Transcript What Affects Mental Health?

Chapter 12
Mental Health
Mental Health: What Is It?
One definition: “how we think, feel, and act as we cope
with life” (Kellogg, R. (2008). Quoted in What is mental health? [Press
Release]).
What is good mental health?
One definition: “a state of well-being that allows
someone to be productive, have fulfilling
relationships, cope with difficult circumstances, and
adapt to change.”
Mental health and physical health are connected.
• Mental health affects physical health (being
depressed increases the risk for heart disease).
• Physical health affects mental health (lack of air can
cause a panic attack; regular exercise lowers the risk
for depression).
Mental illness is common, but it doesn’t
mean a person is crazy.
• 1 in 5 adults (45 million Americans) suffer
from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given
year.
• Half of all Americans will experience some
form of mental illness during their lives.
• People with mental illnesses love others, hold
jobs, and contribute to society.
What Affects Mental Health?
Biology
• Some mental illnesses have genetic
components.
• Neurotransmitters, hormones, physical health
and other factors can affect mental illnesses
and how they are perceived.
Social and Psychosocial Factors
• The way women are treated affects their
mental health
What Affects Mental Health?
• Stress
– Chronic stress, and the way people react to it,
affect mental health.
– Women are more likely than men to
internalize stress.
– Traumatic events can cause or contribute to
mental illness.
– Coping with stress in a positive manner can
improve mental health.
– How do you respond to stress?
Costs of Mental Illness to Society
Undefined burden of mental problems
• Refers to the economic and social
burden for families, communities, and
countries
Hidden burden of mental problems
• Refers to the stigma and violations of
human rights and freedoms associated
with mental problems
What Mental Illnesses Affect Women
Compared to men, women are more likely to have
• Depression (2x)
• Seasonal affective disorder (4x)
• Anorexia, bulimia (9x)
• Phobias, panic disorder (~2x)
• Borderline, histrionic personality disorder.
Women are less likely to have schizophrenia, antisocial
personality disorder, attention-deficit disorder, and to
be violent as a result of mental illness.
The Economic Burden of Mental Illness
• Need for mental health and social services
• Lost employment and reduced productivity
• Financial burden placed on families and
caregivers
• Increased levels of crime and threat to public
safety
• Negative effects of premature mortality
Legal Dimensions: The Mental
Illness/Crime Paradox
• Given treatment, people with mental illness
are no more likely to commit crimes than
the general public.
• Without treatment, however, the mentally ill
are more likely to commit crimes and to be
arrested.
Clinical Dimensions of Mental Health
Mood Disorders
• Unipolar disorder: depression and dysthymia
• Bipolar disorder: manic depression
Types of depression
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
• Postpartum depression
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Depression
Persistent, inescapable feelings of sadness, low energy and
apathy.
Treatment for depression
• Antidepressant drugs
• Psychotherapy
• Combination of
therapy and drugs
Bipolar Disorder
Both highs and lows
• Highs: feelings of wonder and euphoria
and/or overly stimulated, easily
distracted, and easily irritated
• Lows: deep, persistent feelings of
sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, or guilt;
they might also have low energy, a
reduced sense of pleasure and a lowered
sex drive, and thoughts of suicide
Anxiety Disorders
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Phobias
• Panic disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety Disorders
Treatment for anxiety
disorders
• Cognitive behavioral
therapy
• Antianxiety
medications
• Antidepressants
• Medication and
therapy together
Treating Mood Disorders
and Anxiety Disorders
Treatment CAN and USUALLY does help. But…
• It is difficult.
• It takes time.
Treatment can include medications,
psychotherapy, or a combination of the two (both
together normally work better than either alone).
Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
• Deprivation of food and a body weight of at
least 15% below the normal weight based on
height and age
Symptoms
• Refusal to maintain an adequate weight
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Distorted body image
• In women, absence of three consecutive
menstrual periods
Eating Disorders
Bulimia Nervosa
• Cyclic binge eating followed by purging
• Symptoms
– Recurrent episodes of bingeing and
vomiting
– Feeling out of control during a binge
– Purging after a binge
– Extreme concern with body weight and
shape
Eating Disorders
Binge Eating Disorder
Compulsive overeating without purging
At least three of the following:
• Rapid, continuous eating (thousands of calories)
• Eating when not physically hungry
• Eating while alone
• Eating beyond the point of comfort
• Feeling self-disgust after a binge
Treatment for Eating Disorders
• Psychotherapy
• Behavior modification therapy
• Family therapy
• Antidepressants
Personality Disorders
• Antisocial
• Obsessive-compulsive
• Avoidant
• Paranoid
• Borderline
• Passive-aggressive
• Dependent
• Schizoid
• Histrionic
• Schizotypal
• Narcissistic
Schizophrenia
• Psychosis—severe mental disorder
characterized by lack of contact with reality and
severe personality changes
• Schizophrenia—type of psychosis; afflicts about
2.5 million Americans, with men and women
equally afflicted
• Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions,
disordered thinking, and impaired ability to
interact with others
• Treatment: antipsychotics and psychotherapy
Dissociative Disorders
• Unconscious way to protect self from
emotional traumas by detaching from a
part of one’s personality
• Several types: dissociative identity
disorder (multiple personality disorder),
dissociative amnesia
Suicide
Risk factors
• Adverse life events in combination with
depression
• Prior suicide attempt
• Family history of mental disorder or
substance abuse
• Family history of suicide
• Family violence, including physical or sexual
abuse
• Firearms in home
• Incarceration
Informed Decision Making: Healthful
Ways to Cope with Stress
• Watching a funny movie or show, telling and
listening to jokes, or other activities that bring
laughter
• Exercise (regular activity is best, but any
amount of exercise brings benefits)
• Meditation or prayer
• Gardening
• Spending time with a pet or pets
• Getting a massage
If you have some form of mental
illness:
You are not alone.
Help is available—and it can make a difference.
Informed Decision Making: Healthful
Ways to Cope with Stress
• Visualization (imagining yourself on a calm
beach, a quiet meadow, or some other peaceful,
relaxing situation)
• Listening to music
• Naps or simply lying down, closing one’s eyes
and relaxing
• Regular exercise
• Creative endeavors (writing, drawing or painting,
dancing, etc.)