MENTAL

HEALTH
ADVOCACY
November 12, 2019
Doña Rosario National High School
 FLOW OF THE
ADVOCACY
a. Understanding Mental Health & Illness
b. Stress Management by Practicing Self-
care
c. Open Forum
d. Administration of the DASS
(Depression, Anxiety Stress Scale)
Understanding
Mental Health
& Mental Illness
Mental Health: Snapshot
 450M people worldwide are affected by
mental, neurological or behavioral
problems at any time.
 154M people suffer from depression
 877K people die by suicide every year
 In 2011 WHO Global School-based
Health Survey shows that:
 16% of students bet. 13-15 years old
have ever seriously considered
attempting suicide
 13% have actually attempted suicide one
or more times during the past year
What is
Menta
l
It is define as a state in which individuals realize their
potentials, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work
Healt
productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to
the community. (WHO, 2007)
h?? Mental health refers to the maintenance
of
successful mental activity.
This includes maintaining productive daily activities
and maintaining fulfilling relationships with others.

It also includes maintaining the abilities

to adapt to change and to cope with
Understanding Mental Health

6
It is definitely NOT
Sometimes it’s tough to
easy being a
avoid feeling stressed,
teenager! and pressure can build up
in many areas of life
(socially, in school, at home,
and while making big
life decisions)
 Worrying about these
pressures is
NORMAL.

But feeling VERY

sad, hopeless or
worthless might be a
sign of a
mental health problem.
 Mental illness can occur when the brain
(or part of the brain) is not working well
or is working in the wrong way.
 When the brain is not working properly,
one or more of its 6 functions will be
disrupted Mental health
affects how
we think,
we feel and
we act.

Behavior
Thinking
Perception Physical
Emotion Signaling
 Symptoms can
include

Thinking difficulties
or problems Extreme emotional Sleep problems
focusing attention highs and lows
 When these symptoms
significantly disrupt a person’s life,
we say that the person has a

mental disorder
or a mental
illness.
So, what are the

CAUSES
of mental illness??
 Well, the causes of mental illness are

COMPLICATED!!

+ →
Genetics Environment Brain Disorder
What do we know about
the
causes of mental illness?


 Its symptoms are a
result of abnormal
brain functioning.

 Brain disorder.

 It is rarely if ever
caused by stress
alone.
What do we know about
the


causes of mental illness?
It is not the consequence of poor
parenting or bad behavior.

It is not the result of personal

weakness or deficits in personality.

It is not the manifestation of

malevolent spiritual intent.

Only in exceptional cases is it caused

by nutritional factors.

It is not caused by poverty.

Many mental illnesses begin
during childhood and
persist into adolescence.

Some of these include:

- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
(GAD)
BUT… some illnesses begin
during adolescence.

The illnesses that most often

begin during adolescence
include:
-Major Depression (MD)
-Schizophrenia
-Bipolar Disorder (BD)
-Panic disorder
-Social Anxiety Disorder
-Eating Disorders
-Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder
-Addictions
What do we know about people with
mental illnesses?
Most people with mental disorders live productive
and positive lives while receiving treatments for
their mental illness.

Some people have severe and

persistent mental disorders
which respond poorly to
current treatments (as in all
other illnesses)
Mental illness does not respect any
boundaries of race, class or geography.

The majority of people have a

friend, acquaintance or family
member who has or has had a
mental disorder.
Mental health problems can be treated!

If you feel VERY sad, stressed or worried, it might help

to talk to someone about how you are
feeling.
Do you ever…
 Often feel very angry or very worried?
 Do reckless things that could harm you or others?
 Feel grief for a long time after a loss or a death?
 Think your mind is controlled or out of control?
 Use alcohol or drugs?
 Exercise, diet and/or binge-eat obsessively?
 Hurt other people or destroy property?

If you feel any of these

things, it might help to talk
to a parent, teacher,
school counselor or
physician.
 Much can be done with mental health;
everyone can contribute to make it better.
s
 Teens and
Stress:
How to keep
stress in check
What is
Stres
s??
 Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical
tension.
 It can come from any event or thought that
makes you feel frustrated, angry, or
nervous.
 It is your body’s reaction to a challenge or
demand.
 In short burst, it can be POSITIVE.
 But when stress lasts for a long time, IT
MAY HARM YOUR HEALTH.
 So, what are the

CAUSES
of STRESS??

What are your top 3 stressors?

 Sources of STRESS:
1. Environmental
- Includes physical stressors that impinge upon the 5
senses such as weather, traffic, noise, pollution,
disturbing images, etc.

2. Social
- Includes psychological stressors triggered when
demands are made on our time, attention and skills
such as job interview, public speaking, work
presentations, interpersonal conflict, competing
priorities, financial problems and loss of relationships
and loved ones.
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3. Physiological
-Includes physical stressors that are produce at various
stages in our life, such as during growth spurts in
adolescences, menopause, lack of exercise, poor nutrition,
insufficient sleep, illness, injuries and aging.
-This stress may produce muscle tension, headaches,
stomach upsets, anxiety attacks ad bouts of depression.

29
4. Cognitive-emotional
-The principal source of this stress is OUR OWN
THOUGHTS
-Our brain interprets changes in our environment and body
and conducts an automatic “threat assessment” to decide
whether a danger is present and thus mobilize the body’s
defense.
-The GOOD functioning or BAD functioning of our threat
assessment determines whether we become alarmed
appropriately or inappropriately, and whether to remain
stressed or relax.

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 So, what

Self Care
is all about??

Self-care
 Is not selfishness or too much love of self

 It does not mean being makasarili

 Self-care
means

 Sound mental, emotional, spiritual and

behavioural practices which aim for
 Protection
 Maintenance
 Nurture of the whole of our person
 Common symptoms of STRESS
in ADOLESCENTS
 Feeling nervous or anxious
 Feeling tired
 Delaying or neglecting responsibilities
 Feeling overwhelmed
 Having negative thoughts
 Experiencing changes in sleeping habits
 Problems with concentrating
 Changes in eating habits (too much/ too less)
It is normal to have some stress in
life.

But if stress persists at high levels

for a long time, it can have a lasting
negative effects on health.
 Effect of Chronic
(long-term) STRESS exposure:
 Anxiety
 High blood pressure
 Weakened immune system
 Can contribute to diseases such as depression,
obesity and heart disease.
Everyone is affected by stress at
one time or another and it can feel
overwhelming.
With the right tools though, you can
learn to manage stress before it
takes a toll on your health.
Managing daily stress can also lead
to a more overall positive outlook on
your life and well-being.
37
38
 A Mindful The next time you’re feeling stressed out,
overwhelmed, or unsure, reach for a
moment of calm awareness:

S.N.A.C.K. a mindfulness SNACK.

Here’s how to do it:

S N A C K
Stop Notice Accept Curious Kindness
Just STOP
whatever
This is a tricky one.
you’re Ground yourself
Whatever it is that
doing. with questions Respond to yourself
you’re struggling
(Stopping, about your and others (mistakes
Notice what is with (time, kids,
by experience and and all) with kindness
happening within sleepiness,
definition, environment: and observe how that
and around you? frustration),
requires us What am I feeling? helps things get back
acknowledge it for
to begin What do I need on track.
what it is, without
again. We right now?
judgement.
can always
begin again.
 Before you speak,
T.H.I.N.K.
T Is it True?
H Is it Helpful?
I Is it Inspiring?
N Is it Necessary?
K Is it Kind?
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42
 When things are too much,
know that help is always available.
Reach out.
Talk to someone you trust when you need it and

Seek Professional help from counselors,

psychologists, and psychiatrist. 44
 Three Important Reminders…

1. YOU Matter

2. YOU are Loved

3. Everything WILL be Okay

TEST TAKING TIME

DEPRESSION,
ANXIETY, STRESS
SCALE (DASS)

10 MINUTES
THANK YOU-LO! Rosanna Gamutan-Duran, RN
Nurse II for SHS, DepEd ADN
Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH)
Education Program Focal Person
Division of Agusan del Norte
School Governance and Operations Division
Youth Formation Program Unit
Health and Nutrition Section