Unit 11: Mental Health

1. Unit 11: Mental Health

2. 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

3. CMHA mental health assessment criteria • Ability to enjoy life • Resilience • Balance • Flexibility • Self-actualization

4. 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

5. 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

6. Mental illness

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. Psychological Disorders

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Bipolar disorder • Formally “manic depression” • Their mood “swings” between a depressed state and a state of mania. • Mania is characterized by: • Elevated, and/or irritable mood • Hyperactivity • Difficulty sleeping • Extreme optimism • Feelings of invincibility

15. Treatment for Mood disorders • Psychotherapy • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy • Drug therapy

16. 2. Anxiety disorders

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) • Specific, time-consuming obsessions lead to.... • Compulsions/Rituals: “I have to do this”

22. 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

23. 3. Schizophrenia

24. 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

25. 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

26. Schizophrenia Treatment • Hospitalization • Drug therapy • Psychotherapy • Electroconvulsive therapy

27. 4. Suicide

28. 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)

29. 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

30. Stress

31. 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

32. 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

33. Stress vs Distress • Not all stress is bad! • Distress = too little or too much stress • Eustress = optimal “good” stress

34. Stress management • Three main approaches • Change the stressor • Remove yourself from the stressor • Change your response to the stressor

35. 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