in other circumstances, they underestimate the hazards of
certain actions or behaviors.
It's plausible, even likely, that some teenagers engage in risky behaviors due to a sense
of invulnerability—the present common wisdom about adolescent behavior held by adults.
Others, on the other hand, take risks because they are susceptible to the point of hopelessness.
In either case, these views can lead to teenagers making poor decisions that put them at risk of
bodily or psychological injury, which can have a significant influence on their long-term health
and viability.
There are factors that make adolescents vulnerable caused by having some illnesses like
depression. An aspect that increases the risk of developing depression is when they are
experiencing problems such as obesity, peer problems, long-term bullying, or academic
problems that all have a negative impact on self-esteem. Being a victim or witness of violent
acts, such as physical or sexual abuse is also a factor. Moreover, having personality qualities
such as poor self-esteem, being overly reliant, being self-critical or negative, alcohol, nicotine,
or other substance abuse are other components that make them at risk.
It is very essential to find ways on how adolescents will avoid depression and the
susceptibility to engage in risky behaviors. During adolescence, the bond between the child and
the parent is critical. It is particularly true because adolescents are pulling away from their
parents. That is why, loving them unconditionally is a way to avoid stress and depression. It is
also helpful if adolescents are able to hang out with their friends and just have fun because
positive experiences with friends and peers can help prevent the illness. Having exercises and
enough sleep daily are also ways to avoid it.

Activity 2: STAYING MENTALLY HEALTHY DURING ADOLESCENCE

Procedure:
Device a creative personal plan as regards staying mentally healthy. The plan must
include at least three sections: Steps (concrete courses of actions); Time Frame (inclusive
dates): and Follow up (collaborative actions to ensure that the plan is being accomplished)

Steps Time Frame Follow-up

1.) Do light exercises in
the morning like brisk
walking or jogging
2.) Meditation for self-
care
3.) Have enough sleep
5:30 am - 6:30 am I’ll make sure to have enough
sleep in order to wake up
early in the morning and start
a productive day with an
early morning exercise
10 minutes a day I’ll do shower meditation
9:30 pm – 5:30 am I have to make sure that I
finish all my school works
and chores early and I also
must stop using my phone
late at night.

Activity 3: Essay

1. Differentiate and relate mental health and psychological well-being.

- Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being are all part of our mental health. It
has an impact on the way we think, feel, and act. It also influences how we deal with
stress, interact with others, and make decisions. Mental health is vital at all stages of
life, including childhood, adolescence, and maturity. As well as psychological well-being,
it is also essential since it relates to inter and intra individual levels of positive
functioning that can include one's relatedness to others and self-referent attitudes that
include one's sense of mastery and personal growth. Subjective well-being reflects
aspects of life satisfaction judgments that have been influenced.
2. Explain why adolescents are vulnerable to mental health disorders.
- In my perspective, adolescence is a stage in people's life where there are lots of
adjustments. As people adjust, they get through different hardships and problems in life
wherein there are more likely to get stress and depress. In this time, adolescents whose
 having difficulties in overcoming their problems, simply tends to attempt suicide just to
end their suffering.
3. Why it is so important for adolescents to have a good mental health and psychological
well-being?
- Adolescents require good mental health and psychological well-being in order to
develop normally, form strong relationships, adjust to change, and cope with life's
problems. Having good mental health more likely means to enjoy life and feel happier
and more positive about themselves.
4. What are the benefits of creating plan to stay mentally healthy during adolescence?
- There are benefits of creating a plan to stay mentally healthy during adolescence.
Having good habits to maintain good mental health in the present time as an adolescent
is a good practice and knowledge that you could bring as they grow up. There are times
that we cannot avoid stress but with this plan we are able to reduce the stress and also
it will help to easily cope with it. It will help us to be happy and maintain positivity.

Activity 4: Fill in the Blank

Name Eazel Donn O. Villamater __________ Date _____________________

Section: 11-Excellence

Direction: Identify the words or phrases being described in the following items. Write your
answer on the space provided before each number.

Biopsychosocial Approach 1. This is the approach used in order to

understand the different
psychological disorders.
Carol Ryff 2. He was known as the person who
developed the dimensions of
psychological well-being. Who is he?
Mental health 3. It is that status of the human person
that is made up of social, emotional
and psychological well-being. What
do you call this status?
Anorexia Nervosa 4. It is the condition that is characterized
by extreme fear of being fat and
wrong perception of one’s body.
What is this mental condition called?
Binge eating disorder 5. This condition is a combination of
binge-eating episodes and extreme
 guilt for the act. What is this mental
condition called?
Bulimia Nervosa 6. It is the act of inducing vomit or using
laxatives and diuretics to get rid of
the food and drinks consumed. What
is this act Called?
Binge eating disorder 7. It is that kind of eating that is
characterized by an eating of large
amounts of food in a discrete period
of time such as 2 hours. What kind of
eating is this?
Major depressive episode 8. It is the condition of experiencing
depressed moods and loss of interest
or pleasure for 2 weeks. What is this
condition called?
One week 9. How long does a manic episode last?

Bipolar Disorder 10. What is that condition when

depressive episode and full manic
episode occurs?

Depression 11. It is said to be the third highest cause

Recurrent thought of death
or morbidity among teenagers. What is
this third cause of death among
teenagers called?
12. It is the act of thinking constantly
about committing suicide and about
death. What is this act called?

OOOAttempted Suicide 13. It is the term used to refer an incident

when one commits suicide then
survives.
Adolescents 14. According to studies they are more
likely to engage in suicide attempts
due to being emotional. Who are they?

Cluster/ Completed Suicide 15. This is referred as to situation when

 several suicide attempts and
completed suicide occur in one place
within a short period of time. What is
this called?

Activity 6:

Direction: Think of a particular song that will best describe how you are feeling right now. Write
the lyrics of the song. Then below the lyrics of the song, what causes your feelings and explain
and how you can change your negative feelings into positive and how you can reinforce your
positive emotions.

" Wide awake while the world is sound asleepin'

Too afraid of what might show up while you're dreamin'
Nobody, nobody, nobody sees you
Nobody, nobody, would believe you
Every day you try to pick up all the pieces
All the memories, they somehow never leave you
Nobody, nobody, nobody sees you
Nobody, nobody would believe you
God only knows what you've been through
God only knows what they say about you
God only knows how it's killing you
Is there a kind of love that
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God"

- With this song Awesome God/ God Only Knows I heard in the musical film A Week
Away, it relates me so much with the things happening in our surroundings wherein we
can tell that people are not united when it comes to government, people are toxic and
they can easily judge others in social media, it's like people are hurting each other. Aside
from the pandemic that's making us suffer, these are the things that also make people
worse. I think that we must start to change how we live our lives in this world because
Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-39, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” We must not judge
others easily with their mistakes. There are lots of people suffering because of this and
we can't possibly know what is going on in their hearts. And to all of you who are
struggling in silence, know that God is aware of your situation. You are not alone in your
pain. Your damaged heart is visible to him. He is aware of your suffering and is
beckoning you to find peace in His arms. We must always remember that God only
knows where to find you, God only knows how to break through, God only knows the
real you, and there’s a kind of love that God only knows because our God is an awesome
God.

Prayer for a Healthy Mind

Father, I offer to you myself and my sometimes, troubled mind.

Help me to reflect on your words.
And by it, give me the grace to be enlightened
With the beauty of this world, others, and myself.

All this, I ask through JESUS CHRIST our Lord.

Amen.