UnderstandingMental Health

* Anna Fricker

* Kristianne Campbell

* Alicia Jones

Technical Support by

*Mitchell Glogowski

*Travis MacNeil

*Evan MacNeil

*Mr. B MacNeil

• Mental health issues are more common than many people think. One in every five Canadians will experience a mental health problem during their lives.

• This presentation will explain a few of the many types of mental illness that are affecting people everyday.

Teen Depression

• Teen depression is a mental illness that affects about one in eight people during their teen years. It can be caused by many things including, genetics, environment, medical conditions, and life events.

• When a teen is suffering with depression, the world seems miserable. It can make even the smallest problems seem overwhelming. The person's thoughts and actions reflect the hopelessness and helplessness they feel.

Teen DepressionSome symptoms of depression in teens include,• Frequent sadness & crying• Low Energy• Loss of interest in activities they once enojyed.• Complaints about headaches, stomachaches and

other physical illness.• Change in eating and/or sleeping habits • Poor concentration • Alcohol and Drug Abuse• Thoughts and expressions of suicide or self-injury

Helping a Friend

• The CLUES method is one way that you can support somebody who is suffering with depression.

C – Connect – Try to relate to the persons feelings.

L – Listen – Listen to what they have to say, don’t judge and don’t interrupt.

U – Understand – Try to put yourself in their position.

E - Express Concern – Show that you care and you want to help.

S - Seek Help – Take action, suggest that they see a fully trained professional for counseling.

Other Types of

Mental Illness

Obsessive Compulsive

Disorder

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD is an anxiety disorder.

• People with OCD don’t have enough serotonin in their brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps to keep people from repeating the same behaviors over and over again.

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, if left untreated, can make everyday life extremely difficult for those suffering with it.

• There are medicines that people with OCD can take to increase the amount of serotonin in their brain.

ObsessionsSome Common Obsessions include,• Fear of dirt or germs • Disgust with bodily waste or fluids • Concern with order, symmetry and exactness • Worry that a task has been done poorly, even

when the person knows this is not true • Fear of thinking evil or sinful thoughts • Thinking about certain sounds, images, words or

numbers all the time • Need for constant reassurance • Fear of harming a family member or friend

Compulsions

• Some common compulsions include,• Cleaning and grooming, such as washing hands,

showering or brushing teeth over and over again • Checking drawers, door locks and appliances to

be sure they are shut, locked or turned off • Repeating, such as going in and out of a door,

sitting down and getting up from a chair, or touching certain objects several times

• Ordering and arranging items in certain ways • Counting over and over to a certain number

Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

*Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that often affects people with low self-esteem and a need for acceptance.

*These people often feel the need to control their surroundings and emotions.

*They turn to turn to obsessive dieting and starvation as a way to control not only their weight, but their emotions as well.

Symptoms of Anorexia

• Dramatic weight loss• Skipping meals frequently, with excuses for not eating • Eating only a few foods, especially those low in fat and

calories • Making meals for others, but not eating the meals

themselves • Wearing baggy clothing to cover up thinness • Exercising excessively • Constantly looking for flaws • Avoiding social gatherings where food is involved • Complaining about being overweight, even when thin

Symptoms Of Bulimia

• Secrecy surrounding eating and the time after eating.

• Odd eating behaviors, • Eating large amounts of food, with no change

in weight. • Excessive exercise• Poor body image • Discolored or callused fingers• Tooth and mouth problems

Bulimia Nervosa

• There are many similarities with anorexia and bulimia. However, unlike anorexia, people with bulimia binge and purge. First, they eat large amounts of food then they purge themselves by using laxatives or forcing themselves to vomit.

How you can Help

If a friend or family member is suffering from an eating disorder, these are some ways that you can support them.

• Talk to them. People with eating disorders often fear criticism and rejection, so remember to be sensitive and kind.

• Realize that the person will not change until they want to.• Provide information on eating disorders.• Be supportive and caring. • Suggest professional help!

Dyslexia

Dyslexia

• Dyslexia is a learning disability that causes difficulty with written language, especially with reading and spelling. Most people with dyslexia have average or above-average intelligence.

Symptoms

• Difficulty learning and remembering printed words

• Persistent spelling errors • Difficulty writing • Clumsiness • Problems with direction

Celebrities with Mental Illnesses

Drew Carey- Depression

DMX - Bipolar Disorder

Howie Mandel - OCD

Drew Barrymore - Clinical depression, alcoholism and substance abuse.

Tom Cruise -Dyslexia

Jim Carey- Clinical Depression

• Walt Disney- Dyslexia

•Alexander Graham Bell- dyslexia

• Robert Munch – Bipolar Disorder                       

•Princess Diana- Bulimia

Getting Help…The Canadian Mental Health www.canmat.org

Depression and Anxiety Information Resource and Education centerwww.ths.mcmaster.ca/direct

Canadian Health Network www.canadian-health-network.ca

The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatmentswww.canmet.org

Suicide Information & Educationwww.suicideprevention.ca

Local Hospitals with Mental Health Services, and Department of Psychiatry in Provincial Hospitals

• Dr. T.L Sullivan Jr. High School is a safe, and caring school.

• There is a network of caring relationships in our school

• A signature strength of T.L. is the level of involvement by teachers with students.

• At T.L we have “Student helping Student” groups.

• We have school policies to ensure students have a positive school experience!

Thank You