ANXIETY AND

DEPRESSION
Module C: Lesson 4
A REPORT ON MENTAL ILLNESS
IN CANADA
 Anxiety disorders affect 12% of the
population.
 Many do not seek treatment because:
 Consider
the symptoms mild or normal.
 Symptoms interfere with help-seeking
 NO weakness associated with seeking help if
one is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or
depressed.
WHAT ARE ANXIETY
DISORDERS?
 This is a fear or worry  Concern for lack of
causing a person to control over
avoid situations that circumstances.
might precipitate the  May generate a solution
anxiety or to develop but usually results in
compulsive rituals. negative thinking.
 Most of us experience
 May be an illness
 Comes out of nowhere, is
anxiety or feel
excessive, persists for
anxious every day. many weeks without
relief or interferes with
everyday life.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
 Shortness of breath
 Feelings of unreality
 Shakiness
 Irritability
 Muscle aches and tension
 Insomnia
 Tight chest
 Restlessness
 Racing heart
 Sweating and nausea
 Choking sensations
 Abdominal distress
 Numbness or tingling
 Feel short-tempered
and apprehensive,
fearing that bad things
are about to happen.
 Can cause significant
personal and societal
costs.
 Lost Wages
 Decreased productivity
 Reduced quality of life
 Frequent use of health
care services.
TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS
 GAD (Generalized
Anxiety Disorder)
 Specific Phobia
 Post Traumatic Stress
 Social Phobia
 Obsessive Compulsive
 Panic Disorder
HOW COMMON ARE ANXIETY
DISORDERS?

Type Canada (15-64 years)

% of Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 1.1
Specific Phobia 6.2 – 8.0
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ---
Social Phobia 6.7
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 1.8
Panic Disorder 0.7
CAUSES
 No single explanation for the cause of
anxiety disorders
 Inherited tendency
 Stressful experiences
 Shy temperament
 Anxious parents
 Unpredictable lifestyle
DEPRESSION
 Depression is a mental disorder that affects a
person’s:
 Thoughts, moods, feelings, behaviour and physical
health.
 Many thought it was just in ones head
 Misconceptions of “you can snap out of it”, or “just get over
it”, would cure someone.
 It is a medical disorder with a biological and
chemical basis
 Genetics or family interaction styles
 Stressful life event
 Spontaneously with no specific identifiable cause
 May occur only once, sporadically or chronically
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
 Two main symptoms:  Other signs and
 Lack of interest in symptoms lasting two
normal day living weeks or more are:
 Feeling in the dumps  Changes in sleep
showing feelings of patterns,
sadness + concentration, weight
helplessness. or eating patterns,
demeanour, self-
 Different age groups esteem, and desire to
may react live, gastrointestinal
differently to problems, headache
depression. and backache
TYPES OF DEPRESSION
 Major Depression  Bipolar Disorder
 The  Condition in which people
feeling of sad, blue,
unhappy, miserable or go back and forth between
down in the dumps. periods of a very good or
irritable mood and
 Dysthymia depression.
 Chronictype of  The mood swings between
depression. mania and depression are
 Adjustment disorder very quick.
 Emotionaland
 Seasonal Affective
behavioural reaction Disorder
that develops within 3  Episodesof depression
months of a life stress. that occur during certain
times of the year.
ACTIVITY #1
Signs and Symptoms of
Mental Issues
Disorder:

Looks Like: Feels Like:

ACTIVITY #2
 Online you will choose a self assessment test in
one of the following categories.
 Anxiety Test
 Coping Skills Test
 Eating Disorders and Emotional Eating Test
 Optimism/Pessimism Test
 Resilience Test
 Self-Esteem Test
 Social Anxiety Test
 Once you have chosen an assessment test, in
your journal, write down the test name and
your results. What does it tell you?
ACTIVITY #3
 This learning activity will enable you to
become more acquainted with various
mental health issues and some of their signs
and symptoms.
 Procedure:
 On your own read each scenario and predict the
disability.
 You will have 10 minutes to figure out which mental
health issue your scenario describes. You will also
respond to three questions.
ACTIVITY #3 CONT.
 From what mental health issue to do think
the person described in the scenario is
suffering? Provide reasons for your decision
(signs, symptoms, and causes)
 What advice and assistance would you offer
the person in the scenario? Explain
 Which health care professionals would best
be able to help the person? Give reasons
PREVENTION STRATEGIES
 Control your feelings through healthy
lifestyle practices can help prevent anxiety.
 Deep breathing, relaxation, guided imagery or
visualization, yoga, meditation, and calming self
talk
 Physical exercise
 Not a cure but its psychological and physical benefits
can improve the symptoms
ACTIVITY #4
 Exercises as the Best Preventative Medicine
 Research the benefits of exercise and physical
activity for mental-emotional health and present
findings in different ways.
 E.g.  B – Take deep breaths
 E – Exercise
 A – Attitude
 C – Confidence
 T – Time
 I – Inactive
 V – Vigorous
 E - Endorphin