Mental Health and Well-

Being in
Middle and Late Adolescence
 What is mental
health and how do
we stay mentally
healthy?
 FICTI
FACT ON
 FACT OR FICTION

TRUE
One person in every 100
persons develops One percent of the general
schizophrenia population develops
schizophrenia.
 FACT OR FICTION
TRUE
Mental illness can be hereditary.
A person who has one or For example, the rate of schizophrenia in the general
both parents with mental
population is one percent. This rate rises to eight per cent
illness is more likely to
if one parent has the disorder and to 37–46 percent if both
develop mental illness
parents have it. One in 10 people in the general population
has experienced depression, compared to one in four for
people whose parents have experienced depression
 FACT OR FICTION

FALSE
Mental illness is Mental illness is not contagious.
contagious Heredity can, and often does, play
a factor in the development of the
disease.
 FACT OR FICTION
TRUE
The first episode of a mental illness often occurs
between the ages of 15 and 30 years. Early
Mental illness tends to
intervention is currently thought to be one of the
begin during adolescence. most important factors related to recovery from
mental illness. Embarrassment, fear, peer pressure
and stigma often prevent young people from
seeking out help
 FACT OR FICTION
FALSE
Childhood abuse or neglect does not cause
mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.
Poor parenting causes
However, stressful or abusive environments
schizophrenia may seriously impair a person’s ability to
cope with and later manage the illness
 FACT OR FICTION
FALSE
Mental illness can be Mental illness is associated with
cured with willpower chemical imbalances in the brain and
requires a comprehensive treatment
plan
 FACT OR FICTION
FALSE
With the right kind of help, many people with a mental
illness do recover and go on to lead healthy, productive
and satisfying lives. While the illness may not go away,
People with mental
the symptoms associated with it can be controlled. This
illness never get better usually allows the person to regain normal functioning.
Medication, counseling and psychosocial rehabilitation
are treatment options that can help people recover from
mental illness
 FACT OR FICTION
FALSE
People with mental People who experience a mental illness
acutely sometimes behave very
illness tend to be
differently from people who do not.
violent While some of their behaviors may seem
bizarre
 FACT OR FICTION
FALSE
Income is not a factor in overall rates of mental
Poor people are more health problems. However, people with lower
likely to have mental incomes experience slightly higher rates of
depression. People who live with major mental
illness than those who
illnesses often end up in lower social classes
are not because the illness may interfere with their
ability to hold a job

Source: Talking about Mental Illness. Retrieved from: http://www.camh.ca/en/education/Documents/

www.camh.net/education/Resources_teachers_schools/TAMI/tami_teachersall.pdf
ARE YOU OKAY?
How have you been feeling
for the last two (2) Weeks?
 I would suddenly feel scared or nervous
RATE EACH
ITEM I feel restless
I have difficulty sleeping

I have been sleeping longer than usual

I would suddenly feel my heart palpitate

0 = Never
I get easily irritated
1 = A Little
2 = Moderately
3 = A lot I have a hard time relaxing
4 =Extremely
RATE EACH I get easily tired for no good reaso

ITEM
I feel lazy. I struggle to do anything

I feel worthless or hopeless

I feel sad but I cannot clearly explain why

I feel like wanting to cry

0 = Never
1 = A Little I would lose my appetite
2 = Moderately
3 = A lot I would lose interest in many of my acttivities
4 =Extremely
RESULTS
If you gave a rating of 3 and 4 more
than five (5) of the listed items, you
may be experiencing symptoms of
depression, eating disorder,
substance abuse.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
1 Find time to relax

2 Exercise

Engage in healthy activities to keep

3
you fit and strong

4 Consult a counselor for advice

 HEALTH
"It is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
and note merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

-World Health Organization

 MENTAL HEALTH
• It is the way your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
affect your life.

Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which

every individual realizes his or her own potential

• Can cope with the normal stresses of life

• Can work productively and fruitfully
• Can make contribution to the community
Poor mental health may result in the
following:
 HOW CAN WE PREVENT THE OCCURENCE
OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS?

Enhance: To prevent:

• Social skills • Conduct disorders

• problem-solving skills • Anxiety
• self-confidence • Depression
• Eating disorders
• Risk behaviors
 HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR
MENTAL HEALTH?

Be aware of ways Connect with Ask for Be positive despite

Be physically
to cope others and express professional health the odds
active
yourself if needed
HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR
MENTAL HEALTH?

Rest and Sleep Be benevolent

 A healthy mind requires "a sound mind, in a sound body in a
sound environment". Having a healthy mind means being able
to have some few intimate friends to whom we can share a part
of ourselves; one who can confront and analyze life realities;
carry out responsibilities to fulfill daily life needs. The same
means valuing of the self, one's weaknesses and strengths as
well as the talent that can be utilized to uplift and upgrade the
'self'.
The Lady in the Looking
Glass: A Reflection
by Virginia Woolf

Refer to 07 Handout 2
Thank you!