What is Health

Health

Past = absence of disease or illness

Today = “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

“health is not just a state, but also a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living”

Leading cause of death in US for ages 12-19

6 Aspects/Dimensions of Health Mental Social Spiritual Emotional Physical Environmental

Mental (thinking)

Intellectual Thinking critically Motivation to master new skills Good sense of humor Creativity Detects problems and finds solutions Never stops learning

an active mind is essential to wellness.

Social (relating)

Good communication skills Cultivating a support network of

caring friends and/or family members Requires participating in and

contributing to your community, county, and world.

Spiritual (being)

To possess a set of guiding beliefs, principles, or values that give meaning and purpose to your life, especially during difficult times.

Involves the capacity for love, compassion, forgiveness, altruism, joy, and fulfillment.

Antidote to cynicism, anger, fear, anxiety, self-absorption, and pessimism.

Spirituality is a factor in well-being when four basic needs are satisfied: The need for having. The need for relating. The need for being. The need for transcendence.

Emotional (feeling)

Optimism Trust Self-esteem Self-acceptance Self-confidence Self-control Satisfying relationships Ability to share feelings

Exploring your thoughts and feelings

Identifying obstacles to emotional well being and finding solutions to emotional problems Sometimes with the

help of councilors and therapists if necessary.

Physical

Eating well Exercising Avoiding harmful habits Making responsible decisions Learning about and recognizing the

symptoms of disease Regular medical checkups Injury prevention

Environmental

safety of food degree of violence ultraviolet radiation air and water pollution lead in an old houses paint second hand tobacco smoke protecting against such hazards

Psychosocial HealthHow we perceive all that we

experience

Factors Influencing Psychosocial Health• External Factors – parts of life we have no control

• Family

• Environment – stress and pressure

• Internal Factors – what is inside you

• Heredity

• Hormonal function

• Physical fitness

Factors Influencing Psychosocial HealthPersonality

• Unique mix of characteristics

• Influences: heredity, culture, environment

• Healthy Personality traits:

• Extroversion

• Agreeableness

• Openness to experience

• Emotional stability

• Conscientiousness

What is Mental Illness

A group of mental disorders that causes severe disturbances in thinking, feeling and relating. People with a mental illness often have difficulty dealing with daily life.

Changes in thinking, mood, behavior Decreases ability to function Leads to:

Pain; disability; injury; loss of freedom; death

What causes Mental Illnesses? Changes or abnormalities in the brai

n’s chemistry

General medical factors Psychological scars/emotional trauma Heredity

Who can get a Mental Illness Occurs in all ages, ethnicities and religions Males and females Research underway to learn more about

the reasons people develop mental illness

Mental Illness Facts

More than half of all chronic mental illnesses start by age 14

Three-fourths of all chronic mental illnesses start by age 24(National Comorbidity Survey Replication, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, 2005)

Many cases of mental illness start with easy-to-miss symptoms, such as mild anxiety or shyness

In most cases, these symptoms will ease over time and will not interfere with a person’s life

But sometimes these mild symptoms can progress into severe depression, phobias and clinical anxiety

Reasons for delay in seeking treatment: Lack of knowledge Lack of medical insurance Stigma – afraid of what others

will think Early intervention leads to a higher

chance of recovery, but stigma delays treatment

Common Psychosocial Problems

Depression Depression strikes millions of Americans each

year, with less than half receiving treatment. It is normal to feel blue or depressed in response

to experiences such as the loss of something or someone of great value, divorce etc.

Major depressive disorder is a form of chronic mood disorder that involves extreme and persistent sadness, despair, and hopelessness.

Depression Other symptoms include:

significant weight loss or weight gain. inability to find joy in pleasure-giving activities. preoccupied with failures, over concern with what others

think. diminished or increased appetite. fatigue and loss of energy, slow reactions. sleep too much or too little, insomnia. loss of interest in close interactions with others. withdrawal from friends and family. feeling agitated, hopeless, or worthless. recurring thoughts that life isn't worth living, thoughts of

death or suicide. difficulty concentrating.

Depression Facts and fallacies of depression.

True depression is not a natural reaction to crisis and loss. People will not snap out of depression by using a little

willpower. Frequent crying is not a hallmark of depression. Depression is not "all in the mind." It is not true that only in-depth psychotherapy can cure

clinical depression.

Two-thirds of all people suffering from depression are women. Biological theory states hormonal fluctuation in women as

the reason. Women may be under more stress than men.

Depression There are several different types of therapy used to treat

depression. Cognitive therapy aims to help patients look at life

rationally. Interpersonal therapy helps correct relationship problems. Antidepressant drugs relieve symptoms in nearly 80% of

chronic depressives. There are many types of antidepressants available, care

should be taken to fully explore the need for their use and their potential side effects before accepting a prescription. Be sure to ask your physician about the medication.

Electroconvulsive therapy is a lesser-used form of treatment.

Seasonal affective disorder

a type of depression known as the winter blues

associated with reduced exposure to sunlight

treated with light therapy, stress management, sleep restriction, medication, and psychotherapy.

Anxiety disorders Anxiety disorders affect between 20 and 30 million

people. They are plagued by persistent feelings of threat and anxiety about everyday problems of living. They include: Generalized Anxiety Disorder involves excessive

worry and anxiety that interferes with normal living. Phobias are deep persistent fears of objects,

activities, or situations. Panic Attacks are sudden onsets of disabling terror. Post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) affect people

after they experience severe traumas

Schizophrenia

- Schizophrenia is characterized by the alteration of senses; the inability to sort out incoming stimuli and to make appropriate responses; an altered sense of self; and radical changes in emotions, movements, and behaviors. Victims of this disease may not be able to function in society . It is treatable, but not curable. Treatments include hospitalization, medication, and

supportive therapy.

Bipolar Disorder An illness that causes a person’s mood to swing from “high”

and/or irritable (mania) to sad and hopeless, sometimes with periods of normalcy in between

The symptoms for the depressed state in someone with Bipolar Disorder are the same as those in someone who has depression. Excessive activity, restlessness, racing thoughts and rapid talking Denial that anything is wrong Uncharacteristically poor judgment Decreased need for sleep Unrealistic beliefs in one’s own powers or abilities Easily irritated or distracted Ongoing period of behavior that is different from usual, such as

dressing or acting differently Extreme high feelings – person is on top of the world and even

bad news and tragic events can’t change those feelings