Transcript Understanding Mental Health

Understanding
Mental Health
Disorders
Information for Postsecondary Students
Learning Objectives
• You will have an understanding of the most
common mental health disorders facing
postsecondary students
• You will learn how to help your friends or family
members who may have one of these problems
• You will develop some strategies for removing
stigma
Why should we learn about this?
• Increase prevalence among Canadians
• Student stress and impact on academic success
• Society talking about anti stigma and inclusion
• Congruent with the underlying principles of many
curricula
Prevalence
• 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness
in their lifetime BUT 1 in 3 postsecondary
students will have a mental health problem.
• Onset of most mental illnesses between ages
15-25
• Postsecondary student population highest risk
age group for mental illness and problematic
substance use
• Students experience a high degree of personal
stress
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in this
age group after accidents
Mental Health Disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Stress
• Substance Use Disorder
• Mood disorders
• Psychosis and Schizophrenia
• Eating disorder
• Self-injury
• Suicide
Anxiety Disorders
• feelings of anxiousness
• physiological symptoms
• feelings that interfere with everyday activities
• e.g. phobias, panic disorder, obsessivecompulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress
disorder.
Depression
• Occurs when the ‘blues’ become too much to
handle or persist over time
• Medical condition caused by imbalance in brain
chemistry
• Can be triggered by stress, school difficulties
and many other life problems
Stress
• Feeling of being ‘on-edge’, nervous
• Can have negative impact on studies
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Concentration
Memory
Performance
Creativity
• Symptoms include headache, upset stomach etc
• Balance is key!
Substance Use Disorder
• Often started as a way of coping with stress.
• People with a mental health problem are at
greater risk for SUD
• Can be socially acceptable so easy to start and
continue
• Impairs judgment about factors that would
otherwise support GOOD mental health
Mood Disorders
• 10% -20% of the Canadian population
• Seen when a major depression and mania is
reported over a period of time.
• Mood disorders are related to bipolar disorder,
seasonal affective disorder, anxiety and
personality disorders.
• Mood disorder is an illness.
• It may cause people to feel intense emotions
that can cause difficulty with mental health,
physical health, relationships and being
productive in school or workplace settings.
Self Injury
• Self injury is the act of hurting oneself. People
do this as a coping strategy for psychological
pain. They many find that the physical pain of
cutting, burning, picking at skin or hair, or
punching themselves is a relief from the
unbearable pain caused by something in their
lives. Feelings of loneliness, depression or anger
may be causing a buildup of tension.
• People who self injure can come from any
background. It may impact people who are rich
or poor, high school or college students. They
may be from any profession.
Psychosis & Schizophrenia
• These are complex biochemical brain disorders
that often first appear in the young adult age.
• The person may experience delusions,
hallucinations, hear voices and perhaps have
feelings of confusion.
• These conditions can be treated.
Suicide
• Caused by feelings of hopelessness, pain, and
desperation
• Usually there is an underlying disorder such a
depression, anxiety or other conditions that can
be treated successfully
Myths About Suicide
• Myth: People rarely think about suicide.
Reality: Youth and suicide are more closely linked than
we might expect. In a survey of 15,000 grade 7 to 12
students in British Columbia, 34% knew of someone
who had attempted or died by suicide; 16% had
seriously considered suicide; 14% had made a suicide
plan; 7% had made an attempt and 2% had required
medical attention due to an attempt.
• Myth: Talking about suicide will give a person the
idea, or permission, to consider suicide as a
solution to their problems.
Reality: Talking calmly about suicide, without
showing fear or making judgments, can bring
relief to someone who is feeling terribly isolated.
A willingness to listen shows sincere concern;
encouraging someone to speak about their
suicidal feelings can reduce the risk of an
attempt.
• Myth: Suicide is sudden and unpredictable.
Reality: Suicide is most often a process, not an
event. Eight out of ten people who die by suicide
gave some, or even many, indications of their
intentions.
• Myth: Youth who talk about suicide are only seeking
attention or trying to manipulate others.
Reality: Efforts to manipulate or grab attention are
always a cause for concern. It is difficult to determine if
a youth is at risk of suicide.
All suicide threats must be taken seriously.
• Myth: People who talk about suicide are determined to
die.
Reality: People who talk about suicide are in pain. They
don't necessarily want to die; they want their pain to
end. If their ability to cope is stretched to the limit, or if
problems occur together with a mental illness, it can
seem that death is the only way to make the pain stop.
• Myth: A person who contemplates suicide will always be
at risk.
Reality: Many people feel that suicide is a viable option
at some time in their lives. The overwhelming desire to
escape from pain can be relieved when the problem or
pressure is relieved. Learning effective coping
techniques to deal with stressful situations can help.
How you can Help
• Listen to a friend who seems to be troubled
• Learn about the places in your community you
can suggest for help
• Suggest they chat with a college staff person in
counselling area
• Inform of good2talk.ca
• Inform of 4studenthealth.ca
Life Balance: keeping mentally healthy
• Eat nutritious meals
• Exercise – even a walk outside
• Spend time with friends
• Carve out leisure time
• Get involved
• Learn to manage stress
• Talk things out with someone you trust before
things get out of hand.
Change your World
• Stigma exists out of ignorance
• Be a part of awareness activities
• Inspect your every day language for phrases that
promote stigma
• Take time to volunteer whatever time you can
give
• Maintain activities that will promote YOUR good
mental health – and tell others
Be a part of the solution!