Course Code: CORE8

Course Title: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Course Type: CORE
Pre-requisite: NONE
Co-requisite: NONE
Quarter: 1st
Course Topic: MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING IN MIDDLE
AND ALTE ADOLESCENCE
Module: #7 Week: 7
Course Subtopic: The Concept of Mental Health and Psychological Well
Being
Mental Health Problem during Adolescent
Common Mental Health Disorders in Adolescence
Ways on Achieving Psychological Well Being
Ways on Staying Mentally Healthy During
Adolescent
Course Description: This course makes senior high students aware of the
developmental stage that they are in, for them to
better understand themselves and the significant
people around them as they make important career
decisions as adolescents. The course addresses a key
concern in personal development. Personal
reflections, sharing and lectures help reveal and
articulate relevant concepts, theories, and tools in
different areas in psychology.
Course Outcomes (COs) and Relationship to Student Outcomes
Course Outcomes SO
After completing the course, the student must a b c d
be able to:
3. Identify his/her own vulnerabilities and plan D I R
on how to stay mentally healthy while coping
with stress.
* Level: I- Introduced, R- Reinforced, D- Demonstrated

ACTIVITY 3:
MENTAL HEALTH CHECKLIST

Instructions: Make mental health your priority use the checklist below
and make sure to accomplish this at least a month and see the result.
Name: _____________________________ Grade &Section: ________________

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S.Y. 2020-2021 Page | 1
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING IN MIDDLE AND ALTE ADOLESCENCE

THE CONCEPT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING

According to Herron, Andrea (2017), a good way to think about mental and
emotional health is like a tag team. Mental health refers to your ability to
process information. Emotional health, on the other hand, refers to your ability
to express feelings which are based upon the information you have processed.

For World Health Organization (2020), some adolescents are at greater risk of
mental health conditions due to their living conditions, stigma, discrimination
or exclusion, or lack of access to quality support and services. These include
adolescents living in humanitarian and fragile settings; adolescents with
chronic illness, autism spectrum disorder, an intellectual disability or other
neurological condition; pregnant adolescents, adolescent parents, or those in
early and/or forced marriages; orphans; and adolescents from minority ethnic
or sexual backgrounds or other discriminated groups.

As defined by the Institute of Mental Health (2012), Good mental health isn’t
just the absence of mental health problems. Being mentally or emotionally
healthy is much more than being free of depression, anxiety, or other
psychological issues. Rather than the absence of mental illness, mental health
refers to the presence of positive characteristics.

People who are mentally and emotionally healthy by HelpGuide.org. (2020)

have:
 A sense of contentment
 A zest for living and the ability to laugh and have fun.
 The ability to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity.
 A sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and their
relationships.
 The flexibility to learn new skills and adapt to change.
 A balance between work and play, rest and activity, etc.
 The ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships.
 Self-confidence and high self-esteem.

According to Mental Health Foundation (2020), Good mental health is central

to an adolescent’s healthy development if associated to:
 being in good physical health, eating a balanced diet and getting regular
exercise
 having time and the freedom to play, indoors and outdoors
 being part of a family that gets along well most of the time
 going to a school that looks after the wellbeing of all its pupils
 taking part in local activities for young people.

Other factors are also important, including:

 feeling loved, trusted, understood, valued and safe
 being interested in life and having opportunities to enjoy themselves
 being hopeful and optimistic
 being able to learn and having opportunities to succeed
 accepting who they are and recognising what they are good at
 having a sense of belonging in their family, school and community
 feeling they have some control over their own life

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  having the strength to cope when something is wrong (resilience) and the
ability to solve problems.

Some ways to make adolescent physically strong by Get Fit, Stay Healthy
(2009):
1) Stay positive and have fun. A good mental attitude is important. Find
an activity that you think is fun. You are more likely to keep with it if you
choose something you like. A lot of people find it's more fun to exercise
with someone else, so see if you can find a friend or family member to be
active with you.
2) Take it one step at a time. Small changes can add up to better fitness.
For example, walk or ride your bike to school or to a friend's house
instead of getting a ride. Get on or off the bus several blocks away and
walk the rest of the way. Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator or
escalator.
3) Get your hearts pumping. Whatever you choose, make sure it includes
aerobic activity that makes you breathe harder and increases your heart
rate. This is the best type of exercise because it increases your fitness
level and makes your heart and lungs work better. It also burns off body
fat. Examples of aerobic activities are basketball, running, or swimming.
4) Don’t forget to warm up with some easy exercises or mild stretching
before you do any physical activity. This warms your muscles up and
may help protect against injury. Stretching makes your muscles and
joints more flexible too. It is also important to stretch out after you
exercise to cool down your muscles.

MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM DURING ADOLESCENT

Early warning signs of mental health problem by Mayo Clinic Staff (2020):
 Persistent sadness — two or more weeks
 Withdrawing from or avoiding social interactions
 Hurting oneself or talking about hurting oneself
 Talking about death
 Outbursts or extreme irritability
 Out-of-control behavior that can be harmful
 Drastic changes in mood, behavior or personality
 Changes in eating habits
 Loss of weight
 Difficulty sleeping
 Frequent headaches or stomachaches
 Difficulty concentrating
 Changes in academic performance
 Avoiding or missing school

COMMON MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS IN ADOLESCENCE

By: Mayo Clinic Staff (2020)

ANXIETY DISORDERS
 Characterized by feelings of excessive uneasiness, worry, and fear
 Occur in approximately 32 percent of 13- to 18-year-olds3
 Examples include generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress
disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and
phobias

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DEPRESSION
 Depressed mood that affects thoughts, feelings, and daily activities,
including eating, sleeping, and working
 Occurs in approximately 13 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds4
 Examples include depressive disorder, postpartum depression, and
seasonal affective disorder

ATTENTION DEFICIT-HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

 Characterized by continued inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity
that interferes with daily functioning or development
 Occurs in approximately nine percent of 13- to 18-year-olds5

EATING DISORDERS
 Characterized by extreme and abnormal eating behaviors, such as
insufficient or excessive eating
 Occur in almost three percent of 13- to 18-year-olds6
 Examples include anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder

SCHOOL PHOBIA
 School refusal should be considered a heterogeneous and multicausal
syndrome.
 School avoidance may serve different functions depending on the
individual child.
 These may include avoidance of specific fears provoked by the school
environment (e.g., test-taking situations, bathrooms, cafeterias,
teachers),
 escape from aversive social situations (e.g., problems with classmates or
teachers),
 separation anxiety, or attention-seeking behaviors (e.g., somatic
complaints, crying spells) that worsen over time if the child is allowed to
stay home.

LEARNING DISABILITY
 Reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities – for
example household tasks, socialising or managing money – which affects
someone for their whole life.
 People with a learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may
need support to develop new skills, understand complicated information
and interact with other people.
 Examples of learning disorders include:
- Dyslexia – difficulty with reading
- Dyscalculia – difficulty with math
- Dysgraphia – difficulty with writing

CONDUCT DISORDER
 a group of repetitive and persistent behavioral and emotional problems in
youngsters.
 Children and adolescents with this disorder have great difficulty
following rules, respecting the rights of others, showing empathy, and
behaving in a socially acceptable way.

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 WAYS ON ACHIEVING PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING

Psychological well-being refers to inter- and intra individual levels of positive

functioning that can include one’s relatedness with others and selfreferent
attitudes that include one’s sense of mastery and personal growth. Subjective
well-being reflects dimensions of affect judgments of life satisfaction.

The 6 dimensions of psychological well-being by Exploring your mind (2017):

1. SELF-ACCEPTANCE This dimension speaks of the acceptance of every
aspect of an individual and of one’s own past, just as it happened.
2. CONTROL OVER YOUR SURROUNDINGS This dimension refers to the
ability to deal with a difficult environment, having the ability to adapt to
adverse circumstances.
3. POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS This dimension measures
the ability people have to interact with others in an open and sincere
way.
4. AUTONOMY This dimension evaluates the independence of people in
different aspects of their lives. The sensation of being able to choose and
make their own decisions.
5. PERSONAL GROWTH This dimension measures the ability people have
of learning from themselves, being open to new experiences and
challenges.
6. LIFE PURPOSE This measures the need people have of finding a purpose
that will give meaning to their lives.
7. SOCIAL SUPPORT: THE BEST PILLAR OF OUR WELL-BEING Social
support is a protective factor against various diseases. It’s very important
how our social relationships are and also how we perceive them to be.

9 WAYS ON STAYING MENTALLY HEALTHY DURING ADOLESCENT

Help to boost your mental well-being by Harteneck, Patricia Ph.D., MBA (2015)
1. TELL YOURSELF SOMETHING POSITIVE. Research shows that how
you think about yourself can have a powerful effect on how you feel.
When we perceive our self and our life negatively, we can end up viewing
experiences in a way that confirms that notion.
2. WRITE DOWN SOMETHING YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR. Gratitude has
been clearly linked with improved well-being and mental health, as well
as happiness.
3. FOCUS ON ONE THING (IN THE MOMENT). Being mindful of the
present moment allows us to let go of negative or difficult emotions from
past experiences that weigh us down.
4. EXERCISE. Your body releases stress-relieving and mood-boosting
endorphins before and after you work out, which is why exercise is a
powerful antidote to stress, anxiety, and depression.
5. EAT A GOOD MEAL. What you eat nourishes your whole body, including
your brain. Carbohydrates (in moderate amounts) increase serotonin, a
chemical that has been shown to have a calming effect on your mood.
6. OPEN UP TO SOMEONE. Knowing you are valued by others is important
for helping you think more positively.
7. DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE. Research shows that being
helpful to others has a beneficial effect on how you feel about yourself.
8. TAKE A BREAK. In those moments when it all seems like too much, step
away, and do anything but whatever was stressing you out until you feel
a little better.

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 9. GO TO BED ON TIME. A large body of research has shown that sleep
deprivation has a significant negative effect on your mood.

SELF-ASSESMENT

Encircle
your
Answer

FORM
Read each statement and check ( ) the box that reflects your work today.

Name: Date:
Section:
Strongly
Disagree Agree
Agree

1. I found this work interesting.

2. I make a strong effort.
3. I am proud of the results.
4. I understood all the instructions.
5. I followed all the steps.
6. I learned something new.
7. I feel ready for the next assignment.
www.ldatschool.ca/executive-function/self-assessment/

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Reference Book:
Unlimited Books: Angelita Ong Camilar Serrano- DBA Personal Development

Online Reference:
 Herron, Andrea (2017), The Emotional and Mental Aspects of Well-
Being - WebMD
Retrieved from: ...www.webmdhealthservices.com › 2017/07/12 › the-
emotional-and-m...
 World Health Organization (2020), Adolescent mental health
Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/
adolescent-mental-health
 Institute of Mental Health (2012), Understanding Your Mental Health
Retrieved from: https://www.imh.com.sg/wellness/page.aspx?id=356
 HelpGuide.org. (2020), Building Better Mental Health
Retrieved from: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/
building-better-mental-health.htm
 Mental Health Foundation (2020), Children and young people
Retrieved from: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/c/children-and-
young-people
 Get Fit, Stay Healthy (2009), How Teens Can Stay Fit –
HealthyChildren.org
Retrieved from: www.healthychildren.org › ages-stages › teen › fitness ›
Pages › How...
 Mayo Clinic (2020), Mental illness in children: Know the signs -
Retrieved from: www.mayoclinic.org › mental-illness-in-children › art-
20046577
 Exploring your mind (2017), The 6 Dimensions of Psychological Well-
Being - Exploring
Retrieved from:...exploringyourmind.com › Psychology
 Harteneck, Patricia Ph.D., MBA (2015), 9 Ways You Can Improve Your
Mental Health Today
...www.psychologytoday.com › blog › women-s-mental-health-matters

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