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ACHIEVING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH

LESSON 1
• People are born unique; our brains are also wired
differently. You have learned that an adolescent
will encounter many changes your life, so we
needs a strong mental health condition to cope
with them. Let us find out the factors that can
affect the mental health of teenagers.
 FACTORS THAT AFFECT PROMOTION OF GOOD MENTAL HEALTH

• The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental

health as the state of well-being in which every person
knows his or her potential and can be productive to the
community amid the normal stresses of life. Being
mentally healthy is extremely important, as this affects
the person's way of thinking, feeling, and behavior..
BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
 GENETIC MAKE UP
• If a certain mental condition runs
in the family, that mental
condition on not automatically be
passed on to the next generation.
However, the likelihood of
transmission may still be high.
Experts say that it takes
abnormality in different genes,
rather than a single one, and a
trigger factor such as trauma,
head injury, or abuse before the
symptoms of mental illness takes
place.
 INJURY
• Injuries, particularly head
injuries, can possibly bring
about mental illness because
they may cause changes and
alterations in some parts of
the brain that control certain
functions in the body. Some
brain or head injuries can
actually cause changes in a
person's personality.
 INFECTIONS
• There are some infections in the
brain that can be related to the
development of mental illness. One
example is toxoplasmosis, a disease
that is associated with the
development of some emotional
instabilities and mental health
conditions. Abnormal behaviors of
people with toxoplasmosis include
suicidal attempts, bipolar disorders,
and schizophrenia. Toxoplasmosis is
caused by a parasite called
Toxoplasma gondii that lives in the
cat's intestines and can be
transferred to humans.
 PRENATAL PROBLEMS
• A mother's substance
abuse, trauma, or lack
of oxygen during birth
can cause disruptions in
the baby's brain
development and may
result in the
development of mental
illness such as autism.
 OTHER BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
• Poor nutrition and
exposure to some harmful
substances can cause
mental health illness.
Aside from that, physical
illness, such as terminal
illness, can also make the
person develop certain
mental health disorders.
PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
 PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA OR ABUSE
• Severe psychological
trauma, such as physical,
emotional, verbal, and
sexual abuse, can lead to
mental illness or disorder.
A child who has suffered
from any type of abuse
may develop mental
disorder in adulthood.
 LOSS OF LOVED ONE OR SEPARATION FROM A FAMILY MEMBER

• The death of a very close family

member, such as a parent or a
sibling, and the separation of
parents can have a negative
impact among the youth. This
experience can be extremely
painful to them. Finding ways to
cope and adjust to these fife
changes can be hard. These
situations can be associated with
the development of some mental
health disorders such as
depression.
 LACK OF PARENTAL LOVE
• Lack of love and neglect from
parents may cause a child to have
low self-esteem and feelings of
insecurity.
• Because of this, the child may
develop an inferiority complex as
he gets older, resulting in a feeling
of lack of self-worth and a
negative self-image. This can be
detrimental to the adolescent's
mental health and may later result
in serious mental health
disorders.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
 JOB PRESSURE AND POVERTY
• Job pressure and poverty.
Unemployment can put
extreme mental pressure on
the person. It may cause him
or her to develop mental
health disorders such as
anxiety and depression. In
addition to that, people who
live in poverty may also
experience the same
condition.
 HIGHLY STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT AND PRESSURE
• A person who lives, works, or goes
to a highly stressful environment
may develop mental disorders.
Difficult jobs, unrealistic
expectations, and big responsibilities
are only some of the stressors that
put pressure on the person. Some
adolescents who cannot cope with
the academic demands and stresses
develop conditions related to mental
stress. Some people are not able to
cope with these stressors that they
commit suicide.
 SOCIAL NORMS
• There are cases wherein
society's norms cause some
adolescents to develop mental
health disorders. For example,
in a society where being thin is
associated with beauty,
adolescents may feel isolated
and bullied if their appearance
does not conform to this norm.
As a result, some teenagers
develop eating disorders.
 SUBSTANCE ABUSE
• An environment where
substance abuse is
common may have a great
impact on the mental
health of a person.
Likewise, abuse of these
substances, such as
alcohol or drugs, can
cause a person to be
mentally impaired.
Learning about the factors that affect the promotion of good
mental health is important. This helps the person be aware of
the risks that can endanger his or her mental health
condition. By avoiding these risk factors, the person can
ensure that his or her mental health will always be in good
condition.
GETTING TO KNOW THE GOOD AND THE BAD
STRESS
LESSON 2
 WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH?
Have you ever found yourself in a situation wherein everything is not
going according to your plans? Have you ever felt as if nothing good is
happening in your life?

These situations may cause a negative psychological and biological

response called stress.
When we are stressed, we feel fear, panic, and anger because we can't
seem to cope or deal with the situations or stressors at hand.
The way that people handle stress also varies. Is stress bad or good? This
lesson focuses on understanding stress and how people can cope with it.
 UNDERSTANDING STRESS

Stress is defined as the individual's response to the demands or pressures brought

about by internal or external factors that may cause mental tension, anxiety, or
worry. Stress is inevitable in life. People respond to stress in different ways.
Situations or factors that trigger stress are what we call stressors.

Stressors can be big or small. They come and go, but sometimes they stay. They are
also caused by internal or external factors. How a person responds to stress
determines his or her stress level or stress tolerance.
To cope with stress, you should first understand the stressors that trigger such a
response.
Understanding stressors is the first step in managing stress.
 REFLECT

• As adolescents, what are the usual things

that stress you? How do these stressors
affect your life?
TYPES OF STRESS
 EUSTRESS
• Eustress is positive stress because it
motivates a person to continue, move
on, and do things to be happy and
productive. This good stress energizes
the person and makes him or her
perform well or do better either in his
or her own job or in academics. When
life’s stress is no longer makes a person
happy, this kind of stress is called
distress.
 DISTRESS

• Distress gives a negative impact on a

person's life, particularly , in his or her
health. Bad stress or distress happens
when the person's stressors overwhelm
him or her. This type of stress can big lead
to mental and physical health problems
such as depression, anxiety, panic attack,
fatigue, and burnout. When it is not
treated, this can also cause a person to
develop unhealthy habits such as drinking,
smoking, and binge-eating.
 POSITIVE STRESSORS NEGATIVE STRESSORS
(EUSTRESS) (DISTRESS)
JOB PROMOTION INJURY

ELECTED AS AN OFFICER HOSPITALIZATION

MARRIAGE SEPARATION OF PARENTS

VACATION DEATH OF LOVED ONE

ADDITIONAL COURSE/ STUDIES FAILING GARDES

TRANSFER OF HOME BREAK UP WITH A LOVED ONE

CELEBRATION OR EVENT TOO MUCH ACADEMIC WORKLOAD

ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBER SLEEP PROBLEM

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOL CONFLICT WITH A FRIEND, CLASSMATE, OR

FAMILY MEMBER
UNDERSTANDING COMMON STRESSORS THAT
AFFECT ADOLESCENTS
LESSON 3
 UNDERSTANDING COMMON STRESS
• In the previous lesson, we have discussed that stress is normal and that
not all stressors are bad.

• Adolescents are surrounded with things and situations that can test their
coping abilities. The way the teenagers relate with stress can have a
significant effect on their physical, mental, and emotional health. In this
lesson, topics about common stressors encountered by teenagers will be
discussed.

• We will also learn how teenagers' bodies respond to these stressors, and
how these stressors affect their personal health.
 SOURCES OF STRESS
Stressors are brought about by two factors, internal and external. Internal factors are things
that often stem from our own thoughts and beliefs. Examples of these are our fears and
worries.

Usually, these stressors are the ones that we can control. External factors, on the other
hand, are stressors that are beyond our control. These stressors can be unpredictable or
life-changing.

Examples of external stressors are death of a loved one, separation of parents, breakup with
a loved one, and low or failing grades.
Causes of stress among adolescents can be more specific. Some of the most common
sources of their stress are usually school-related stress, stress from the family, and society's
pressure.
 SCHOOL
• While the school is a fun place for adolescents, it is
also the most stressful environment for some (if not
most) of them. School demands, such as homework,
research, studying for exams, projects, and
extracurricular activities, can cause a lot of stress
among adolescents. On top of that, the pressure to
excel or to get good grades can also add up to their
stress level. School competitions also usually take up
a lot of time, too, contributing more to the student's
anxiety and stress. You must be able to manage
academic work and extracurricular activities so that
you will not feel overwhelmed and burned out at a
young age.
 FAMILY
• Parents' high expectations can cause
great pressure on many teenagers.
Other family-related situations that
may trigger stress include parents'
separation, conflict with family
members, having no privacy inside
the home, and constant fighting of
parents and other people in the
home. These stressors can be
detrimental to their health and may
result in mental and physical health
problems later on.
 PEERS OR FRIENDS
• Because adolescents tend to
spend more time with their
friends, getting their approval
means a lot to them. In some
cases, there are persons that
influence the teenager to
engage in bad practices or
exhibit bad behavior.
 LOSS OF LOVED ONE
• The death of a loved one,
breakup with a better half or a
best friend, or death of a beloved
pet can also cause stress to
adolescents. Pain can cause the
adolescent to feel depressed and
may question himself or herself
about his or her worth. If
depression continues, worse
things could happen to him or
her.
 OTHER CAUSES
• Being a victim of bullying causes a
teenager to develop fear, insecurity,
and lack of self-worth.
• Just thinking about going to a place
where the bully is can already make the
teenager feel anxious and panicky. In
addition to that, cultural norms can
also contribute to a teenager's stress
level.
• Eating disorders may be developed
because of the incorrect perception of
being beautiful (e.g., one must have fair
skin, one must have a thin body). The
same thing is also true with gender
issues.
 SYMPTOMS OF STRESS
PHYSICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL BEHAVIORAL
FATIGUE DEPRESSION LACK OF APPETITE OF OVEREATING

CHANGE IN SLEEPING PATTERNS SUDDENT EMOTIONAL OUTBURSTS SMOKING OR DRINKING TOO MUCH

DIGESTION PROBLEMS MOOD SWINGS ABSENTEEISM

TENSION HEADACHES LACK OF FOCUS SLEEPING MORE OR LESS

FAINTING LACK OF CONFIDENCE NEGLECTING RESPONSIBILITIES

BACKACHES AND STIFF NECKS CONFUSION ISOLATING FROM OTHER PEOPLE

PALPITATIONS AND PANIC, ANXIETY DEVELOPING UNSUAL HABITS LIKE

BREATHLESSNESS NAIL HABITS
HYPERVENTILATION FRUSTRATION

DRY MOUTH AND GRINDING TEETH ANGER, FEAR