Mental

Health/Illness
Overview
Nationwide 50 million Americans suffer from
a mental illness in a given year
Mental Illness is more common than:
Cancer
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Psychiatric disorders are the number 1 reason
for hospital admissions nationwide
Causes
Biological Causes
Biochemical Disturbances
Genetics
Infections- can cause brain damage
Brain defects or injury #1 cause brain injuries
Prenatal damage
Poor nutrition, exposure to toxins
Causes Cont.
Psychological Causes
Severe psychological trauma suffered as a
child, such as emotional, physical or sexual
abuse
An important early loss, such as the loss of a
parent
Neglect
Poor ability to relate to others
 Causes Cont.
Environmental Factors
Death or divorce
A dysfunctional family life
Living in poverty
Feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, anxiety, anger
or loneliness
Changing jobs or schools
Social or cultural expectations (For example, a society
that associates beauty with thinness can be a factor in
the development of eating disorders.)
Substance abuse by the person or the person's parents
Categories of Mental Illness
Mood/ Personality Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
Impulse Control and Addictive Disorders
Eating Disorders/Body Image
Other ( Adjustment Disorders, Dissocative Disorders,
Factitious Disorders, Somatoform Disorders,
Cognitive disorders)
 Mood Disorders
Bipolar Disorder
Major Depression
Symptoms of mood disorders include feelings of sadness,
hopelessness, helplessness or inadequacy that do not go away;
guilt; suicidal thoughts; fatigue; changes in appetite;
irritability; difficulty concentrating; and trouble engaging in
daily tasks and relationships. Mood disorders can also cause
an elevated mood (mania) that is accompanied by feelings of
grandiosity, extreme energy, and heightened arousal. These
feelings are stronger and last longer than normal, and interfere
Anxiety Disorders
Panic Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Specific Phobias
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
 Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia:
People with this illness have changes in behavior and other
symptoms -- such as delusions and hallucinations -- that last longer
than six months, usually with a decline in work, school and social
functioning.
Schizoaffective disorder:
People with this illness have symptoms of schizophrenia, as well as
a serious mood or affective disorder, such as severe depression,
mania (a disorder marked by periods of excessive energy) or
bipolar disorder (a disorder with cyclical periods of depression and
mania).
 Psychotic Disorders Cont
Schizophreniform disorder:
People with this illness have symptoms of schizophrenia, but the
symptoms last less than six months.
Brief psychotic disorder:
People with this illness have sudden, short periods of psychotic
behavior, often in response to a very stressful event, such as a
death in the family. Recovery is often quick -- usually less than a
month.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders: People with personality
disorders have extreme and inflexible personality traits
that are distressing to the person and/or cause problems
in work, school or social relationships.
In addition, the person's patterns of thinking and behavior
significantly differ from the expectations of society and
are so rigid that they interfere with the person's normal
functioning.
Examples include antisocial personality disorder,
obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and paranoid
personality disorder.
 Impulse control and
addiction disorders
People with impulse control disorders are unable to resist
urges, or impulses, to perform acts that could be harmful
to themselves or others.
Pyromania (starting fires), kleptomania (stealing) and
compulsive gambling are examples of impulse control
disorders.
Alcohol and drugs are common objects of addictions.
Often, people with these disorders become so involved
with the objects of their addiction that they begin to
ignore responsibilities and relationships.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders involve extreme
emotions, attitudes and behaviors
involving weight and food. Anorexia
nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating
disorder are the most common eating
disorders.
Compare & Contrast
Which disorders or illnesses are common?

How are they similar?

How might they be different?

Four Types of Stress
1. There is the positive kind called EUSTRESS, which is short
term stress and actually arises to strengthen us for immediate
action, creativity and times when we need inspiration and
motivation
2. DISTRESS is negative and harmful and causes us to adapt
to changing situations; there is the short-term variety of acute
stress that passes quickly, and long-term chronic stress.
3. HYPERSTRESS is when we get so stressed out that we just
overload because it is just too much for us to handle.
4. HYPOSTRESS means just not enough stress. We need a
little bit in our lives, otherwise we feel bored and have nothing
challenging us.
 Types of Stress
Breaking up with a boyfriend or Being accepted at a college of your
girlfriend choice
Beginning to date Public recognition
Getting suspended from school TV Appearance
Loss of a parents job or change in Birth of a sibling
income Vacation
Beginning high school Holidays Christmas, Easter, etc.
Death of a pet Traveling long distances with family
Taking finals Large crowds
Winning a competition or game Traffic
Ways to COPE with stress
C. Consider other alternatives

O. Others Support

P. Problem Solving

E. Esteem Building