unit 11: mental health
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Unit 11: Mental Health. Defining Mental Health. Not just the absence of mental illness Now, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) promotes a holistic ‘ positive psychology ’ Promotes qualities that “make people flourish” Includes Courage Optimism Hope honesty interpersonal skills - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Unit 11: Mental Health
Defining Mental Health• Not just the absence of mental illness• Now, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
promotes a holistic ‘positive psychology’– Promotes qualities that “make people flourish”– Includes
• Courage• Optimism• Hope• honesty• interpersonal skills• work ethic• perseverance
CMHA mental health assessment criteria
• Ability to enjoy life• Resilience• Balance• Flexibility• Self-actualization
Self-actualized people
• Have a realistic and positive self-image• They accept themselves and others as they
are• They are autonomous• They are genuine and spontaneous• They are capable of intimacy• They are creative, playful and accept change
CMHA Mental Fitness Tips• Daydream of an ideal setting• “collect” positive emotional moments• Learn ways to cope with negative thoughts• Do one thing at a time• Exercise• Enjoy hobbies• Set personal goals• Keep a journal/ talk to the wall• Share humour• Volunteer• Treat yourself well
MENTAL ILLNESS
Mental Illness Overview
• 1/5 Canadian will experience a mental health issue in their lives
• The economic cost of mental illnesses ≈$7.3 billion (1993)
Mental Illness Stigmas
• Stigmas often limit diagnosis– Unfortunate since there is effective treatment for
most illnesses
• Myths about mental illness– Those affected are violent and dangerous– Those affected are poor and/or less intelligent– It is caused by a personal weakness– It is a single, rare disorder
Defence mechanisms• Defence mechanisms are a Freudian concept which
outlines ways we deal with undesired situations.• They can be negative to our mental health and lead
to maladaptive behaviour• Examples:– Fantasies– Repression– Sublimation/Displacement– Denial– Delusion– Acting out– Intellectualization
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
1. Mood Disorders
• 1/7 Canadians have at some point in their lives showed symptoms that qualify for mood disorder diagnosis– 12.2% depression– 2.4% bipolar
Causes/ risk factors for mood disorders• No single cause
– Family history– Genetics– Changes in brain signalling
• Neurotransmitters – Previous episode– Stress (maybe only for initial episode)– Traumatic life event– Socio-economic factors (income, housing, prejudice, workplace
stress)– Chronic medical condition– Females twice as likely than males
Diagnosing Depression:Signs to look for
• Feeling worthless, helpless, hopeless• Sleeping more than usual• Eating more/less than usual• Difficulty concentrating• Loss of interest• Decreased sex drive• Feeling unreasonably guilty• Loss of energy, feeling tired• Thoughts of death, suicide
Bipolar disorder
• Formally “manic depression”• Their mood “swings” between a depressed
state and a state of mania.• Mania is characterized by:– Elevated, and/orirritable mood– Hyperactivity– Difficulty sleeping– Extreme optimism– Feelings of invincibility
Treatment for Mood disorders
• Psychotherapy– Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• Drug therapy
2. ANXIETY DISORDERS
Anxiety Disorders
• Most common mental health problem• 1 in 10 people suffer from them• More common among women then men• Those afflicted suffer from intense, prolonged
fear and distress without obvious reason
Panic Disorder• Evidenced by repeated, spontaneous panic
attacks– Feelings of impending doom that occur suddenly
with no warning– High heart rate, sweating, weakness, faintness
dizziness often accompany panic attack
• Often have intense anxiety between attacks
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)• Chronic worry/tension without anything to
warrant you feeling that way• Anticipate the worst• Trouble sleeping• Accompanying physical symptoms: trembling,
twitching, muscle tension, irritability, sweating
Phobias
• Phobias typically trigger extreme anxiety and panic; typically illogical fear
• There are 2 types of phobias• 1. Social phobias– An intense fear of being humiliated/embarrassed
in social situations
• 2. Specific phobias– Fear of flying, fear of heights, arachnophobia
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Specific, time-consuming obsessions lead to....• Compulsions/Rituals: “I have to do this”
Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
• 1. Drug Therapy– Anti-depressants, anti-anxiety
• 2. Cognitive behavioural therapy– Positive thought replacement– Exposure/response therapy– Diary of events and the feelings that go with– Questioning thoughts and assumptions– Relaxation– Distraction techniques
3. SCHIZOPHRENIA
Cause of Schizophrenia
• Cause is unknown and complex:– Changes in brain chemistry• Neurotransmitter changes
– Changes in brain structure– Genetic factors– Viral infections?– Head injuries?– Drug abuse– Social isolation
Symptoms of Schizophrenia• Positive symptoms (symptoms which are present and should be
absent)– Hallucinations– Delusions– Thought disorder– Altered sense of self
• Negative symptoms (those that are absent which should be present)– Lack of motivation– Blunted feelings– Depression– Social withdrawal
Schizophrenia Treatment
• Hospitalization• Drug therapy• Psychotherapy• Electroconvulsive therapy
4. SUICIDE
Suicide Overview• 3500-4000 Canadians kill themselves every year• 80% of cases = men: #1 cause of death for men 25-29, 40-44• High risk subgroups– Aboriginals that live on reserves twice as likely– Those with physical or mental illness– Drug abusers– Gays and lesbians– People in jail– Those who have previously attempted suicide– Young people– Those who are experiencing a major loss (job, loved one, divorce)
Personal level suicide prevention: what to do if someone you know is
suicidal• Express concern: show love + caring• Encourage conversation• Ask direct questions: “are you thinking about suicide”• Encourage seeking professional help• Ask the person about recent events• If danger is immediate: don’t leave them alone• Call a crisis center• At SFU: contact Health, Career and Counselling
Services• The CMHA says that the single most important thing
you can do is to : listen without judgement
STRESS
Stress overview• Your body tends to regulate itself very tightly,
keeping body systems in a state of dynamic equilibrium = homeostasis
• Dr. Hans Seyle defined stress as an event that shifts the body away from homeostasis
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
• GAS is the generalized way the human body responds to various stressors
• 1. alarm stage; fight or flight response• 2. resistance stage; cortisol released to resist
stress, bring body back towards homeostasis• 3. exhaustion
Stress vs Distress• Not all stress is bad!
• Distress = too little or too much stress
• Eustress = optimal “good” stress
Stress management
• Three main approaches– Change the stressor– Remove yourself from the stressor– Change your response to the stressor
Stress management• Specific stress management strategies– Know yourself and what you can handle– Develop communication skills: talk to others about it– Time manage properly so you don’t have too much to
do all at once– Make time for exercise, enjoyable activities– Have a good sense of humour– Be optimistic– Rest– Sleep