PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

PAVIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Evangelista St., Pavia Iloilo
5001 Philippines
“QUALITY EDUCATION OUR PRIDE”

“What we achieve inwardly will change outward reality” – Plutarch

LESSON 4.1 MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING IN ADOLESCENCE

Mental health is defined as “a state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to
use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society and meet the ordinary demand of everyday life.
The adolescent stage is a period of great adjustments. He goes through hormonal and physical changes. He is in the
process of forming his own identity and building his self-image. He finds emotional security in his family and peer
group. All these tasks are considered challenges that the adolescent needs to hurdle. He must be fully equipped with
effective tools to combat stress brought about by these challenges. Otherwise, psychological and mental health could be
affected.
Well-being is defined as a subjective state that emerges from a general feeling of satisfaction with oneself. It is
also described as a condition of good health, happiness and prosperity.

Mental Health Issues and Challenges In Adolescence

• Eating Disorder
Some teenagers are eating too much or eating too little. This practice either leads to obesity and
malnourishment. For people who turn to eating as a way to release tension, food is used as a means of
comfort when a person is depressed, tense or stressed. This is called as emotional eating. Others try to
eat less than normal for fear of gaining weight because of their conscious effort to maintain their thin
frame.

• Depression
One of the most common mental health issues experienced by adolescents today is depression. Reasons
may vary form one person to another.
When the adolescent is depressed, there are marked changes in his or her thinking and behavior. He
either sleeps too much or wakes up in the early morning. He lacks concentration and becomes irritable.
He might eat too much or too little which may lead to eating disorders. He withdraws from friends and
family and does not find pleasure in activities he used to enjoy.

• Suicide
When depression is too severe, the adolescent may attempt to commit suicide. He resorts to suicide as a
solution to end his misery. The person who sends feelers of contemplating suicide should not be left
alone. He needs to have a companion as a preventive measure.

Risk Factors, Resilience and Prevention

• Risk Factors
There are certain factors that may increase the risk of a person to develop mental illness such as: family
history, fetal development, and emotional stress, genetic and environmental factors.

• Resilience
Resilience is one of the protective factors in preventing mental health problems. Resilience is the ability
to recover readily from illness, depression or adversity. A resilient person can adapt well to the demands
and difficulties in life. He uses his inner resources to resolve his problems and tries to look at the situation
from another viewpoint and explain things well.

• Prevention
To prevent a person from developing poor mental health, one should check his self-perception. A
positive self-concept can serve as a buffer to the onslaught of the problems and difficulties that a young
person experiences.
Social support coming from one’s own family and friends are important. Physical exercise, a balanced
diet and adequate sleep could largely help in achieving mental health and well-being.

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