Defining mental health
• “Mental health is a state of
well being in which the
individual realises his or her
own abilities, can cope with
the normal stresses of life,
can work productively and
fruitfully and is able to
contribute to his or her own
community
Defining mental ill health
• Mental illnesses are health
conditions involving
changes in emotion,
thinking or behaviour (or a
combination of these).
Mental illnesses are
associated with distress
and/or problems functioning
in social, work or family
activities.
• Emotions and Physical Health: Our emotions, such
as stress, anxiety, or happiness, can trigger physical
responses in our bodies. For example, when we're
stressed, our bodies release stress hormones like
cortisol, which can affect our heart rate, blood
pressure, and even immune system functioning.
• Physical Health and Mental Well-Being:
Conversely, our physical health can influence our
mental state. For instance, chronic pain or illness can
lead to feelings of depression or anxiety. Proper
nutrition, exercise, and sleep also play crucial roles
in maintaining good mental health.
 Why important
• Mental health affects every aspect of our lives.

• It influences how we think, feel, and act.

• Good mental health promotes emotional well-

being, healthy relationships, and overall life
satisfaction.
Role of Mental health in Adolescents Life

• Focus and Concentration

• Motivation and Productivity
• Stress Management
• Emotional Well-being
• Peer and Social Relationships
• Self-Esteem and Identity Development
 Fact Check
• Around 20% of the world's children and
adolescents have a mental health condition,
with suicide the second leading cause of death
among 15-29-year-olds.
• Approximately one in five people in post-conflict
settings have a mental health condition.
• More than 20 million Pakistanis (10% of the
country's population) suffer from some form of
mental health condition.
Myth 1: "Mental Health Issues Are Rare"

• Reality: Mental health issues are far more

common than people realize. According to the
World Health Organization (WHO), one in four
people worldwide will be affected by a mental
health condition at some point in their lives..
 Myth 2: "Mental Health Issues Are a Sign
of Weakness"
• Reality: Mental health issues have nothing to
do with weakness. They are medical
conditions that can result from a combination
of genetic, biological, environmental, and
psychological factors.
Myth 3: "You Can Just 'Snap Out Of It’’
• Reality: They often require professional
treatment, therapy, and support. Telling
someone to "snap out of it" can be dismissive
and unhelpful.
 Myth 5: "Children Don't Experience
Mental Health Issues"
• Reality: Children and adolescents can also
experience mental health issues. Conditions
like anxiety, depression, and ADHD can
manifest in youth.
 Myth: Poor mental health is not a big issue for teenagers. They just have
mood swings caused by hormonal fluctuations and act out due to a desire
for attention.

• Fact: Fourteen per cent of the world’s

adolescents experience mental-health
problems.
• Globally, among those aged 10–15, suicide is
the fifth most prevalent cause of death, and
for adolescents aged 15–19 it is the fourth
most common cause. Half of all mental health
conditions start by the age of 14.
Myth 7: "Therapy Is Only for Severe Cases"

• Reality: Therapy can benefit individuals with a

wide range of mental health concerns, from
mild to severe. Therapy can provide valuable
tools and coping strategies for managing
stress, emotions, and life challenges.
Myth 9: "Medication Is the Only Solution"

• Reality: Medication can be a valuable part of

treatment for some individuals, but it's not
the sole solution. Treatment plans should be
individualized and may include therapy,
lifestyle changes, and support networks.
 Stigma in the Context of Mental Health:

• Stigma in the context of mental health refers

to the negative attitudes, stereotypes,
discrimination, and prejudice that society
attaches to individuals who have mental
health conditions.
• It can manifest as social isolation, exclusion, or
the belief that people with mental health
issues are somehow inferior or dangerous.
 How Stigma Can Discourage People from
Seeking Help:
• Fear of Labeling
• Social Isolation
• Impact on Self-Esteem
• Professional Consequences
• Cultural Stigma
Various Environmental Factors Influencing
Mental Health
• Family Environment
• School Environment
• Peer Relationships
• Community and Neighborhood
• Social Media and Online Environment
 Positive and Negative Environments on
Mental Well-being:
• Positive Environments:
• Promote Resilience
• Foster Growth
• Provide Safety
• Build Social Connections
 Negative Environments:
• Increase Stress
• Inhibit Development
• Social Isolation
• Risk Behaviors
 Tips on Creating a Supportive
Environment:
• Open Communication:
• Anti-Bullying Initiatives:
• Mental Health Education
• Positive Peer Groups
• Access to Resources:
• Limit Screen Time:
• Promote Physical Activity
• Cultivate a Supportive Family
• Seek Professional Help:
 Causes
• Genetics: Genetics can play a role in mental health. Certain
mental health conditions, like depression, bipolar disorder, and
schizophrenia, have genetic components. Having a family
history of these conditions can increase one's risk.
• Trauma: Experiencing traumatic events, such as abuse,
violence, or a life-threatening incident, can trigger mental
health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or
depression. Trauma affects the brain's stress response systems.
• Stress: Persistent or excessive stress, whether due to work,
school, relationships, or life changes, can contribute to mental
health challenges. Chronic stress may lead to conditions like
anxiety or depression.
• Mental health issues are not character flaws
or personal failings. They can affect anyone,
regardless of their strength or resilience.
• Seeking help for mental health challenges
demonstrates courage, self-awareness, and a
commitment to one's well-being.
• Mental health conditions are treatable, and
recovery is possible with the right support and
interventions.
 The Importance of Early Intervention:
• Prevention of Escalation
• Improved Outcomes:
• Maintenance of Functionality
• Reduced Suffering
• Preventing Crisis
How to Identify Mental Health Issues
• Stress
• The degree to which you feel overwhelmed or
unable to cope as a result of pressures that
are unmanageable.
• Stress is not a psychiatric diagnosis, but it's closely related to
your mental health as:
•  Stress can be the cause mental health problems and make
existing problems worse. For example, if you often struggle to
manage feelings of stress, you might develop a mental health
problem like anxiety or depression.
•  Mental health problems can cause stress. You might find
coping with the day-to-day symptoms of your mental health
problem, as well as potentially needing to manage
medication, heath care appointments or treatments, can
become extra sources of stress.  Stress can impact on how
you feel Physicall
 Fear
• Fear is one of the most powerful emotions it
can have a very strong effect on our minds and
body for example, if we are caught in a
dangerous situation or if we are being
attacked
• Fear is not reasonable when it keeps us from
doing what we want or following our dreams.
It gets in our way and stop us from taking
action
 Anxiety
• The term anxiety refers to feelings of worry,
nervousness, apprehension, or fear commonly
experienced by people when faced with
something they view as challenging.
 Difference between Anxiety and GAD
• Short-term Anxiety Everyone - even those that don't have
anxiety - can get anxiety when confronted with a situation
that causes nervousness. People get anxious on first dates,
before tests, when they have a meeting with their boss;
anxiety is an incredibly normal experience, but one that is
disruptive nonetheless.  Generalized Anxiety Disorder
(GAD) When someone has GAD, their fight or flight system is
firing all throughout the day at low levels, and occasionally
can pick up at random times. This may cause shaking to
occur for what seems to be no reason.  You're most likely
to be diagnosed with GAD if you have had symptoms for 6
months or more
 Panic Attacks
• A panic attacks create a feeling of sudden and
intense anxiety. Panic attacks can also have
physical symptoms, including shaking, feeling
disorientated, nausea, rapid, irregular
heartbeats, dry mouth, breathlessness,
sweating and dizziness
 Depression
• Depression is a common mental disorder,
characterized by persistent sadness and a loss
of interest in activities that you normally
enjoy, accompanied by an inability to carry out
daily activities
• Depression affects 1 in 10 people during their
lifetime  3 million people are diagnosed in
the UK ( this exceeds the amount of people
living in Wales)  Women are twice as likely as
men to develop depression  A depressive
episode last about 6-8 months on average 
Working days lost in the UK due to depression
is approximately 9.8 million
Seeking Help as a Sign of Strength
• Self-Care
• Resilience
• Personal Growth
• Breaking Stigma
Situations When Seeking Professional Help
Is Crucial
• Thoughts of Self-Harm or Suicide
• Severe Anxiety or Panic Attacks
• Depression
• Trauma or PTSD