Mental Health Challenges

A mental challenge is any disease or condition affecting the
brain that influences the way a person thinks, feels,

behaves and/or relates to others and to his or her
surroundings.
Mental health- it’s the way your thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors affect your life.
WHAT CAUSES EMOTIONAL OR MENTAL CHALLENGES
AND WHO IS AFFECTED?
Although the exact cause of most mental challenges is

not known, it is becoming clear through research that
many of these conditions are caused by a combination of
genetic, biological, psychological and environmental
factors. One thing is for sure--mental challenges are not
the result of personal weakness, a character defect or
poor upbringing, and recovery from a mental challenge
is not simply a matter of will and self-discipline.
Strategies for Becoming a
Critical Viewer
1. All media images and messages are
construction.They are NOT reflections
of reality.
2. Advertisements are created to do

one thing:to convince you to buy or
support a specific product or service
Critical Viewer
3. To convince you to buy a specific
product or service.
Remember: You are only seeing what the
advertisers want you to see.
4. Advertisers create their message based on what
they think you will want to see and what they
think will affect you and compel you to buy their
product.
Critical Viewer
5. As individuals, we decide how to
experience the media messages we
encounter.
 Pretty common and can make it hard to focus and sit still
 makes it hard to finish things, and makes thoughts jump around
 Kids who have ADHD can learn to control their thoughts and bodies by
figuring out what helps them focus or by talking to a doctor or mental
health professional
 Some kids with ADHD do better in school if they can do their work in a
quiet room.
 Sometimes medicine can help.
 People with ADHD are just as smart as other people. They can still do well
in school and in life.
Anxiety (Panic Disorder)
 Person with anxiety disorder would have the feeling of

anxiousness and nervousness suddenly and often.
 The strong, sudden feelings of stress or fear are called “PANIC

ATTACK” that can make your chest or stomach hurt, your
heart speed up, make you feel afraid, dizzy, or feel like you
can’t breath.
 Even kids can have panic attacks. People who have panic
attacks sometimes feel scared to go places because they are
afraid of having an attack. Their daily life can be scary, but
they can get help, get better and be okay.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
 Changes the way the brain understands the world
 have a hard time talking about their feelings, understanding

people’s actions, and being social
 very sensitive about being touched. To a person diagnosed

with autism, being hugged can be very scary and uncom-
fortable
 just as smart as other kids . They can be very good at things

like math or music.
 They are not acting mean or weird. Their brains just work in a
different way. They still make friends and learn how to work
and play with others.
 When something good happens, we feel happy. If something bad
happens, we feel sad. Bi-polar disorder changes the way people feel
emotions.
 People with bi-polar disorder change their emotions from happy to sad
very quickly. They can be cheerful one moment, and very angry, sad and
tired the next moment.
 When people with bi-polar disorder experience intense feelings of

happiness it is called “mania”. They can’t think clearly or sleep well, and
they might do things without thinking about them first, it is called
“ depression”.
 Having bi-polar disorder can be very tiring and stressful. Medication can
help. Talking to a mental health professional, friends, and family can also
help someone with bi-polar disorder learn how to manage feelings and
live a healthy life.
 is a mental health challenge that makes people feel very sad all the time.
It can change how you think, feel, and act. It can even make your body
feel sick too.
 A person diagnosed with depression might feel very sad everyday, or feel
that nobody loves them. They might not want to do things they used to
think were fun.
 People diagnosed with depression may not know why they feel so sad.
 It is good to have a family and close friends to talk to and

help when things are bad, and talking to mental health
professional about these strong feelings can help.
 Depression can be very hard, but people with depression can get better
too, and learn how to enjoy life.
Eating Disorders
 exists when a person’s thoughts and behaviors are focused too much on
food and body weight. The person may worry about being “too fat”.
The person may have a big fear of becoming obese.
 Anorexia - weight loss that occurs from not eating.
 Bulimia – eating large amount of food over a short period of time

followed by an attempt to get rid of the food. This
getting rid of food is called “purging”.
 The most important thing to remember is that having an eating disorder

is about more than body weight and food. Behind the problem we see
is something bigger – a person’s sense of self-esteem, relationships,
feelings, and how the person handles the stresses of life
Anorexia
Common Eating Disorders
1.Anorexia
 real fear of weight gain
 distorted view of their body size and shape
 eat very little and can become dangerously
underweight
 hardly eat at all or eating a lot of food and then
trying to get rid of the calories by making themselves
throw up or exercising all the time
Bulimia
 people might binge eat (eat to excess) and then
try to compensate in extreme ways such as
making themselves throw up of exercising all the
the time, to prevent weight gain
 binging and purging regularly
 eat a large amount of food (often junk food) at
once, usually in secret
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
 Feel scared even if they are safe and there is nothing to be

afraid of
 Kids with PTSD might have very bad dreams that seem real, or
something bad is going to happen again.
 Even when they are safe, the feelings of fear are very real.
 Talking to a mental health professional or friends and family

can help, but it would take time and hard work
 Makes it hard for people to know what is real and what is not.
 Can make the brain think it sees or hears things that aren’t
really there.
 Can also think that people are trying to control or read their
minds
 Even though things they see, hear, believe or feel might not be
true, their brains think that they are real and true, and that can
be very scary
schizophrenic
Schizo example
kid
SELF-ESTEEM AND BODY ESTEEM
Self-Esteem is all about how much you feel you are worth
– and how much you feel other people value YOU.
Self-Esteem is important because feeling good about

yourself can affect your mental health and how you
behave.
People with high self-esteem know themselves well.

They’re realistic and find friends that like and appreciate
them for who they are. People with high self-esteem
usually feel more in control of their lives and know their
own strengths and weaknesses.
Body image is how you view your physical self – including
whether you feel you are attractive and whether others
like your looks.
What influences a person’s self-
esteem?
 Puberty and Development

 Media Images and Messages
 Families and school
Activity: SIGNS OF TROUBLE: DEPRESSION
Test your Mood Yes No

Do you feel sad, depressed or down most of the time?
Are you unable to enjoy the things that once gives you pleasure?
Do you feel tired and / or lack energy most of the time?
Do you have trouble sleeping or do you sleep too much?
Do you find it difficult to concentrate or make decisions?
Have you had an increase or decrease in appetite or weight?
Have you had feelings of worthlessness or guilt?
Have you felt frightened or panicky for no apparent reason at all?
Have you felt restless and found it difficult to sit still?
Have you been feeling anxious or worried?
Have you felt like you just cannot go on or had thoughts of death or dying?
Portfolio Output # 13: research on Anxiety and Disorders/Depression
Do a little research on either of the Anxiety Disorders or Depression.

Look for the answer to the following questions and put them in your
portfolio ( handwritten, short bond paper)
1. What are anxiety disorders or depression?
2. Who gets anxiety disorders/ depression? And how common are
they?
3. Describe some of the symptoms of anxiety disorders / depression.
4. List and briefly explain some of the main types of anxiety
disorders / depression.
5. What type of treatment is available for the people experiencing
anxiety disorders / depression?
6. What other kinds of support can help a person with anxiety
disorders/ depression?
Scenario:
“Your friend isn’t acting like his old self. He seems
really down, and has been doing strange things like
giving his favorite things away. He recently told you that
he thought the people he knew would be better off
without him around and that he’s thought of killing
himself. After he tells you, he ask you not to tell anyone
else about what he said.”
1. Do you think he has a mental health problem?

2. Is he in trouble?
3. What should you do?
Remember:
If a friend mentions thoughts of
SUICIDE or self-harm, you NEED
to tell an adult
HELP HOW – TO’S
1. First step, Reach out to people you
Trust.
2. Second step, Take action
a. The more you know, the easier it is.
b. Nothing is worse than Nothing.
c. It’s all in attitude
Important Reminders:
1. Mental health is as important as physical health. In
fact, the two are closely linked.
2. Mental health problems are real and they deserve to
be treated.
3. It’s not a persons fault if he or she has a mental
health problems. No one is to be blame.
4. Mental health problems are not a sign of weakness.
They are not something you can “ just snap out of”
even if you try.
5. Whether your male or female, it’s ok to ask for help
and get it.
6. There’s hope. People improve and recover with the
help of the treatment, and they are able to enjoy
happier and healthier life.
Strategies for supporting someone
with mental health concerns:
 Encourage the person to seek help and support from
adult.
 Spend time with the person, listen to his/ her
concerns.
 Be hopeful: help them feel that their life will get better.
 Stand by them. Invite your friend to things that you
are doing; keeping busy and staying I touch with
friends will help your friends feel better, when they
are ready.
Strategies for supporting someone
with mental health concerns:
 Learn as much as you can about mental illness so
that you understand what is going on for them.
 If you are a close friend of family member of
someone with a mental health problem, make sure
that you get help as well. Talk to someone about what
is happening. This will help you be a better support
person.
 Put the persons life before your friendship. If the
person mentions thoughts of suicide, DON’T keep it
in secret, even if the person has asked you to.

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A mental challenge is any disease or condition affecting the

brain that influences the way a person thinks, feels,

Although the exact cause of most mental challenges is

2. Advertisements are created to do

 makes it hard to finish things, and makes thoughts jump around

 Sometimes medicine can help.

 Person with anxiety disorder would have the feeling of

 The strong, sudden feelings of stress or fear are called “PANIC

 Changes the way the brain understands the world

 have a hard time talking about their feelings, understanding

 very sensitive about being touched. To a person diagnosed

 just as smart as other kids . They can be very good at things

 When people with bi-polar disorder experience intense feelings of

 It is good to have a family and close friends to talk to and

 Anorexia - weight loss that occurs from not eating.

 Bulimia – eating large amount of food over a short period of time

 The most important thing to remember is that having an eating disorder

 Feel scared even if they are safe and there is nothing to be

 Talking to a mental health professional or friends and family

Self-Esteem is important because feeling good about

People with high self-esteem know themselves well.

 Puberty and Development

Test your Mood Yes No

Do you feel tired and / or lack energy most of the time?

Do you have trouble sleeping or do you sleep too much?

Do you find it difficult to concentrate or make decisions?

Have you had an increase or decrease in appetite or weight?

Have you had feelings of worthlessness or guilt?

Have you felt frightened or panicky for no apparent reason at all?

Have you felt restless and found it difficult to sit still?

Have you been feeling anxious or worried?

Do a little research on either of the Anxiety Disorders or Depression.

1. Do you think he has a mental health problem?

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