MENTAL HEALTHA defense?

REFLECTIVE PERSONAL ESSAYS (250 WORDS)

1) State your opinionInclude your feelings, opinions and thoughts

2) Support your position with facts and examples

3) Examine and argue an opposite point of view. Give examples and facts

4) Restate your original position and conclude

TOPIC: How do you feel about mental illness? Can it be used as a defense in court?

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH

Mental HealthDealing with stress and pressure, how behavior is

affected Affected by numerous factors in both adults and youths

AgingNot as strong as we used to beForced to stop workingLoneliness = children move away, friends die

AngerSymptom of too much stressDealing with it, don’t bottle it up

GriefDeath of someone closeLoss of companionship, change

Becoming a parentOften causes strain and tension, sleep deprivation

Separation and divorce Intense emotions: sadness, anger, hurt, fear of

uncertain future, loneliness, confusion, sense of failure, etc.

UnemploymentLoss of financial stability, personal work relationships,

daily structure, sense of self-purpose

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH

Balancing life and workBalancing roles of workers, parents, spouses, friends,

caregiversAbout priorities and dealing with pressurehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-hacuOiUYw&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DknakBGQxL0&feature=player_embedded&noredirect=1

YouthAdolescence and dramatic changeNew challenges, pressure at school, at home, in social

groups

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

Anxiety DisordersDifference between anxiety and anxiety

disorder Ongoing, significant distress that causes disruption in daily

living

Often geneticTriggers:

Medical conditions, chemical imbalancesCaffeine, alcohol, certain medicationsTraumatic life events (death, war, natural disasters, etc.)

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

Anxiety DisordersSymptoms:

Racing pulse, heart palpitations, possible even chest pain

Shortness of breath, panting, dry mouthBlushingNausea / vomitingDizzinessHot flashes, sweating, chillsInsomniaInability to concentrate

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

Anxiety Disorders Types:

Panic Disorders Panic attacks Powerful, overwhelming feelings of terror

Phobias Specific and Social

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Following a life-threatening or extremely traumatic experience i.e. rape, child abuse, war, natural disaster Flashbacks, nightmares, depression, uncontrolled

anger/irritability

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

Anxiety Disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Persistent thoughts (obsessions) and a need to perform

repetitive activities (compulsions) that can overtake your life (i.e. compulsive hand-washing, constant organizing, etc.)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Repeated, exaggerated worrying for more than 6 months,

always expecting the worst

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

Mood Disorders Intense, prolonged emotions that negatively

affect well-being, physical health, relationships, and behavior

2 major types:Depressive mood disorderBipolar disorder

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

Depressive mood disorder Symptoms:

Loss of interest, lack of pleasure in activitiesWithdrawal from social situationsSadness, anxiety, hopelessness, guilt, despairChanges in appetiteLack of energy, fatigueSleep disturbances (insomnia or excessive sleeping)Loss of focusThoughts of suicide“No light at the end of the tunnel”

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

Bipolar disorder (manic depression) Alternating emotional swings from extreme

“highs” (mania) to “lows” (depression)

Mania symptoms:Extreme optimism, euphoriaRapid, racing thoughts, hyperactivityDecreased need for sleepIncreased irritabilityImpulsiveness, reckless behavior

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

PsychosisReflects a disturbance in brain functioning

Loss of contact with reality, radically altered thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, and behavior

Believe that others can manipulate their thoughts

Perceive voices /visions that no one else can see/hear

3% of population is affected

“It was like I was having a million thoughts all at once and yet I was so disorganized, nothing was getting done. I was frightened and anxious because I felt someone was trying to harm me. Increasingly, I spent most of my time alone in my room doing nothing. I didn’t want to be bothered with friends or family. The television started having special messages meant only for me and I was hearing voices commenting on what I was doing….

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

SchizophreniaBiochemical brain disorder that affects a person’s

ability to determine what is reality and what is not.

Symptoms:Delusions HallucinationsLack of motivationSocial withdrawalThought disorders

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

Self-Injury & suicideSelf-injury : Deliberate acts that cause harm to

one’s body, mind and spirit (i.e. cutting skin with razor blades, burning or hitting

oneself)*** Broader forms include: smoking, drug addiction,

food bingeing, staying in an abusive relationship

Why?Seeking relief from psychological pain, unbearable

tension, loneliness, depression, anger, emotional numbness

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

Mental Illness & violenceLink between the two? Majority of violent people do not suffer from mental

illness (more likely to be the victims)

Some (very few) with severe untreated symptoms of schizophrenia with psychosis, major depression or bi-polar mood disorder have increased rate of violenceWith early assessment and treatment, they are no

more dangerous than the general population

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS

So why do we think this?THE MEDIA (i.e. Colorado shooting)

Co-variants: mental illness + :History of violenceSubstance use problemsSocioeconomic environment

ASSIGNMENTRead the short article about the Colorado Shootings and respond the question.

“What are your thoughts on the issue?”