1

Chapter 9

Mental and Emotional Problems

2

Lesson 1

Mental Disorders

3

Mental Disorders

• Mental Disorder – an illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person, preventing him or her from leading a happy, healthful and productive life

• Of the 20% of children and adolescents who suffer from mental health problems, only one-third receive the help they need

• Stigma – a negative label or mark of shame• There are misconceptions and stereotypes which lead

people to be embarrassed • Many mental and emotional disturbances involve

chemical imbalances in the brain chemistry

4

Types of Mental Disorders

• Organic Disorder: caused by a physical illness or an injury that affects the brain– May results from brain tumors, infections,

chemical imbalances, exposure to drugs and toxins, or injuries resulting in brain damage

• Functional Disorder: a psychological cause and does not involve brain damage– May result from heredity, stress, emotional

conflict, fear, ineffective coping skills, or other conditions

5

Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety Disorder: a condition in which real or imagined fears are difficult to control– Phobia: a strong and irrational fear of

something specific, example – heights– Obsessive-compulsive disorder: the person is

trapped in a pattern of repeated thoughts or behaviors. Obsessive: persistent, recurrent, and unwanted thoughts that prevent people from attending normal daily activities. Compulsive: repeated, irresistible behaviors

6

Anxiety Disorders, cont.

• Panic Disorder: has sudden, unexplained feelings of terror. “Panic Attacks” – accompanied by symptoms such as trembling, a pounding heart, shortness of breath or dizziness. A condition in which fear and anxiety get it the way of a person’s ability to function and enjoy life

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: a condition that may develop after exposure to a terrifying event that threatened or caused physical harm

7

Mood Disorders

• Mood Disorder: an illness, often with an organic cause, that involves mood extremes that interfere with everyday living. The emotional swings of mood disorders are extreme in both intensity and duration.

• Clinical Depression: feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or despair that last for more than a few weeks and interfere with daily interests and activities. Affect a person’s ability to concentrate, sleep, perform at school, and handle everyday decisions and challenges. Can be biologically based or caused by life events

• Bipolar Disorder: aka, manic-depressive disorder, marked by extreme mood changes, energy levels, and behavior. Figure 9.1

8

Eating Disorders

• Anorexia• Bulimia• Psychological pressures, possible genetic

factors, and an obsession with body image and thinness can lead to an eating disorder

• Eating disorders are real, treatable medical illnesses

• A person with an eating disorder can experience a wide range of physical health complications, including serious heart conditions and kidney failure which may lead to death

9

Conduct Disorders

• Conduct Disorder: a pattern of behavior in which the rights of others or basic social rules are violated

• Children and adolescents who act out their impulses toward others in a destructive way may have this disorder

• Lie, theft, aggression, violence, truancy, arson, and vandalism

• They may project an image of toughness, with this disorder however they have low self-esteem

10

Schizophrenia

• A severe mental disorder in which a person loses contact with reality

• Symptoms include:– Delusions, hallucinations, and thought disorders

• People who suffer from schizophrenia have difficulty understanding the difference between real and imaginary events

• Misconception is that they are violent and have multiple or split personalities, however they are not a threat to others

11

Personality Disorders

• Personality refers to an individual’s unique traits and behavior patterns

• People with healthy personalities can cope with day-to-day challenges of life

• Antisocial personality disorder: tend to be irritable, aggressive, impulsive, and violent

• Borderline personality behavior: experience a series of troubled behaviors, tend to engage in high risk activities, poor self-esteem, lash out violently at the people they need most

• Passive-Aggressive personality disorder: uncooperative, resent being told what to do, but rely on others’ for direction, angry over issues of control, show their anger, but only indirectly

12

Lesson 2

Suicide Prevention

13

Suicide

• Alienation– Feeling isolated and separated from everyone

else– When such painful feelings become

unbearable, some people may try drastic, self-destruction measures to escape their pain

• Suicide– The most dramatic of all measures– Is the act of intentionally taking one’s own life

14

Suicide Risk Factors

• Most suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and actions are expressions of extreme distress, not bids for attention

• More than 90 percent of people who commit suicide are suffering from depression or another mental disorder or are abusing alcohol or drugs

• Other suicidal risk factors include a history of physical or sexual abuse, history of previous suicide attempts or a family history of emotional disorders or suicide

15

Teen Suicide: Recognizing the Warning Signs

Verbal Signs• Direct statements:

– “I want to die”– “I don’t want to live anymore”– “I wish I were dead”

• Indirect statements:– “I won’t have to put up with this

much longer”– “I just want to go to sleep and

never wake up”– “They’ll be sorry when I am gone”

• Writing poems, song lyrics, or diary entries that deal with death

• Suicide threats or insinuations that are either direct or indirect

Nonverbal or Behavioral Signs• An unusual obsession with death• Withdrawal from friends• Dramatic changes in personality, hygiene,

or appearance• Impulsive, irrational, or bizarre behavior• An overwhelming sense of guilt, shame, or

rejection, negative self-evaluation• Significant deterioration in schoolwork, or

recreational performance• Preoccupation with giving away personal

belongings• Substance abuse• Frequent complaints about physical

symptoms• Persistent boredom and indifference• Violent actions, rebellious behavior or

running away• Intolerance for praise or rewards

16

Preventing Suicide

• Your ability to be able to recognize the signs from figure 9.2 in yourself or others can mean the difference between life and death

• Never bargain with someone who is thinking about suicide

• Whether someone is talking serious, casual or even humorous, you must take it seriously

• Untreated depression is the leading cause of suicide

• People suffering from mental health problems need to seek help

17

Helping Others

Suicidal people often believe that their death will not matter to anyone. Therefore it is critical to show concern and empathy for someone who is talking about suicide.

• Initiate a meaningful conversation• Show support and ask questions• Try to persuade the person to seek help

18

Multiple Suicides

• Cluster Suicides: a series of suicides occurring within a short period of time and involving several people in the same school or community

• In the US cluster suicides mainly occur among teens and young adults

• Some result from pacts or agreements between two or more people

• Others result when individuals commit suicide in response to the suicide of a friend or a suicide that has been broadcasted in the media

• Prevention: evaluation and counseling for friends and relatives of suicide victims

19

Lesson 3

Getting Help

20

Knowing When to Get Help

• You feel trapped with no way out, or you worry all the time

• Your feelings affect your sleep, eating habits, school work, job performance, or relationships

• Your family or friends express concern about your behavior

• You are becoming involved with alcohol or other drugs

• You are becoming increasingly aggressive, violent, or reckless

21

Signs that Professional Help is Needed

• Some symptoms that are severe enough to require intervention by a mental health professional include:– Prolonged sadness for no specific reason– Frequent outbursts of anger– Overwhelming fear– Anxiety – Anger at the world– Unexplainable change in sleeping or eating habits– Social withdrawal

22

Seeking Help

• Most people tend to wait too long before seeking help

• Figure 9.3 is a list of mental professionals• Asking for help from a professional does not

mean that a person is weak• People cannot get better on their own when

suffering from a mental disorder• Most people will be surprised and happy t find

that unloading problems is a great relief

23

Therapy Methods• Psychotherapy: an ongoing dialogue between a patient and

a mental health professional• Behavior therapy: a treatment process that focuses on

changing unwanted behaviors through rewards and reinforcements

• Cognitive therapy: a treatment method designed to identify and correct distorted thinking patterns that can lead to feelings and behaviors that may be troublesome, self-defeating, or self-destructive

• Group therapy: involves treating a group of people who have similar problems and who meet regularly with a trained counselor

• Biomedical therapy: is the use of certain medications to treat or reduce the symptoms of a mental disorder

24

Lesson 4

Understanding Death and Grief

25

Expressions of Grief

• Different kinds of loss that can cause pain

• Coping: dealing successfully with difficult changes in your life

• Grief Response: an individual’s total response to a major loss

• The way a person responds to loss is unique to the situation and to the individual

26

The Grieving Process

• It occurs during the grief response

• The purpose is to reach closure or acceptance of loss

• There is no correct way of experiencing loss, but the stages of grief reflect a variety of reactions that may occur as people work through the process

27

Reactions - The Grieving Process

• Denial or Numbness• Emotional Releases• Anger• Bargaining• Depression• Remorse• Acceptance• Hope

28

Coping with Death

• To help cope with death, allow some time to reflect on who you were before the loss and who you will be after the grieving

• Remember the wonderful things and the good times you shared

• Seek support from others • Writing a letter to say good-bye• Mourning: the act of showing sorrow or

grief

29

Coping with Disasters and Crises

• Traumatic or sudden events can leave people feeling a range of emotions

• Using effective coping mechanisms can ease the process of recovery– Spend time with other people and discuss your

feelings– Get back to daily routines as quickly as possible– Eat nutritious foods, exercise and get enough rest and

sleep– Do something positive to help your community

through the event