What is Mental Illness?

Mental Illness Is …

Mental illness is a biological brain disorder that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning.

Treatable

Mental Illness Is …

Facts…

•1 in 4 US Adults are affected

•20% of all students have mental illness

•50% - symptoms by age 14

•By 2020, Major Depressive illness will bethe leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.

Types of Mental Illness

•ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity)

•Depression

•Bipolar (Manic Depressive)

•Anxiety

•Panic Disorder

•OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

•Schizophrenia

ADD (attention deficit disorder)

•Trouble focusing

•Forgetful

•Disorganized

•Don’t follow direction

•Often don’t finish school work

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

•Same symptoms as ADD

•Seem driven or“on the go”

•Impulsive

•Disruptive in class

•Talk excessivley

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

Depression: (kids)

•Not Sadness like Adults, but irritability and agressiveness

•Mad, Combative

•Extra sensitive

•Physical Complaints

•Won’t do Homework, hate school

•Trouble Sleeping -Tired, Sleepy, Bored

Depression: (teens)

•Feel Hopeless, empty, worthless

•Uninterested in things once enjoyed

•Isolate

•Self Injure

•Abuse alcohol or drugs

•Develop an Eating Disorder

•Think about Suicide

Depression

Bipolar Disorder

HIGHS:

•Need Little or No Sleep

•Hyperactive

•Rage

•HyperSensitive

•Talk too fast & too much

Mood Swings – High (manic) to Low (depression)

Bipolar Disorder

LOWS:

•Similar or Same as Depression

Mood Swings – High (manic) to Low (depression)

Bipolar Disorder (teens)

•Out of Control

•Go on spending sprees

•Engage in Sexual promiscuity

•Unrealistic expectations

•Overachieve

•Aggressive

Bipolar

Anxiety

•Excessive worry, uptightness

•Separation issues, will not sleep alone

•Fears

•Avoidance of fearful situations

•Dread of being embarrassed

The Most Common mental illness in children and adolescents.

Panic Disorder

Pounding heart, feeling of dying or losing control, sweating, dizziness, trembling, nausea or feeling of choking

Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder

•Repetitive Actions – counting, touching, checking

•Obsessive Thoughts

•Fear of Contamination/Germs

•Too much Grooming

•Fixation on numbers

Schizophrenia

HALLUCINATIONS – See, Hear, Feel things that aren’t there

DELUSIONS – False Beliefs, Paranoia

Under age 15 only 1 of 40,000 kids, 18 years and up increases to 1 of 100.

Schizophrenia

RECOVERY

Recovery

There is no cure for mental illness, BUT there is very effective treatment.

• No blood test or X-Ray

• Many kinds of therapies and medications

• Can live a happy, healthy, productive Life

• Develop Coping Skills

Coping Strategies

• Eat Right

• Get the right amount of Sleep

• Get regular Exercise

• Enjoy a hobby- music, sports, scrapbooking

• Journal or keep a Diary

• Have a Pet

• Watch movies or sports

• Enjoy nature – go for walks

• Check in with healthcare people regularly

HELP

TALK:

•To a parent or family member

•To a friend

•A social worker or psychologist at school

•Neighbor or pastor

•Write a note

•Go to ReachOut.com

Call NAMI

HELP

How YOU can help a Friend:

•Encourage them:– To take their medications– Keep their Doctor’s appointments– Not to engage in risky behavior

•Invite them out for relaxing activities

•Don’t let others say mean things to them or about them

•Help them study

•Recognize the signs of the disorder

Hope

www.nami.org

Acknowlegements:• American Foundation for Suicide

Prevention www.afsp.org

• Parents & Teachers as Allies, Joyce Burland, Ph.D. 2001

• National Institute on Mental Health, 2005

• Surgeon General, 2001

•Mental Health; A report of the Surgeon General, 1999

•National Alliance on Mental Illness