Understanding Mental Illness for Teens

Getting Rid of the Stigma

Created byPortage County NAMI

(National Alliance of Mental Illness) Family to Family Class

ofSpring 2012

Understanding Mental Illness

Mental illness is like any other kind of illness - something in our body or brain isn’t working correctly.

One in five people worldwide have a mental or neurological disorder at some point in their lives.

450 million people currently suffer from mental illness placing mental illness among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.

Treatment works, but nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental illness never seek help from a health professional.

“Stigma assumes many forms, both subtle and overt. It appears as prejudice and discrimination, fear, distrust, and stereotyping. It prompts many people to avoid working, socializing, and living with people who have a mental disorder.

Stigma impedes people from seeking help for fear the confidentiality of their diagnosis or treatment will be breached.

For our Nation to reduce the burden of mental illness, to improve access to care, and to achieve urgently needed knowledge about the brain, mind and behavior, STIGMA must no longer be tolerated"

(U.S. Surgeon General’s Report onMental Health, 1999).

Human DiseasesDiseases of the Brain

• Alzheimer's Disease• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

(ALS), "Lou Gehrig's Disease• Bipolar disorder• Cancer• Cerebral Palsy• Depression• Epilepsy• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder• Panic Attacks• Parkinson’s Disease• Schizophrenia

Diseases of the Body

• Allergies• Arthritis• Asthma• Cancer• Diabetes• Heart Disease• High Blood Pressure• Kidney Disease (nephritis)• Malaria• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)• Pneumonia

Diabetes• Diabetes, a common

disease suffered by millions of people, reveals itself by changes in bodily functions or senses.

• Diabetes creates changes in the body acting as indications of the disease.

• Thirsty• Frequent Urination• Blurred Vision• Tingling or numbness in

hands or feet• Cuts or bruises that are

slow to heal• Light headed or tired

Chicken Pox• Chicken Pox, a common

disease suffered by millions of people, reveals itself by visible changes on the surface of the skin.

• Bruising of skin without injury

• Skin infection• Itchy rash• Red spots and blisters

on skin

Cancer• Cancer, a common

disease suffered by millions of people, reveals itself by both physical and sensual indicators.

• A sore that won’t heal• Unusual bleeding or

discharge anywhere• Obvious change in a

mole or wart• Indigestion or trouble

swallowing• Nagging cough

persisting for six weeks

Mental Illness• Mental illness , a

common disease suffered by millions of people, reveals itself by changes in behavior.

• Panic or fear• Extremely happy or

depressed• Irritability• Exhausted• Paranoid• Seeking seclusion• Frequent Mood Swings• Confused thinking

Sometimes Teenagers and Adults Ridicule Others for Being Different

• If you’re overweight, then you’re a lard-o• If you’re too thin, then you’re a bean

pole.• If you’re an athlete, then you’re also

stupid and get poor grades• If you’re super intelligent, then you’re a

geek and will never be popular• If you have a mental illness, then you’re

crazy or a space cadet

The stigma of mental illness affects children and adults at work, at school, in families, and with peer interactions.

Mental illness – be proud – tear down the stigma

Over 50% of people with lifetime mental illness discover they have the disease by or shortly after age 14.

Hospitals are currently increasing with bipolar patients between the ages of 15 and 24 years.

You may have a mental illness. It just hasn’t hit you yet! It’s time to learn, understand and develop a compassion for those with mental illness.

Over 20% of the population will experience

mental illness in their lifetime. In the United States, that’s over 63

million people!

In the United States, the leading cause of death for college students is traffic accidents. The second leading cause of death for college students is…

…SUICIDE!

In the United States, twice as many people die from suicide as from murder.

Source: cdc.gov

In the Vietnam War, about 55,000 American soldiers lost their lives in battle. Another 55,000 committed suicide after they returned home. Their average age was 19!

People with mental illness are usually intelligent, talented, and inspiring people. They are actors, artists, business managers, musicians, astronauts, pilots, scientists, teachers, athletes, government leaders, doctors, authors, composers, and anything you might want to be!

Having a mental illness is no different than having another type of illness.

There are millions of people with mental illness all around us. They are family members, friends, teachers, employers – anyone!

Many of them are your heroes and mentors.

Mental Illness in Schools

A True Genius in Our Century Was Albert Einstein

He suffered from dyslexia and OCD

Albert Einstein

His teachers described him as:• Mentally slow, unsociable

and adrift in foolish dreams• He failed mathematics in

the 6th grade.

In today’s Culture:

• Einstein might have been labeled “Learning Disabled.”

• Teachers and guidance counselors might have called him disruptive and “unable to stay on task.”

• He might have been prescribed the drug Ritalin so he could become “a better citizen and student.”

Let’s take a closer look at some types of mental illness so we

understand them better.

I am now going to introduce you to some of your heroes, some of the people you greatly admire, some of the people you might want to be like, some of your mentors.

In case you are interested, they are all mentally ill!

Famous People with Mental Illness

Depression

Depression• Constant sad or irritable mood• Major changes in sleep, appetite, or energy• Difficulty concentrating, thinking, and

remembering• Feelings of guilt, emptiness, unimportance,

and hopelessness.• Lack of interest in activities that were once

enjoyed• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Source: NAMI.org

Drew Carrey

Actor

Depression,Attempted

Suicide

Abraham Lincoln

President United States

Severe and Debilitating Depressions

Ernest Hemingway

Pulitzer-Prize winning novelists

Depression

Committed suicide at 61

Janet Jackson

Singer

Depression

Hugh Laurie(Dr House)

Actor

Depression

Ray Charles

R&B Musician

Depression

Sheryl Crow

Musician

Depression

Buzz Aldrin

Astronaut

2nd man to walk on the moon

DepressionAlcoholism

Drew Barrymore

Actor / Producer

Depression

Attempted suicide at age 14

Halle Berry

Actor

Depression

Attempted suicide at age 40

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders• Anxiety disorders cause people to

feel excessively frightened, distressed and uneasy during situations in which most others would not experience these symptoms.

Anxiety Disorders Include…• Panic attacks• Phobias• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Source: NAMI.org

Terry Bradshaw

QuarterbackWon 4 Super Bowls

Anxiety AttacksAttention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• He was once so depressed that he would go to bed crying

• He was calm on the football field, but after the game he would sweat heavily and dissolve into tears

• He used football games as an escape, but ,,,”after the game I went to hell in a hand basket!” Source: Lisa Allison Active Minds

www.activeminds.org

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Repeatedly bathing, showering, or washing hands• Refusing to shake hands or touch doorknobs• Repeatedly checking things such as locks or stoves• Constant counting while performing routine tasks• Constantly arranging things in a routine way• Eating food in a specific order• Hoarding items with no apparent value• Repeating specific words, phrases, or prayers• Being stuck on disturbing words, images, or

thoughts that won’t go away. Source: webmd.com

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Actor

Obsessive-Compulsive

Disorder(OCD)

Jennifer cannot go to bed at night unless all the cupboard and closet doors are closed in her house.

http://creaturafanzine.blogspot.com/2012/02/imperfecto.html

Donald Trump

Business ManReal-estate

Tycoon

Obsessive-Compulsive

Disorder(OCD)

Cameron Diaz

Actor / Model

Obsessive-Compulsive

Disorder(OCD)

• She opens doors with her elbows attempting not to get germs

• Sometimes she cleans doorknobs so strongly that the paint fades

• She meticulously scrubs her home

• She washes her hands many times per day

Source: Lisa Allison Active Minds www.activeminds.org

Leonardo DiCaprio

Actor

Obsessive-Compulsive

Disorder(OCD)

• He has to force himself not to step on every chewing gum stain on the sidewalk

• He fights the urge to walk through doorways several times

• He sometimes retraces his footsteps avoiding cracks in the sidewalk

Source: Lisa Allison Active Minds www.activeminds.org

Harrison Ford

Actor

DepressionObsessive-Compulsive

Disorder(OCD)

Jessica Alba

Actor

Obsessive-Compulsive

Disorder(OCD)

One of Our Most Popular Entertainers is Justin Timerlake

Justin is a very talented songwriter, singer, actor, and record producer. He is loved and admired and envied by millions.

He is mentally ill.

He has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Justin has to make sure that things are lined up perfectly and that only certain foods are allowed in his refrigerator.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia A chronic, severe, and disabling brain

disorder that affects about 1% of the population over 18 years of age

• Hearing voices others don’t hear• Belief that others are broadcasting their

thoughts to the world• Belief that others are plotting to harm them• Catatonic isolation

Megan Fox

Model / Actor

Schizophrenia

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

(ADHD)

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Fail to pay close attention to details or make careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities

• Are easily distracted• Appear not to listen when spoken to

directly• Do not follow through on instructions, fail

to finish chores, schoolwork, or duties in the workplace

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Are forgetful in daily activities• Fidget with their hands or feet or squirm in

their seat• Leave their seat in situations in which

remaining seated is expected• Are “on the go” or act as if driven by other

forces• Talk excessively• Interrupt others

Howie Mandell

Comedian Actor

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - (OCD)Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD)

• He shaves his head to feel cleaner

• Instead of shaking hands with someone, he bumps fists in order to avoid germs

• His mind races with unwanted and uncontrolled thoughts even when performing and even on medication

• “If I didn’t take my meds, I wouldn’t be here,” he says. “I’d be locked in a room someplace.”

Source:

Jim Carrey

Actor

Depression,Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD)

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder• Show extreme shifts in mood,

energy, and functioning• Alternate between the good mood

(mania) and the sad mood (depression)

Mania Phase of Bipolar

• Happy or angry mood• Increased physical and mental activity and energy• Racing thoughts and flight of ideas• Increased talking with more rapid speech than

normal• Ambitious, grandiose plans• Risk taking• Impulsive activity such as spending sprees, sexual

indiscretion, and alcohol abuse• Decreased sleep without experiencing fatigue

Depression Phase of Bipolar

• Loss of energy• Prolonged sadness• Decreased activity and energy• Restlessness and irritability• Inability to concentrate or make decisions• Increased feelings or worry• Less interest in participating in activities normally

enjoyed• Feeling anxious or worried• Feelings of guilt and hopelessness• Change in appetite and sleeping patterns

Winston Churchill

Prime Minster of Great Brittan

during World War II

Bipolar

Britney Spears

Singer

Bipolar

Mel Gibson

Actor / producer

Bipolar

Robin Williams

Actor

Bipolar

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

• Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment

• Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures or threats, or self-mutilating behavior

• Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self

• Chronic feelings of emptiness

• Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self

• A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation

• Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)

• Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating)

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder• Approximately 75% of people with BPD

injure themselves. 10% commit suicide.• Deliberate self harming (cutting, burning,

hitting, head banging, hair pulling) is a common feature of BPD

• Individuals who self harm report that causing themselves physical pain generates a sense of release and relief which temporarily alleviates excruciating emotional feelings.

Borderline Personality DisorderSelf-injury

Princess Diana

BulimiaDepressionSelf-Injury

Angelina Jolie

Actor

Self-Injury

Johnny Depp

Actor

Self-Injury

Elton John – Singer / Songwriter -- DepressionMargot Kidder – Actor -- BipolarStonewall Jackson – Army General -- OCDHoward Hughes – Aviator / Film Producer -- OCDEric Clapton - (Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame) -- DepressionDick Clark – TV Personality -- DepressionCharles Dickens – Writer -- DepressionSteven Hawking – Physicists -- DepressionAnthony Hopkins – Actor -- DepressionBruce Jenner – Olympic Decathlon Winner -- OCDVincent Van Gogh – Artist -- BipolarMarilyn Monroe – Actor -- Depression

Want some more??

Edgar Allen Poe – Writer – BipolarCole Porter – Musician -- DepressionJoan Rivers – TV Actress -- DepressionHoward Stern – TV Personality -- OCDMike Tyson – Boxer -- Bipolar, Chronic DepressionJustin Timberlake – Singer -- OCD ADDLeo Tolstoy – Author -- DepressionBilly Bob Thornton – Actor / Director -- OCDTed Turner – Founder of CNN -- BipolarLudwig Van Beethoven – Composer -- BipolarMike Wallace – 60 Minutes -- Depression

The list goes on…

In the United States, one in six adults have mental illness. That’s about 33 million people. It’s time to care. It’s time to help. It’s time to get involved and end the stigma.

10 Common Myths About Mental Illness

"These misconceptions can do irreparable harm to people with legitimate illnesses who should and can be treated," said Herbert Pardes, M.D., President of NARSAD's Scientific Council.

PRN Newswire October 11, 2001 NARSAD (the National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression)

Myth #1: Psychiatric disorders are not true medical illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. People who have a mental illness are just "crazy.“

Fact: Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate medical illnesses. Research shows there are genetic and biological causes for psychiatric disorders, and they can be treated effectively. NARSAD Research Newsletter, Volume 13, Issue 4, Winter 2001/2002,

Myth #2: People with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are usually dangerous and violent.Fact: Statistics show that the incidence of violence in people who have a brain disorder is not much higher than it is in the general population. Those suffering from a psychosis such as schizophrenia are more often frightened, confused and despairing than violent. NARSAD Research Newsletter, Volume 13, Issue 4, Winter 2001/2002

Myth #3: Mental illness is the result of bad parenting.

Fact: Most experts agree that a genetic susceptibility, combined with other risk factors, leads to a psychiatric disorder. In other words, mental illnesses have a physical cause.

NARSAD Research Newsletter, Volume 13, Issue 4, Winter 2001/2002

Myth #4: Depression results from a personality weakness or character flaw, and people who are depressed could just snap out of it if they tried hard enough.Fact: Depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak. It results from changes in brain chemistry or brain function, and medication and/or psychotherapy often help people to recover. NARSAD Research Newsletter, Volume 13, Issue 4, Winter 2001/2002

Myth #5: Schizophrenia means split personality, and there is no way to control it.Fact: Schizophrenia is often confused with multiple personality disorder. Actually, schizophrenia is a brain disorder that robs people of their ability to think clearly and logically. The estimated 2.5 million Americans with schizophrenia have symptoms ranging from social withdrawal to hallucinations and delusions. Medication has helped many of these individuals to lead fulfilling, productive lives.

Myth #6: Depression is a normal part of the aging process.Fact: It is not normal for older adults to be depressed. Signs of depression in older people include a loss of interest in activities, sleep disturbances and lethargy. Depression in the elderly is often undiagnosed, and it is important for seniors and their family members to recognize the problem and seek professional help. NARSAD Research Newsletter, Volume 13, Issue 4, Winter 2001/2002

Myth #7: Depression and other illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, do not affect children or adolescents. Any problems they have are just a part of growing up.

Fact: Children and adolescents can develop severe mental illnesses. In the United States, one in ten children and adolescents has a mental disorder severe enough to cause impairment. However, only about 20 percent of these children receive needed treatment. Left untreated, these problems can get worse. Anyone talking about suicide should be taken very seriously.

NARSAD Research Newsletter, Volume 13, Issue 4, Winter 2001/2002

Myth #8: If you have a mental illness, you can will it away. Being treated for a psychiatric disorder means an individual has in some way "failed" or is weak.

Fact: A serious mental illness cannot be willed away. Ignoring the problem does not make it go away, either. It takes courage to seek professional help.

NARSAD Research Newsletter, Volume 13, Issue 4, Winter 2001/2002

Myth #9: Addiction is a lifestyle choice and shows a lack of willpower. People with a substance abuse problem are morally weak or "bad".

Fact: Addiction is a disease that generally results from changes in brain chemistry. It has nothing to do with being a "bad" person.

NARSAD Research Newsletter, Volume 13, Issue 4, Winter 2001/2002

Myth #10: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as "shock treatment," is painful and barbaric.Fact: ECT has given a new lease on life to many people who suffer from severe and debilitating depression. It is used when other treatments such as psychotherapy or medication fail or cannot be used. Patients who receive ECT are asleep and under anesthesia, so they do not feel anything.

Four of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide are mental disorders. Among developed nations, including the United States, major depression is the leading cause of disability. Also near the top of these rankings are manic-depressive illness, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

NARSAD Research Newsletter, Volume 13, Issue 4, Winter 2001/2002

The Stigma and BullyingThere are 6 types of bullying; all apply to mental illness!

1.  Physical bullying (hitting, kicking, taking things or returning things damaged)

2.  Verbal bullying (name-calling, taunting, insulting)

3.  Emotional bullying (shunning, spreading nasty gossip)

4.  Sexual bullying (unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive orinappropriate comments)

5.  Racist bullying (racial slurs, offensive gestures, or making jokes about a child's cultural traditions)

6.  Cyber bullying (spreading hurtful images and/or messages via email, chat rooms, etc.) Image URL: http://www.myoutofcontrolteen.com/images/Free... Go to Page: http://www.myoutofcontrolteen.com/mr-bully.ht...

Perth NowPowered by the Sunday TimesMay 3, 2012

There Are Many Forms of Bullying

What do we know about people who tease or belittle or demean others?

We know they are:

• Afraid• Ignorant• Insecure• Suffering low self-esteem

What do we know about people who degrade others in order to build themselves up, to try and showoff to their peers or members of their click?

We know they are:

• Immature• Childish• Insensitive

What do we know about people who pick on others who are smaller, handicapped or disadvantaged?

We know they are:

• Bullies• Cowards• Weak

Cyber-bullying Bullying others through texting, cell-phone pictures, email, facebook, or web-site posting is done only by the very weak.

Your friends with mental illness need your help, they need your understanding, your support and compassion. They do not need your ridicule or your inability to understand.

My mind races, but my body can’t catch up!

Signs of Mental IllnessSigns and Symptoms of Mental Disordershttp://www.signsofmentalillness.net/signs-mental-illness-men/

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/13/3189883.htm?site=adelaide

“You don’t make yourself bigger by putting other people down.” Barack Obama 25-September-2012

Work Smart, Live Smart. October 2008

HEALTHY PLACEAmerica’s Mental Health ChannelMay 26, 2012

Mental illness is what we have, it is not who we are!

NAMI is trying to eliminate the stigma of mental illness

This is another form of discrimination!

Become part of the solution.Thank you,

The End

Sources

Applying for jobs